I have a couple of X300 hood caps one has no enamel at all the other has some large areas of enamel loss Question is what can I do I have seen VHT paints to 650c they all come in a matt finish. 1. Not sure if temperature is high enough. (Anyone know how hot the hood gets?) 2.Would it ruin the look of the lamp if I used such paint. The lamp is for show mainly but it is nice to light it occasionally and demonstrate its quality to friends. Any help or suggestions ?? Thanks
Welcome to CPL... Given that the lack of enamel on these hoods is a perennial problem, I've never heard of anyone who has had success refurbishing them - using VHT paint or otherwise. Perhaps someone will tell us what experience they've had with this. I've no idea what temperature a ventilator hood gets up to but it's got to be well below the melting point of brass, which is somewhere between 900-940 degrees Celsius. So 650 degrees C may not be high enough. All VHT paints are matt finish? - surely not. I can't see our US hot-rodding chums letting that be the case...
Just been googling exhaust manifold paint - I see that is good up to 650 degrees Celsius. Surely a lamp ventilator doesn't get hotter than an exhaust manifold, does it? Why not give it a try and let us know how it goes...
Will do a test run see what happens nothing to lose I suppose. Will let you know after test Many thanks
It's a shame they made the entire lamp out of brass and then stuck an enameled steel cap on the top that was guaranteed to crack and rust away. Why they just didn't use brass for the whole thing I don't know. Rant over. I wonder if it would be practical to make a new cap out of sheet brass. I imagine the shape could be spun out on a lathe, but beyond my skill.
Hello James, brass cowls have been made before, a metal worker in Birmingham used to make them, but he is retired now.
If I recall correctly, someone here used to knock these out with inverted brass ashtrays in place of the hat - and not me, either, before anyone starts. No names, no pack-drill...
Hmmmm yes. For sale at steam rallies and you'd be surprised what I used to get for them all gleaming brass and working as well. Shifted a fair number of them down the years. Nearly always paid for the petrol and such for a weekend away. ::Neil::
Hi heres the update on the hood. Cleaned off all the enamel off the top of the hood but not the underside. Obviously total derust with wire brush and sand paper to metal. Tried Calfire Satin Black spray on a the Hood. Gave it 2 coats allowing an hour between coats. Looked pretty good. Left it 24hrs before lighting the lamp which I ran for 40mins. 8) Result was the satin finish went to matt . On the Underside I had sprayed over the existing ceramic finish it stayed on :o but also went to matt. Thats about it really the paint still in tact. A shame cos matt just dont look good . Will continue to experiment .
Interesting update Have recently aqquired a gadget that reads temperatures up to 2000c! (yes C not F) Tested a Tilley 246B Hood over a 40min period Result was 415c on the underside top of the hood. 325c on the hottest part of the top of hood. Test were carried out in an ambient temp of 23c indoor temp. Stove Enamel & BBQ Spray Paint is 650c So if one assumes that the Temp gadget is correct even give an extra 100c theres a solution. Of course there is still the problem of the Pitting and the Matt Finish. Info might be of use to someone !
All of the ultra high temperature paints result in a matte finish. VHT has a flame proof satin clear that I use to paint de rusted lantern frames instead of high temp silver. Unfortunately the only finish that will retain a shine is PORCELAIN. Due to the high exhaust gas temps of a kerosene burner porcelain "popping off" a ventilator cap is a common place occurrence. I have Coleman 237 vents that look like an alligator's back. That's why I keep a few crappo ones just for burning. Some for show, some for go. I sort of "re discovered" Independence Porcelain Enamel after a gent on the west coast who did refinishing folded his tent. Later I found it was IPE that Cheyenne Cobb of Southern Star Restorations used to have vents re porcelained. They now do lantern vents as "fill in" to keep the men busy and to fill the kiln. Their work is superb and reasonably priced. I'm surprised that there isn't such an operation of this nature somewhere on your side of the pond. IPE does industrial porcelain coatings for appliances, machinery, signage, etc. Bob
