I recently obtained a Bialaddin 300x for my first attempt at a "Fettle". The Hood will need replacing. The tank was Maroon in colour and the paint was worn so I have stripped it off and after experimenting on a small area the tank has the potential to come up nice and shiny. The cage could probably be capable of the same although more awkward. My query is this: If all goes well then this will be a "working" lamp when we are caravanning and when I go on Scout Camp. If I bring the lamp back to polished metal am I going to be forever polishing, can I laquer (what do people use) or would it be easier in the long run to paint it with something such as plastikote spray paint? I'm not too fussed about getting the exact colour match but won't go completely "off the rails" either! Any advice would be appreciated ta muchly Bill
Clear very high temperature gloss automotive paint is often used on top of paint or polished brass. You are probably better off keeping a similar colour paint to the original, though the color does not really matter, and then finishing it off with two coats of the clear VHT gloss as described. the automotive paints are generally more resistant to fuels. They often should be given a light bake in an oven. Follow the directions on the can but if they mention say 3 bakes you usually just do the first one or two as home ovens don't go high enough. Ensure too that the fount is clean of fuel and fumes. Hoods get too hot and should not be painted, though the cage can be painted as described above. If you use the search feature there is much information about this topic but generally many advise against regular over polishing.
These lamps are hard to polish as the brass is slightly stippled to take the paint. Can be done but needs a lot of work. The result is stunning but it will tarnish so you have to lacquer. Better to paint. You don't need a High temp paint anywhere on these as the tank and globe cage don't get hot enough to warrant it. Any good rattle can paint will do the job and stoved on at about 160 for half an hour. The best I have found is Hammerite smooth but the colour range is limited. Mostly I use black but they do it in a silver and I think I have seen it in white and green. ::Neil::
