| |
|
Restoring Old Blowlamps
| I get most of my Blowlamps in poor condition, they are, after all, a tool that has been used by tradesmen for years. Most of them were made in Britain or Sweden. I also have a few French and American examples. |
This is how the Blowlamps arrive
|
They are stripped down
|
The first thing I do is dismantle them and inspect the parts.
I feel its important to retain the original colour of the handles and retaining straps. Sometimes they are quite rusted, in which case I will wire brush and respray them.
I will then dip them in household cleaner to remove as much oxidation as possible.
|
| Next, it's on with the safety goggles and leather gloves for some serious cleaning up on the buffing wheel, using my trusty old Coronet Elf lathe. |
All the parts are buffed
|
Hand polished
|
I then spend a lot of time hand polishing, waxing and re assembling the Blowlamps.
The whole process can take between four and eight hours. |
The finished product is a shiny Brass Blowlamp restored to as near original condition as I can get it.
A piece of British history.
What would the original owners think? Quite a few would probably wonder why I bothered at all! |
The finished product
|
©
2011 BarrySwan, Nottingham, UK
|
|