While gettng my Primus 96 fettles, I managed to dent the tank . Besides desoldering the tank and taking it all apart, is there a less invasive method ?
This last year, one guy treated it like the old way of pulling dents out of automobiles. He soldered nails whatever I believe it was and pulled the dent out that way, then when the job was done, desoldered the nail. Simple. Did you see the thread on the snarling bic in the fettling area? Duane
One way I've had success with on aluminum fuel bottles is freezing them with about 90% of water. It's a little riskier but you can do some tests that minimize that risk. Mine have come out perfect. Start with 90% of the water needed to fill your tank and freeze it in a graduated nalgene bottle to measure the expansion. When you find that right number where expansion matches tank capacity, you're all set. Of course this doesn't work with tanks with internal parts like coleman's.
The nail/screw pulling method will work well on rounded dents or depressions on the flat surfaces but it is not good for sharp pin point type dents near the edges of tanks where the corners add to the tank strength. See my thread Total rebuild optimus5 https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/19995 I ended up scrapping the stove because of the stress fractures in the tank! Cheers nick
I did a nice flat dent. I think it will be ok. I don't have near as extreme of a dent as the one you had.
Hi Weasel Would you believe i was out in the workshop last night pulling a large dent out of the side of an early Tilley Guardsman lamp tank The dent was quite bad & an inch & a half wide & a 1/4 of an inch deep in the shape of an oval with a raised centre , i managed to pull most of the dent out but i had to do a lead solder repair to get the right shape like they used to do on old style car dent repairs theres still a small dent on the left to remove if i can Here's the nearly finished item , you can just make out the ghost of the lead repair in the reflection I'll pull the small dent out later & post another pic or two ( if it works out ok ) so pop back later Best regards Stu PS , you could also try filling the tank with water right to the top so no air gaps inside & With the travel plug fitted pump up 2-3 pumps at a time with 1 minute in between pumps , being very very careful not to overstress the tank , the dent should flatten out hydraulically 8) i repaired a virtually flat 96 this way just keep an eye on the rest of the fount by turning it over & regularly checking it each time Stu
Wow. That looks pretty good. Gives me some inspiration ! Won't get to tackle it until Friday due to work. Night shifts
Thanks Stu. Your method musta worked on one of my small kero burners, as the last few months, I can't find the stove I caved in while trying to hold down the NRV tool, removing a valve. It had to have popped out without my attention when in use. Duane
Marvellous Duane 8) Another satisfied customer nice when that happens saves a lot of messing about Best regards Stu
I did the exact same thing as you Duane. Less than impressed with myself. Filling with water did work for the most part. There is still a slight dent, but its not too bad. I did manage to find some brass screen. I should be good for a test fire when I wake up tomorrow. If it'll run, I will let it warm up for a while and maybe some more of the dent will fix itself. Stay tuned to this channel ! Pics will follow, good or bad.
Hi Weasel A shallow dent is better than a deep one it may improve with time & use let it dry out well before you use it again & good luck with the mesh Best regards Stu
I've just tried the hydraulic method on a Primus 210 with a surface dent.Nice one Stu: it worked a treat with 95% of the dent removed. I'll see if use results in a further reduction. I'm not keen on pumping any further.
Hi I know what you mean , it makes your nipsy twitch a bit the first time , but as long as your careful & wait in between pumps to see what happens you should be ok 8) as it is your dent is seriously reduced & thats great 8) well done 8) Best regards Stu .
I'm waiting with baited breath to see what has happened to my 96 tank when I take it out of the freezer tomorrow.
Just be very carefull with the freezer method because your not watching it if it starts to go pear shaped & if it bursts there's no going back i'll keep everything crossed for you Stu
