I need some advice so maybe there is someone on here that can help as you all a very clever lot Below there are some pictures of lamp tops which as you can see over a period of time they need help being a collector of the lamps as you can imagine I have quite a few so sending them off to be re-enamelled is far to expensive so I have been looking at VHT paint which is very good and to some degree works but once the lamp has been running for about an hour the gloss finish I applied turn to a matt finish which is not what I'm looking fo so any ideas

This is what most of the lamps I collect look like when I buy them



This is what they look like when I have finished fettling




Before the top is painted



After stripping the top ready for painting

Have you tried exhaust paint.

hammerite is the best paint for going directly onto metal without the need for primer. comes in many colours, but i can only get black in bulgaria.

have a look at this.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]



I have a lot of metal objects in my garden and hammerite seems to cope with the summer heat.

Your right June Hammerite is very good for all sorts of things but not these type of lamps, I have tried it but without any success goes from a gloss finish to a matt finish. The one below was painted with Hammerite gloss but after 20 minutes it turned into a matt/satin finish.





Thanks Stephen and yes I have also tried exhaust paint but it doesn't keep its gloss finish.

Hammerite is the stuff they paint the underside of Rolls Royce cars with it . You may have bought a satin finish and not a gloss. They do make this paint in several colours and types. Friend of mine used to buy renovate lamps and then sell them on at a gr8 profit I might add he used Hammerite as it withstands heat and cold. Other than that what about good old car spray cellulose. Readily available in all colours..

Thanks |Tony but having used hammerite it won't stand up to the temps from the lamps which reach in excess of 350c and car paint won't do the job either. I have even tried to bake the paint of but I still get the same problem . Oh by the way the Hammerite was definitely smooth gloss.

your setting quite a challenge here, thurmalox 290 series withstands heat up to 1,2ooF.

have a look here.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Thanks June I will contact them and let you know how I get on Yes it's quite a task I have been trying for over a year to find something

Hi June just noticed they are in the USA California so won't ship to the uk.

arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I've sent them an email anyway so lets see what they say

Have you tried the old fashioned oil based paint? we painted a similar lamp with some that we got in a diy shop in popovo and so far the gloss is staying. Ive thrown away the tin unfortunately so I cant remember what its called. but it was in a small plastic container, came in bronze, silver and black and cost 18lvs a tin. the bronze has the best finish. I'll have a look and see if they have any more next time i go to town and i'll let you know the name if possible.

beautifulangel wrote:

Have you tried the old fashioned oil based paint? we painted a similar lamp with some that we got in a diy shop in popovo and so far the gloss is staying. Ive thrown away the tin unfortunately so I cant remember what its called. but it was in a small plastic container, came in bronze, silver and black and cost 18lvs a tin. the bronze has the best finish. I'll have a look and see if they have any more next time i go to town and i'll let you know the name if possible.

Thank you

tonyb60 wrote:

Hammerite is the stuff they paint the underside of Rolls Royce cars with it . You may have bought a satin finish and not a gloss. They do make this paint in several colours and types. Friend of mine used to buy renovate lamps and then sell them on at a gr8 profit I might add he used Hammerite as it withstands heat and cold. Other than that what about good old car spray cellulose. Readily available in all colours..

Hi Tony this is the reply from the owners of Hammerite. And now waiting for a call back from TPS

Dear Mr Morris

Thank you for your email.

I believe even using our products that you could experience some flattening of the sheen, I would suggest speaking to a specialist coatings company such as TPS(Technical Paint Services ) who can be reached on 0845 230 1244.

If you have any further queries please feel free to contact me and I will be happy to help.


Kind Regards,

David Montes
Customer Advisor
Technical Advice Centre,
ICI Paints,
Wexham Road,
Slough,
Berkshire,
SL2 5DS,
Phone: +44 (0) 8444 817-817 (DIY)
+44 (0) 8444 817-818 (Trade)
Fax: +44 (0) 8444 817 910