Suggestions for finishing a lantern

[parnold]

I picked up this neat old kerosene lantern, and I plan to convert it to LED. I'll use a smoked globe to diffuse the LED light.

As you can see from the before and after, it was painted gold, so I sandblasted it. My thoughts are either force it to rust (I found a do it yourself guide using safe household chemicals) and clearcoat it, or perhaps one of those "hammered" spray paints.

While sandblasting, I discovered that the lantern was originally red, so I guess that is a third possible option.

So help me out with suggestions please!!!



BTW, the fuel cap and the wick thingy are brass, and they cleaned up beautifully.

[Woodbutcher]

Paul, I would do it red. But that's just me.

[parnold]

Steve:

I ended up making a homebrew rusting agent. 80% hydrogen peroxide, 20% white vinegar, and 2 teaspoons of table salt. I rubbed it on, let it dry, rubbed off the loose "rust" and clearcoated it. This is how it came out.



Right now I have it running with a 12v led panel using 8 AA batteries. I am going to see how long it will burn on a set of batteries. I actually found a globe for it at walmart, or more specifically I found a cheap candle holder with a glass globe that happens to fit. I need to frost the globe.

[bc toys]

I would have gone RED if it was me really don't care for rust. Its your lantern so do what you like . Would you post pix of it after you convert it to LED with globe.

[rmclarke]

I like it, Paul.

[parnold]

I found a globe at a garage sale that fit perfectly. I frosted it using some spray on stuff I bought at Walmart. All I have to do now it get a rotary switch, and figure out how to mount is so it will be where the wick wheel was.

[campmaster-k]

The rust job looks great.