Hello, my dear viewers!
Today, I'm excited to share with you the amazing restoration of a vintage rusty Imco Safety 4200 lighter from 1935, featuring an image of the Vienna St. Stephen's Cathedral. I was fortunate to find this gem at a local flea market for next to nothing. The moment I laid eyes on it, I envisioned its potential restoration.
Upon disassembling the lighter, I began the painstaking process of removing the rust using hydrogen peroxide and citric acid. Some areas were heavily corroded, requiring hours of meticulous sanding and polishing. Throughout the restoration, I kept a clear picture in my mind of its final look.
The original image of the cathedral was crafted with hot enamel. Unfortunately, I couldn't restore this part, as I'm not skilled in hot enamel techniques and lack the necessary equipment. I did attempt to recreate it offcamera using cold enamel, but it either wouldn't spread or wouldn't set properly. Ultimately, I grew to appreciate the cleaner look without the enamel.
After cleaning, I electroplated the lighter's parts with nickel. I made the nickelplating electrolyte myself using timehonored recipes found in old textbooks from university libraries. What I love about this nickel coating is that it forms with a mirror finish and requires no additional polishing.
In conclusion, I'm thrilled with the restoration results. This lighter will undoubtedly hold a place of honor in my collection.
Enjoy the video!
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#restoration #asmr #repair #lighter