5 year old Anti Foul paint - can it be used?

[Captain Haddock]

Hi!

Whilst rooting around the garage I came across a tin of Blakes Tiger Antifoul that hasn't been opened and is around 4-5 years old!

Does antifouling lose it's kick over time and do you reckon it's ok to use on my boat?

 

[alienzdive]

It is not like food that rots and deteriorates overtime, however.
Old antifoul will solidify and form hard particles in the bottom of the tin overtime. Some of the old solidified particles contain the juice that gives old a/f its kick. If the tin is stirred thoroughly and all the solidified particals are beaten/ whipped and stirred etc for a long enough period of time, you have yourself a tin of antifoul that will provide limited protection from marine growth. Do not discard any of the solid particals, it would be like taking the hops out of a beer vat part way through fermentation, no hops, no beer.

Note, although you have yourself a tin of antifoul do not expect the same performance than if it was new.

 

[billcowan]

Whaddia mean, that might be "OLD" anti-foul, the stuff that actually works.

Sell it on e-bay for a kings ransom, then check out the chilli powder threads we have been having.

 

[VicS]

Re: Old enough to be the stuff that actually works

At 5 years it's not old enough to be TBT, the last stuff that came any where near doing what it was supposed to. If it was of course it would now be illegal to use it, own it, talk about it or even think about it.

 

[andyroo]

Re: Old enough to be the stuff that actually works

Give it a good stir and use it! I am sure it has lost a little of its 'kick' but would it be noticeable, probably not. Alternatively, you could always add some chilli powder to it and use it. As I am sure you have read, Chilli powder appears to be the way forward.

Good luck

Andrew

 

[Birdseye]

[ QUOTE ]
Hi!

Whilst rooting around the garage I came across a tin of Blakes Tiger Antifoul that hasn't been opened and is around 4-5 years old!

Does antifouling lose it's kick over time and do you reckon it's ok to use on my boat?

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, Ive known people use red lead, emulsion paint, and all sorts of mixtures of old half cans of antifoul. So why not - the principle ingredient, copper, cant evaporate.

 

[ccscott49]

The antifoul does have a shelf life, but I've used antifoul that came from Navy warehouses after mannnnnny years and it worked fine! Take the chance, give it a really good whizz, use a builders plaster mixer, (from a builders merchant)designed for use in a slow electric drill, works brilliant.