Adding copper powder to AF

[BruceK]

Has anybody tried this and does it provide any added benefit or detract from native performance of the AF? If so what copper powder was used. It seems a idiotic question but a brief search for copper powder yielded at least a dozen varieties and blends.

 

[MikeBrazier]

Poster TCM made his own copper antifoul several years ago if I remember correctly, although I don't fancy my chances of finding the thread now.

Mike.

 

[Croftie]

Poster TCM made his own copper antifoul several years ago if I remember correctly, although I don't fancy my chances of finding the thread now.

Mike.

Possibly
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?111174-Copper-Epic-(need-links-to-andyball-pix-)&highlight=copper

Or do an advanced search for copper by TCM There seems to be a few threads by him on copper + AF

 

[longjohnsilver]

I followed the TCM formula and it was good for over 2 years. I used the last of the copper powder and trilux last year on my tender and even after a winter out of the water it's still working well now.

 

[tico]

Yup, Helped tcm paint it onto D2...
As i recall
1. you have to stir frequently as the copper powder settles to the bottom of the tin
2. it makes the roller really heavy, so use smaller rollers

 

[BruceK]

Thanks. I'll look up TCM.

 

[Nick_H]

What you're thinking of doing is broadly what coppercoat does. It's a fine, high grade copper powder in a water based epoxy carrier. That can last 10 years or more, so unless you can buy the copper powder cheaply, and iirc it has to be high purity to work, then the economics may not stack up against buying the branded coppercoat product.

 

[Trundlebug]

It's also what's in the antifoul I use regularly, although it doesn't seem so popular these days for some reason.

VC Offshore and VC17m both use a biocide with copper powder stirred in just before application.

 

[tico]

BTW don't try sticky-on copper film (at least on planing boats)
could ask tcm about this too!