Awlgrip alternative and catalyst

[Caladh]

I am geting increasinly fed up with the cost of Awlgrip touch up paint at nearly £40 for a very small bottle of paint and catalst. The paint would last another few years if stored properly but the catalyst obviously goes "off" after about a month max. To reduce cost is it possible to buy another type of catalyst. Suppliers of Awlgrip do not like to sell the catalyst separately and its almost too much trouble to supply the touch up kit. Is there a cheaper alternative somewhere ?

Simon

 

[xtiffer]

One pot paint goes over Awlgrip no problem.
Just match the colour from a colour chart and buy the appropriate one pot
paint to use for repairs.
Cheers,
Chris

 

[pampas]

Since this is for "Touch-up" purposes,I suggest that you try a small but easy spot and apply paint only, wait a day or so and see if it dries. I think that the paint has a very small amount of hardener in it as Blakes two pack will go off in 24 hours without the cat being used. Worth a try.

 

[Caladh]

Ok thanks for that. I assume the one pot paint is the car touch up stuff ?

 

[xtiffer]

Ok thanks for that. I assume the one pot paint is the car touch up stuff ?

Wasn't thinking of that but I have a chandler who mixes 1 pot paint.
Don't know enough about car paint to comment on compatability.
Cheers,
Chris

 

[Keith 66]

Find a car paint supplier, they will match any colour & fill a spray can for you, normally acrylic.

 

[steve28]

I wont help you much now but i still have the leftover awlgrip and hardener that was used to paint my boat 10 years ago, i decant some from each container when i need to do some touching up and it still works fine for me.


Steve

 

[pampas]

I meant use a drop of the original colour.

 

[coliholic]

But if you use an ordinary touch up paint, i.e. a one part paint, that means you can never repaint with Awlgrip.

You can put 1 part paint over two part but not t'other way round.

Can't you buy the catalyst and decant it into smaller container and keep the original in airtight container or in the fridge or something?

 

[Caladh]

Sorry for coming back late to this and thanks for all who responded. The point is that the catalyst comes in a small airtight bottle and is kept in a fridge, but it goes off in about 2 - 3 weeks.

 

[Pasarell]

Awlgrip Catalyst

I'm not familiar with the bottle for Awlgrip catalyst but the curing agents for 2 packs will usually cure quickly on exposure to air so once opened the process will quickly take place.
If you can make a small hole, maybe in the lid, and drip the catalyst out you will reduce the amount of air exposure for the rest and prolong its life. Once you have dripped enough out seal the hole with tape and store the bottle upside down. When air goes in to replace the drips it will be at the top (or bottom!) of the bottle and a skin will form at that point that does not prevent you from taking more out by removing the tape.
2 pack paints will generally cure, up to a point, without catalyst but they will never reach full hardness or gloss so I wouldn't recommend putting the base on without curing agent.

 

[Boo2]

But if you use an ordinary touch up paint, i.e. a one part paint, that means you can never repaint with Awlgrip.

You can put 1 part paint over two part but not t'other way round.

Sorry for the thread drift but is there any way of getting the 1 part paint off afterwards ? I am going to look at a boat which has had the decks painted with 1 part paint but would like eventually have it done professionally with a 2-part polyurethane paint hence the interest.

Boo2