Bilge Paint - What's special about it?

I have always used 2 pack epoxy as Bilge Paint, a British Standard colour is the same as Massey Ferguson Grey. OK you have to be careful with fumes when in the bilges using a brush but I found that a henry vacuum cleaner works well as a fumes extractor.
And the 2 pack epoxy (if bought from a car paint supplier) will be cheaper than Danboline and more durable. Dries (sets) quicker.

For fumes to have been such an issue, was that a solvent-based epoxy?
 
For fumes to have been such an issue, was that a solvent-based epoxy?

Look on google for "using 2K paints at home"

Stuff like this ..........

I was doing a small paint job a couple of weeks ago in the shed i've got two extracter fans one large one small so on i went with the job mask on a 3M thought that will do the job and it did for the face. the bad mistake was not understanding the paint as i have always used 2K. It wasnt till i woke up in hospital that i was told that I had to be brought back to life as my lungs had shut down and didnt know that it contains isocyante or something like that so it's celluloss from now on.

It can kill you
 
Ok, Lakey, chilling stuff but you're going to have to help me with my chemistry, here.

Your warnings concern the use of isocyanates, but the original reference, by Jim@sea was to epoxy. What's the connection between isocyanates and epoxy resins?

I have found this: http://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/sims/manuf/3_12_01.htm
It's a HSE document entitled "Reducing ill health from isocyanate exposure in motor vehicle repair". It naturally warns at length about isocyanate safety, but the only reference to epoxy is in respect of contact dermatitis, which most of us know about already. I gather that isocyanates are often used as curing agents for polyurethane 2-packs; are they present in epoxies, too?
 
What's the finish like on that? Would it be terribly wrong to use it on topsides?

The finish is semi gloss so probably not the brightest on topsides although extremely durable, i've used it in a number of applications not just boat-based and can't fault the stuff. EDIT: mines solvent based, well i think it is as i get monster visuals when spending extending periods time on the brush, i tend to shake it off, you know walk around the garden till the dwarfs and unicorns have disappeared then get back in there....................

Athough for sheer freak-out buzz (read: slumped on saloon floor laughing manically) i personally find Auto-Glym' Intensive Tar Remover hard to beat, got properly baked stripping headlining glue from my Centaur.
 
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Ok, Lakey, chilling stuff but you're going to have to help me with my chemistry, here.

Your warnings concern the use of isocyanates, but the original reference, by Jim@sea was to epoxy. What's the connection between isocyanates and epoxy resins?
I posted that to alert people to 2K paints. Jim@sea said
And the 2 pack epoxy (if bought from a car paint supplier)
.
When I was looking for a small amount of gun-applied paint for a car last year the Automotive paint suppliers didn't seem to have epoxies.
I you asked for a 2 pack paint (2K) you may be supplied with a paint containing isocyanates.

I just mention this so that you check precisely what you are being supplied with.


From http://www.jawel.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=161&zenid=g58qu574rlj3incqeh1239vel2

2K Paint NON-isocyanate
2k Acrylic Paint Kit Direct High Gloss.
ISOCYANATE FREE Hardener
This paint has been introduced for customers who require the high gloss finish - durability and colour matching of conventional 2k materials without the health concerns associated to Isocyanated hardeners. None isocyanate hardener converts a two pack activated paint into an air dry paint. The drying and cure times can take much longer depending on the weather conditions. It is recommended that you use the same spraying technique as you would with synthetic air dry oil based paints. Do not apply heavily; allow to flash off between coats. Like synthetic paint if you attempt to speed up the drying process you will slow down the overall time it takes to fully cure.
Please note this paint will not dry without this special isocyanate free hardener or a suitable 2k acrylic paint hardener been added. Recommended Application: Spray, Mixing Ratio: 2 parts paint 1 part hardener and 15% 2k thinner.
 
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For fumes to have been such an issue, was that a solvent-based epoxy?

Similar to Gelshield but half the price. Advantage, very quick drying, second coat half an hour later. Disadvantage, in hot weather don't put too much hardener in as it will go off as you apply it.
 
I posted that to alert people to 2K paints. Jim@sea said .
When I was looking for a small amount of gun-applied paint for a car last year the Automotive paint suppliers didn't seem to have epoxies.
I you asked for a 2 pack paint (2K) you may be supplied with a paint containing isocyanates.

I just mention this so that you check precisely what you are being supplied with.


From http://www.jawel.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=161&zenid=g58qu574rlj3incqeh1239vel2
When ICI first brought out the brand 2K (being acrylic & isocyanate) ) my garage was one of the first garages to use it. In those days the myth was that it was soluble with liquid consequently my paint sprayers took that as an excuse to clear off to the pub on the way home and the only reason they wore as mask was so they weren't recognised in case the Benefits Office sent an inspector round. (many paint sprayers were self employed but could not come in one morning every 2 weeks)
Certainly Isocyanate fumes do effect people and constant exposure can be dangerous, however the fumes you get from brushing with 2 pack are nowhere near as dangerous as when spraying as not only are you taking in the fumes you are taking in the paint particles as well.
 
Similar to Gelshield but half the price. Advantage, very quick drying, second coat half an hour later. Disadvantage, in hot weather don't put too much hardener in as it will go off as you apply it.

Jim, with respect I think you may misunderstand the nature of epoxy. With polyester/vinylester resins, it's true that varying the proportion of catalyst will indeed vary the speed of reaction. Epoxy is quite different: for the chemistry to work, the two components must be mixed in a precise ratio: molecule 'A' must combine with a certain number of molecules 'B'. If there are too many of either, the resulting compound is degraded by the persistence of unreacted molecules of whichever was in excess. To change the speed of curing of epoxy, either alter the ambient temperature or use a different hardener.

I'd also suggest that when choosing an epoxy for use in quantity (or high surface area) in confined spaces, a solvent-free epoxy would be preferable: the unpleasant fumes you first referred to were almost certainly the solvent.

PS I'm assuming you're aware of the fundamental - and profound - difference between a catalyst and a hardener.
 
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Maybe so but I prefer to have a fire-retarding barrier between the fuel tank and the engine space. I also insist (as do ISAF Special Regulations) on having a shut-off valve between the tank and the engine that can be readily reached and operated in case of emergency. Production boats are notorious for cutting corners.

Nothing to do with "corner cutting". You will also find plastic tanks fitted in the most expensive custom built boats. Neither are they cheap for one off custom building. The reason for fitting them is because they are more durable than metal tanks and for large scale production can be moulded into shapes that are not possible with metal to maximise space usage. Shut off valves as you describe are common and mandatory for MCA coding.
 
Very dangerous ....
You are using a 240 v electrical motor to extract solvent fumes... please please please don't ! and also not a good idea to advise others to do the same !!
Just being an electrical appliance is dangerous enough but a Henry gets hot as well.
 
I seem to recall reading that Danboline is used in vast amounts for painting big ships, it's plus point being that it's very un fussy about surface preparation and weather conditions thus speeding up the job no end.
 
I have used garage floor paint for years and it lasts for ages as it is water,oil and stain resistant, best part is the one I use from B & Q is made by International Paints and is half the cost of marine bilge paint, usually available in grey, red or green and blue.

Years ago I painted the whole bilge of a fishing boat with bilge paint but ran out. I couldn't buy bilge paint on that day so carried on with floor paint which was nearly the same grey.
Outcome was after five years both lasted equally well, neither one better than the other.
 
Can one obtain white garage floor paint? When I got mine (for the garage) the choice was grey, red or green and although I've seen some other colours on links given here, I don't think I've seen white - or did I miss it?
 
I have always used 2 pack epoxy as Bilge Paint, a British Standard colour is the same as Massey Ferguson Grey. OK you have to be careful with fumes when in the bilges using a brush but I found that a henry vacuum cleaner works well as a fumes extractor.
And the 2 pack epoxy (if bought from a car paint supplier) will be cheaper than Danboline and more durable. Dries (sets) quicker.

I hope you've got a flame arrestor on your Henry...

You would be a lot safer and better off to use it the other way around, blowing clean air into your face mask (though a filter.)
 
I hope you've got a flame arrestor on your Henry...

You would be a lot safer and better off to use it the other way around, blowing clean air into your face mask (though a filter.)

When I started spraying with 2 pack paint in the early 1980's it was only occasionally as my paint sprayers did it full time, one had to give up as he became ill with asthma, and obviously even then we had air-fed masks.
And when painting with a brush I did not bother. Sometimes you do have to take a decision to expose yourself to risk. (for a short time) certainly painting a bilge for an hour every 3 years (breaking it up into 3 x 20 minutes) is perhaps a bit like being in a French bar before they brought in the smoking ban. When I am painting the bilges with a brush I have the Henry up on deck and extend the hose with a length of tubing. Certainly the fumes were worse when I was doing the painting in the middle of summer but the hardest bit was when I had to crawl under the fuel tanks and the area was a bit constricted. Perhaps the expression "Familiarity breeds contempt" is apt.
(I had a drink last week with the paint sprayer who worked for me in the eighty's and he said that what did the damage was the years of spraying with cellulose as this was before air=fed masks were introduced)
 
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Bilge Paint is formulated to be very tolerant to poor surface prep and contamination as is found in most bilges, to be self priming, tough and as resistant to oil, diesel ect spills as possible also to have very high opacity to cover in one good coat even at the expense of flow /leveling properties.
Most formulating of Gloss paints (house gloss included) have none of those criteria and concentrate on quality of colour brightness / stability, gloss ect and even more so for exterior used.
Go for it if a good gloss and ultra violet stability is what you need in your bilge rather than simple toughness.
 
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