Blakes/Hempels Paints

[Mirelle]

I have been slapping Blakes paints on my various wooden boats since 1969, but I am starting to have doubts.

They keep messing about with the stuff.

"Grey metallic primer", for instance, was the great standby - four coats on bare wood, first two coats thinned, above or below the waterline. Everyone knew that. Only now there seem to be two varieties one for above the waterline and one for below, and they have not told us why, that I can see. What was wrong with the old stuff? What is good about the new stuff?

Then there was "undercoat for yacht enamel". Simple enough stuff in all conscience, but no, it had to go and be replaced with "primer undercoat", whatever that is, which does not behave like an undercoat.

Why?

I thought it was just me, but a straw poll this afternoon showed 4 other owners and professional painter, all saying the same!

Can anyone shed light on this?

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?

 

[tillergirl]

I am beginning to have the same opinion. And I get really bugged by the tins. I tried to get the lid off a new tin of their varnish which was sealed in the factory with a bit of what looked like varnish. The lid's so weak and the seal so tight, I had to mess around trying to straighten the lid afterwards to get it to seal properly again. The Woodsealer's worse - unless you have wiped the faces spotlessly clean of the stuff, you can never get the lid off again - and as for the water based anti-foul which I use for the bronze transducer - which obviously doesn't take a lot - the tin rusted away at the lid seal from the water in the product.

Really it only needs to shine for 7/8 months and stay on for another 4 so I am not really sure why I don't use domestic stuff.

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[Plum]

I agree. They have been messing about with the varnishes also. The one I had been using for years has now been discontinued and none of the new ones are a comparable replacement according to the Blakes technical help-line. All very confusing and destroys your faith in their products.

Can't find an e-mail address for them.................

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[Mirelle]

I've had the too-thin tin lid problem, also.

At this rate, International will be seeing more of me. Unless anyone can recommend a proper paint company?

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?

 

[castaway]

Couple of years back I had a problem with the rubbery varnish like seal around the lid on a can of Blakes varnish.

After a rather poor start with a member of their staff, the MD phoned me at home to explain why this was being done. Apparently do to carridge regulations. My snag was that the bloomin seal was breaking up and falling into the product.

They refunded my costs for the varnish... not too bad I guess.

I now tend to use Int Schooner(quicker drying) but the last lot the tin lid would not reseal tight at all, and I ended up having to decant it all into a different bottle...

Whats going on in the world of packaging?

All best Nick

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[DMGibson]

I echo completely the problems you are having with Blakes paints. I complained to them last year about their "primer/undercoat" but they still don't seem to understand the problem. Perhaps "I won't buy it again" from enough people will get through eventually.

The topsides on mine have been done with Permoglaze for many years, both undercoat and topcoat, and that is by the boatyard. There is no problem with wear, or adhesion year after year, and the range of colours is almost infinite. The finish is also excellent, and gives a very good gloss. The colour may fade after a year, but who cares, as it gets done again next year.

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[tillergirl]

I've found an advantage of using Blakes! I just been rubbing TG down on the beach to get ready for undercoating. It only took me two hours to abrade all the gloss so now I know why I use it! (That last bits irony)

Now this may be a daft question but if the seal on the lid is as awkward as it is for transport purposes why do Homebase paints have lids that come off nice and easily and reseal. Perhaps Homebase make it in every one of their stores. (Irony again that last bit, I don't really believe it)

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[jorinda]

It's even worse when you've got to sell the stuff, new products mean I've got to get rid of last years flavour at a discount or save it for the boat jungle's.
On the bright side I have had very good reports on Blakes new classic varnish with tung oil. Could it be that they have finally realised that the old ingredients are the best.

<hr width=100% size=1>The Chandler at Bucklers Hard

 

[Richard_Blake]

Re: Belated bump...

with fairly ancient information, but do you know Llewellyn Ryland? We used their "Rylard (sp on can) Plus Enamel Finishing" about 8 years ago and it lasted for four with virtually invisible touching-up (V little colour fade). Nice to apply, easy wet edge, high solids, traditional recipe, tough and flexible. Stable gloss. They may have had to re-formulate as there's a lead warning sticker on my last can, but if they still exist they might be worth a try:

Llewellyn Ryland ltd
Haden Street, Birmingham B12 9DB.
tel: 021 440 2284, fax: 021 440 0281.

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