Foulest smelling stuff.

[kingfisher]

I'm in the middle of applying 5 layers of int'l Gelshield 200 on the hull. Man, that must be the foulest smelling stuff I ever used on a boat. And the boat's on the hard in a wooden barn, with the wind blowing right through it.

I'm amazed it's not on the list of controlled substances. The buzz you get after sniffing the stuff for two hours. Mind you, costs as much as pure colombian snow, though.

Is there anything worse ? Items of personnel hygiene are herewith excluded!

Obi-Wan
http://sirocco31.tripod.com

 

[tony_brighton]

How much is pure Columbian snow?

 

[simonjinks]

Is that International or Blakes Columbian Snow?

 

[Mr Cassandra]

I expect it does snow on the high mountains ! but why would anyone want to buy it?.cheers. bob t

Bob T

 

[Buck]

depends if its cut with jif.

Buck

the past is past, only the future can change.

 

[Ohdrat]

Well if anyone has problems with supply of columbian snow there is plenty of vintage Antartic Ice heading north..

 

[kingfisher]

International.NM

NM

Obi-Wan
http://sirocco31.tripod.com

 

[PaulJ]

Sorry to be so boring but Gelshield is an Epoxy and epoxy is nasty stuff - the fumes are highly carcinogenic and you really should use some kind of mask if not proper breathing apparatus........

As for what is worse..... I recall in my youth skinning a stoat and puncturing some kind of scent gland..... that was definitely a lot worse!!!

 

[vyv_cox]

I think not.

The post refers to Gelshield 200, which has a solvent carrier. I suspect the solvent to be naptha, a mixture of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, and the ingredient that smells seems to me to be toluene. Personally, I don't think it's all that bad, but it is a bit oppressive. Same stuff is used in many antifouling products.

Epoxy is certainly not "highly carcinogenic". If you would like to do a Google search entering the words "epoxy, resin, carcinogen" you will find exactly the opposite. Not a nice product for prolonged exposure but perfectly safe taking normal personal protection measures into account.

 

[graham]

Re: I think not.

I hope you are right Viv after rolling 5 coats onto my hull without taking many(any?)precautions.

 

[PaulJ]

Re: I think not.

I am not a chemist and despite trawling the International web-site I have not been able to find the info we require. My statement that epoxies are carcinogenic was based on information I was given in a telephone conversation I had with someone in International's "Technical Department" when I was doing my homework prior to coating my steel boat. I was told that it's carcinogenic properties and EC regulations were the reason that International had to change the formulation of VC-Tar to what is now VC-tar2..... in the end I used Jotamastic though not for that reason. OK neither is Gelshield but epoxy is epoxy and I suspect that none of it is particularly good for you. I have two different epoxies at the moment and both carry the warning on the tin that breathing apparatus should be used if there is insufficient ventilation - I use a mask with an inorganic filter cartridge which seems to do the trick. If you wish to breath the stuff, it's a free country.....

 

[Guest]

Sounds to me more like it should have an ICI Autocolour code. Wasn't it an option on the BMW 7 series?

 

[Mirelle]

Opposite extreme

I am in the middle of dressing my rigging, varnishing the spars and coamings and painting the topsides.

"Dressing the rigging?" Yes. The served parts get two coats of Stockholm Tar, redolent of pine trees in summer, and the plain galvanised parts get three coats of linseed oil, redolent of cricket bats. I like the smell of a good long oil varnish, and the smell of old fashioned Yacht Enamel is, to me, the smell of Spring!

Why not get a real boat!

 

[vyv_cox]

Re: Opposite extreme

Few Health and Safety authorities would support your view that the stuff used in "the good old days" was safer than the newer products. All paint and resin products on the market are tested exhaustively and, contrary to opinions expressed, carcinogens are extremely difficult to obtain by professionals and almost impossible for the average consumer.

On the other hand, your ancient stuff has probably never been tested. Tar, in particular, contains a most umpleasant mixture of aromatic chemicals, including benzene, perhaps the top offender in the carcinogen stakes. I've no idea what is in your other products and more to the point, probably neither does anyone else. Chances are that they are far more harmful than those tested and approved by the HSE.

 

[Mirelle]

Re: Opposite extreme

Vyv, I did'nt say it was safer; I just said it smells better!

But I suspect that, with a few notable exceptions such as antifreeze, which apparently tastes nice but is lethal, things that smell vile probably are bad for you.

Anyway, since the smell is the same as the one that is expensively added to household cleaners ("fresh pine"...) I suspect it cannot be too bad.