Running out of Curing Agent on International Perfection Varnish

[STATUE]

It really doesn't matter whether it is a two-pot Varnish or Paint, I always run out of the Curing Agent with plenty of base left.

Can I buy a separate tin of Curing Agent?

... OR ... is there a substitute I could use?

 

[STATUE]

Is there anybody there ?

 

[sailorman]

Most of us have been there :encouragement:
the hardener is affected my moisture, make a hole in the lid & only decant what you need foe small quants. seal the hole & it will last longer b 4 going hard.
i dont think hardener is available separately

 

[Jim@sea]

I have this problem. I have an unused tin of International 2 Pack Varnish with no hardener. I also have 3 litres of Ford Diamond White 2 Pack with no hardener. So from a Car Paint supplier I bought a 1 litre tin of their Hardener for (Clear over base which is what I use as varnish) and it appears exactly the same.
So I mixed a bit and it is perfect. (using Acetone as a thinners)

 

[JumbleDuck]

Here's the safety data sheet for Part B ... good luck mixing that lot up at home.

http://datasheets1.international-coatings.com/msds/YVA951E1_GBR_ENG.pdf

On a more fundamental note, why are you running out of curing agent? Are these things not like epoxies, with two parts which need to be mixed in as near the correct ratio as possible, rather than polyester resin with which you can, within reasonable limits, tweak the amount of catalytic hardener to accelerate or slow down the cure? Do they tend to supply an excess of Part A or are your measuring processes a bit iffy?

I'm about to mix and apply five layers of epoxy paint to my hull, so giving such things thought at the moment.

 

[HinewaisMan]

Most of us have been there :encouragement:
the hardener is affected my moisture, make a hole in the lid & only decant what you need foe small quants. seal the hole & it will last longer b 4 going hard.
i dont think hardener is available separately

You're right, Part B is frighteningly hygroscopic.

Once opened I keep my tin in a ziploc bag with a hand full of silica gel thrown in.

I have now actually finished cans of Part B that are a year or two old and haven't gone hard.

 

[STATUE]

I have this problem. I have an unused tin of International 2 Pack Varnish with no hardener. I also have 3 litres of Ford Diamond White 2 Pack with no hardener. So from a Car Paint supplier I bought a 1 litre tin of their Hardener for (Clear over base which is what I use as varnish) and it appears exactly the same.
So I mixed a bit and it is perfect. (using Acetone as a thinners)

Thanks Jim,

Are you able to tell me who the supplier was - or can I just walk into Halfords and get it ?

 

[Birdseye]

It really doesn't matter whether it is a two-pot Varnish or Paint, I always run out of the Curing Agent with plenty of base left.

Can I buy a separate tin of Curing Agent?

... OR ... is there a substitute I could use?

You just have to be misunderstanding the mixing ratios. We all have it a bit out of ratio by the time we are using the last bit but "plenty of base left" suggests you have something wrong

 

[lw395]

You're right, Part B is frighteningly hygroscopic.

Once opened I keep my tin in a ziploc bag with a hand full of silica gel thrown in.

I have now actually finished cans of Part B that are a year or two old and haven't gone hard.

I have a batch of 2-pack white international that came with my first yacht.
Still worked OK when I used a bit last year, must have been first opened in the mid 90's.....

I mix by volume using syringes.

 

[Jim@sea]

Thanks Jim,

Are you able to tell me who the supplier was - or can I just walk into Halfords and get it ?

If there are no paint places near you who sell paint and materials to car body shops, go to your nearest bodyshop and ask where they get their 2 pack stuff from.