Stockholm Tar

tazzle

tazzle

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Forgive me if I've missed previous posts on this - I did search quite diligently.

One of the small joys of the boat show was the classic boat corner - my nose drew me in before my eyes saw the display. Just what I was after! A nice big ball of Stockholm-tarred whipping twine for a pilot's ladder (work in progress).

"It's worth buying just for the smell" I enthused
"Not for much longer. EU are banning it" he replied gloomily.
"Stockholm Tar? Why? Oh, is it because it's like Creosote."
"Well, that was what they thought. So they included it on the banned substances list. Then it turned out it isn't actually harmful at all. EU officials admitted this, but said it was too late to do anything about it. So it won't be here next year."

Shurely Shome mishtake, as they say?
 
A quick google shows that as of 1st Sept 2006 it is barred for wood preservation, but can be used for other uses.

One supplier describes it thus

http://www.tradboats.com/conglues.html

"Genuine Pine Tar (Stockholm Tar)

Please note well the EU has banned the use of this product from Sept 06 for use on wood. We can still use it in Oakum, on rigging, ropes and horses feet etc but not Wood. In this crazy world how do you police this??? Yet again Brussels and the suits putting their snouts into our traditional products and uses."
 
Add it to the list with Red Lead Powder etc, as things that are becoming bloody hard to get hold of. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

I know that the powder is really nasty stuff, but I've got a tin full of it, and I'm keeping it. Gods knows if I'll ever be able to get hold of any more.

They are adding so many things to the lists of banned or dangerous substances without ever really paying much atttention as to how much damage it can really do, or even whether it is dangerous at all, as Readwald says.

A great shame, Makes it harder and harder to keep things traditional and authentic!

P.S. If it is harmful, please let me know, spent a few weeks rolling by caulking by hand, so would probably absorbed quite a lot. Know I smelt very "boaty" for a while! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Interesting article here. Some countries can apply for derogation, but the concern is, if that it is not obtained by sufficient countries, then without wood preservation usage, the amounts required for sale will be so low that it won't be economic to carry on manufacturing for the uses for which it is still allowed.

http://www.european-maritime-heritage.org/EMHsite/Projects/pinetar.htm
 
The nice beardy chap on the stand said it was a Scandanavian official who wanted it to be on the banned list in the first place. Good that they are now leading the fight to save it.

Ye Gods, the damage some idiotic apparatchik keen on brownie points and promotion can do (if the tale is true).
 
You're right, interesting article!

How much paperwork, following up on how many inspections, will be necessary to prove that the boat I'm working on fits the classification to be excluded, which will then allow me to apply for a form, to get a permit, t ofinally order the stuff.
Which, as you say, will probably no longer be made due to strangled market.

What a shame. The rights to make your own decisions, to muck up and for it be your own fault, are some of the things I love about the traditional boat building industry.

"Use your head and be sensible" is such a nice way to work!
 
There was a chap on the classic boat stand who was selling Stockholm Tar and red lead.

I suppose if you can't get these things in the EU then you have to go outside of it. I bet you can still get all these goodies in Norway.
 
It's still available here in Australia, thanks to a strong [and otherwise useless] horse-racing industry. Look for establishments which cater for the equine industry, and you'll still get it, I'm sure. Racehorse owners are some of the fattest cats in the land, and have a inordinate amount of political clout, so I believe that you will continue to find it, you just have to change the search area.
Peter.
 
It's used quite a lot in the sheep industry for a variety of functions:

a dab on the back of a newborn lamb's neck makes it less palatable to foxes

to seal a foot, where the hoof has had to be cut away to deal with rot

on open wounds in spring / summer, when there's a danger of fly strike (flies lay eggs in a scratch, eggs hatch, maggots eat animal)

spread on top of gates, it prevents animals "crib-biting" (chewing the wood)

Spread on top of gates near a public footpath, it prevents ramblers climbing over the top without suffering staining, and the impregnation of a very resilient sticky mixture onto hands and clothing.

It's available in all good agricultural suppliers. No licence needed.

Proper job !
 
The eec should be stopped,there are so many new and stupid rules being passed into law every day

Who knows for example that if your fined abroad you now have to pay the fine in your own contry.The admin in France dosent know more than we will have to pay.

In march 2006 i drove my 1958 landrover to Switzerland. on an empty three lane road and was stopped for doing 81 kms in an 80 kms zone.

After 2 kms as i entered the town i was stopped i told them that a 5% error in the speedos ok and with mine its more and allowed. I then told them i couldent pay the 280sfr (£120) fine as i was to poor

They let me go on with a promise to send the fine. It arrived two weeks ago! They hope to get the money even though the eec laws not retrospective.that france will have to collect the swiss Italian fines!In Italy i never so far had a speeding fine.

The eec is a scandal just a new form of taxation and there forever saying they dont know where to spend the money while schools and universitys have no money???

I have 10 liters of tar should i buy more???
 
So, I can continue to slather it over the rigging, but...

I now have to keep it off the deadeyes, lest it accidentally preserve them? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Other EU conundrums

There is a similarly daft rule somewhere about copper antifoul. In one EU country (can't remember which) it is perfectly OK to have copper antifoul on your boat, but illegal to buy it or apply it in that country. Personally, I subscribe to the French interpretation of EU laws.
 
Do you know if it is manufactured in australia at all. Historically it was manufactured in scandinavian countries, so the sources may yet dry up unless a friendly racehorse owner decides to buy a factory? Don't know, just interested
 
Olso... Bergen...

Er, Norway has a large and enthusiastic following for wooden boats, many of which use Stockholm tar by the bucketful, had plenty of trees to make it from, does indeed make it...and is not in the EU. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
Re: Olso... Bergen...

Exactly my point when I said it can be bought in Norway. I was just pointing out that in Sweden the stuff isn't made in Stockholm any more, and I believe that on the east coast of Norway at least most of the boat owners buy it from Goteborg. At least the ones I met did.

I think however the Norwiegens prefer Trekfast oil instead of pure Stockholm tar.
 
Re: Olso... Bergen...

I wish the tin the tar comes in was more rust proof.The bottems comeing out of mine.If been seniable i should have painted it with Zink. Ill buy another tin since this one is very old!

I got an email this morning to say no one not even those adminestering it know more than fine will be sent on if its retrospective fines from the 90s will be collected if not contries like switzerland will try anyway.

The EEC is for big busness and only more troubles and taxes for the ordinary person in the street If i have to pay 200 euros i cant buy a new depth
 
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