Tubes of epoxy, glues, etc.; why no date code?

[Anonymous]

Yet again I have used a pack of epoxy that is clearly past its best despite having bought it only weeks ago from a chandlery -- the same chandlery, I should add, that sold me a CO monitor last December which, when I got it back, had a 'manufactured' label on it of circa 1975 (sic!!). So, having failed, I delved into the 'goos and gunges' box to find some Chemical Metal (Registered Trade Mark). This failed to set properly though to be fair to the Chemical Metal (Registered Trade Mark) folk, I have had it quite a while....

But HOW long? I have no idea. I have lots of goos and gunges in the 'goos and gunges' box and cannot always remember when I bought them.

Please, all you makers of goos and gunges, put some kind of date coding on your products.

In particular I note:-

Pattex Aqua Stop distributed by Henkel Italia Spa Batch No 42551 which I purchased in Rome in April and is completely useless -- flakes and falls apart.

Plastic Padding Chemical Metal marketed by Loctite probably bought in the UK, but when? There is no date coding on the pack but the larger tube is coded 716155. Not very handy, that, when determining if the product is fit to use. It isn't. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Surely all they have to do is mark the date of manufacture or suggested use by date.

But then retailers might not be happy with that, eh?

 

[boguing]

I'm with you on this. Bought a large bottle of "PinkStuff" weatherproof pva type glue.

Not only is it not weatherproof, but it clearly says 'use within 6 months of manufacture'.

And no date anywhere.

 

[Anonymous]

I shan't ever buy this sort of product from chandleries and small shops again. Their turnover is unknown. I'm going to throw out most of my goos and gunges and replace with new stock bought from major stores such as Leroy Merlin, who have a high turnover, and write the purchase date on the pack.

We do quite long passages and these basis epoxies, etc., are essential in the case of failure at sea. Once they have deteriorated their performance is useless.

If any chandlery or smaller shop wants to sell to me, he will have to stock date-coded products.

 

[Pasarell]

Most of it is date coded - but in code! I bet the number you quoted will translate into a date by those that know. I think you've identified the problem in that most small retailers, chandlers etc have such a slow turnover they don't want actual dates to highlight the age. Manufacturers have taken that a stage further by not telling retailers how to break the code.
Very irritating!