2 Part Polyurethane Paint not available for amateurs in Europe anymore?

[Franziska]

Hi,

I just looked into buying some two component "International Perfection" polyurethane paint from several distributors in Europe.
All two component PU Paints seem suddenly labeled only for sale to qualified professionals.
I hope that there will be ways around this. 2K-PU is much longer lasting and of better quality than 1K paint.

I fear that this legislation was put into place to prevent users to use them without proper safety gear.

This just as a heads up for those who need matching tins for retouching their painted areas with the same color.

Maybe someone has details on the legislative changes?
I only noted the designations on the websites.

Btw. will the same happen to Epoxy?

[Nicholson58]

Urethane 2-part typically consists of polyol and isocyanate components. The isocyanate is toxic to inhale and can be absorbed through the skin. Epoxy is non-hazardous. I suspect the regulations changed to reflect this.

Long term, the single part problems are:
Reduced durability
Can’t be used under water
Must be totally removed to apply 2-part paints
Color matching

Note also that many top end paints are similarly an issue. This would include Awlgrip.

Don’t you just love it when big daddy decides what’s best for you?

The other possibility is that the professionals pushed this to make you buy their services.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Hi,

I just looked into buying some two component "International Perfection" polyurethane paint from several distributors in Europe.
All two component PU Paints seem suddenly labeled only for sale to qualified professionals.
I hope that there will be ways around this. 2K-PU is much longer lasting and of better quality than 1K paint.

I fear that this legislation was put into place to prevent users to use them without proper safety gear.

This just as a heads up for those who need matching tins for retouching their painted areas with the same color.

Maybe someone has details on the legislative changes?
I only noted the designations on the websites.

Btw. will the same happen to Epoxy?

Thinking of your professional background, you *are* a qualified professional.

Maybe you will be able to just use your business to purchase this?

I had to do the same for much of my boat project. I had to open commercial accounts everywhere.

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

Urethane 2-part typically consists of polyol and isocyanate components. The isocyanate is toxic to inhale and can be absorbed through the skin. Epoxy is non-hazardous. I suspect the regulations changed to reflect this.

Long term, the single part problems are:
Reduced durability
Can’t be used under water
Must be totally removed to apply 2-part paints
Color matching

Note also that many top end paints are similarly an issue. This would include Awlgrip.

Don’t you just love it when big daddy decides what’s best for you?

The other possibility is that the professionals pushed this to make you buy their services.

In this case I totally agree on these, especially when it comes to overprotection.
And yes, I am pretty sure the pro folks are very happy about this too.

Thankfully I am a certified boat builder, even though I do not work in the field, I might be able to get my hands on it.

It's pretty obvious to wear a mask & gloves and suit when handling this sort of stuff. Especially when spraying it.

[Matt Johnson]

It's not just any mask... you're supposed to use a supplied air system when using these paints. Though I've yet to see this done in anything but high end or constant use production.

[boatpoker]

Also no longer available to the public in Canada ... unless you have back door connections. One cannot buy it in the US and have it shipped to Canada either.

PS. Perfection is the best paint I have ever used.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by Matt Johnson

It's not just any mask... you're supposed to use a supplied air system when using these paints. Though I've yet to see this done in anything but high end or constant use production.

Indoors, spray booth, I agree. Outdoors, brush, roller, airless - respirator and paper suit.

Take the boat to Trinidad and you can do anything.

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by Matt Johnson

It's not just any mask... you're supposed to use a supplied air system when using these paints. Though I've yet to see this done in anything but high end or constant use production.

If you are spraying surely, also when you are brushing or rolling inside with mediocre ventilation.

But I doubt that in practice it is really necessary when applying with a roller outside.
A good mask with a chemical filter is most likely fine in this use scenario.

To ban the sale of it seems a bit of an extreme measure.

[Cwens]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

Indoors, spray booth, I agree. Outdoors, brush, roller, airless - respirator and paper suit.

Take the boat to Trinidad and you can do anything.

With many hazardous materials, if your respirator is leaking or otherwise failing you, you will immediately be alerted to the problem by getting a strong smell of the material. A problem, specifically with isocyanates, is that they don't have a particularly strong smell relative to their toxicity. If you're getting poisoned you won't know it. Hence the need for positive air supply rather than a filter respirator.

[Nicholson58]

The iso component alone is the toxicity issue. Once mixed, the hazard is significantly reduced. There are so many ways to get hurt on a boat it’s difficult to rationalize why this one hit the crosshairs.

[Cwens]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

The iso component alone is the toxicity issue. Once mixed, the hazard is significantly reduced. There are so many ways to get hurt on a boat it’s difficult to rationalize why this one hit the crosshairs.

Once reacted, it's pretty much inert. But when the two components are first mixed (and then when sprayed or rolled) they aren't fully reacted yet.



The big problem with 2-part urethane is that there isn't much warning: the particularly toxic stuff just doesn't smell much, so if your carbon filter is used up or if your mask leaks, you're not going to notice it. Some anecdotal stuff here: https://autobodystore.com/forum/arch...p/t-12035.html

[LakeSuperior]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

Indoors, spray booth, I agree. Outdoors, brush, roller, airless - respirator and paper suit.

Unfortunately, having a few years experience formulating 2 part urethane coatings, I have to strongly disagree. You want/need a positive pressure hood for any application of these coatings.