Goldspar rant.

[John B]

http://www.oneoceankayaks.com/Shjpglrg/Varnish/goldvarnishlg.jpg
http://www.discount-marine.co.nz/catalog/images/p42_Goldspar.jpg
This has been bugging me for 3 years now. I sort of accidentally brought it up in misc but I'm doing that rare thing and reposting the essential part of it here because this is where its most relevant.
It used to be Epiglass Goldspar when I first bought it in the early 80's

Do you know that those $%#@&^)(* do not make a can that can be resealed?
20 years I've been using that product. TWENTY. They've changed the brew on me 2 times at least and I keep quiet. But now some little scumsucking penny pinching bean counting mongrel in some dark room in the basement of head office has decided to GLUE the lid on with some arcane sealing mixture at the same time as he drops the scantlings of the can ( as required by his membership of Bastards International).Even if you talk gently to the varnish can as you ease the lid off with a flat blade upholstered with the skin of a virgin Chamois, you'll damage the sucker. And even if you take the can to an engineers shop and beg the use of a press to evenly replace the lid, with a psychotherapist standing beside the can explaining to it that whats happening is good for it in the long term , after having wiped prozac around the rim to dull the shock... the $%#@!*&^ thing will still fold.

And this year this fool bought a 4l tin when he only needed 2 !!
:mad:
You know what I hate. I hate that I knew they did that. Because it actually happened when they changed the cans about 2 or 3 years ago. So now we collect glass jars with screw top lids just so I can decant the excess rassinfr GOLDSPAR into them.. still, you lose some.
Fancy doing that. Deliberately making a product in a bad container so you lose it and have to buy more next time. Its either a bad bad bad mistake or a cynical attempt at profiteering. :mad:

[ 11-29-2005, 09:22 PM: Message edited by: John B ]

[John Bell]

Dunno about paint cans, but I read most of the cost of a canned soft drink was the can. And most of the cost of the can was the top, which is why pop top can tops have gotten smaller over the years. There's big money to saved in packaging, that's why it's done.

My suggestion: find out who is the product manager for your stuff and write him a note. He/she would probably like hearing from an actual consumer.

[ 11-29-2005, 04:52 PM: Message edited by: John Bell ]

[John B]

That product ( as I understand it)is owned by a multinational company distributing all around the world. I doubt that a call from some Kiwi will change anything.

I think what I'll do John, is use what I've got and vote with my feet.

Really,( apart from venting) the purpose of the post is to say that if you use this product , make sure you have a suitable container to decant your excess into.

[ 11-29-2005, 05:03 PM: Message edited by: John B ]

[BFR]

I questioned the the rep on this one a while back..... no answer but it's tru no matter how carefull you are the damn stuff won't seal.
The reason for the glueing on of the lid was for transport you can drop an unopened can and there not sposed to bust open but as they make the stuff here in NZ again they might change the can hopefully.

[Dan Payne]

congrats John B...the most eloquent rant I've ever read in this great forum. You are the king!

[Billy Bones]

I feel your pain.

I might humbly whisper one consoling word into your ear.

*****(come closer)*****

**********(that's it)**********

eeeeeeeepppppppiiiiiiiipppppphhhhhhaaaaaannnnnneee esssss

*****didja get it?*******

No more of the F@#$%ing "I" for me if I can help it.

Brilliant rant by the way.

[formerlyknownasprince]

http://www.feastwatson.com.au/images/pages/weather_proof_227.jpg

Local product (from the West Island)

Good cans too.

[Rick Tyler]

Originally posted by John B:
That product ( as I understand it)is owned by a multinational company distributing all around the world. I doubt that a call from some Kiwi will change anything.I've been in product management for a long time. Any feedback from real customers is a good thing, but here is the Secret Tip. Write a real letter, on paper, with good spelling and everything, and send it to an executive of the company. The name and address of the marketing cheez is:

Bob Donat
Vice President Marketing
2270 Morris Avenue
Union, New Jersey 07083, USA

[Don Z.]

Actually, do you know what I'd like?

Think of all that cheap wine that comes in boxes. Toss the box. Now look at that neat, air tight, mylar bag with a tap on it.

Now, I ask you... if you could buy varnish in one of those bags (even with the box), would you?

I'm at the point where I'm about ready to find the machine that fills those bags, and every time I buy another litre of Epifanes, decant the whole thing into the bag, and...

[LLaver]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Don Z.:
[QB]Actually, do you know what I'd like?

Think of all that cheap wine that comes in boxes. Toss the box.......

Dont forget to toss the wine as well! tongue.gif

Lee

[ 11-30-2005, 12:28 AM: Message edited by: LLaver ]

[formerlyknownasprince]

Think of all that cheap wine that comes in boxes. Toss the box. Now look at that neat, air tight, mylar bag with a tap on it.
Great lateral thinking Don. I use old PET softdrink bottles myself - not too hard to fill and just squeeze the air out as you do the lid up.

Ian

[Wild Wassa]

You can buy disposable plastic lids from professional paint suppliers to alleviate this problem.

Bristol Paints have them sitting on their front counters in Oz. I'm not sure about hardware stores stocking the disposable lids but paint suppliers certainly do.

Using a paint can openner will stop the lid from warping. Screw drivers and other spatulas just don't cut it.

Warren.

[ 11-30-2005, 02:02 AM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[Paul G]

John,

I had EXACTLY the same problem with goldspar.

Here is the solution,,,,,,

After use store that can upside down, solved all problems except the one where the formula seems to go off if there is too much air in the can.

Paul

[ 11-30-2005, 02:50 AM: Message edited by: Paul G ]

[Wild Wassa]

Paul, the lids come in different depths and styles because the air needs to be expelled as you are aware and inverting a can for long term storage is a good idea. With varnish, 3 months is a long time to store a half used can.

There are floating lids, I think they are called 'paint savers' an excellent way to help preserve open paint. Some disposable lids come in different depths to help take up the volume when the volume isn't great. You can even fill the space with kid's marbles.

Removing the air can be as simple as blowing carbon dioxide from your breath into the space or a squirt of Freon or LP gas then invert the can for longer storage.

Adding a small amount of quality linseed oil (like a refined linseed oil) or Penetrol to varnish and oil based paints, without mixing it will provide a protective layer that will slow down skinning for quite a while and the oil is decanted before use.

When repackaging paint as mentioned, label well.

I only buy marine paint in 1lt tins, even if I need 5lts because I like to use fresh pint. This costs me 20% more over buying 5lts in one tin. This pays for itself because there is little wastage and the convenience of fresh paint helps keep the quality high.

Warren.

[ 11-30-2005, 05:27 AM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[shamus]

We keep a supply of new paint tins in 1l 500ml and 250ml to decant into to save the unused portions. Saves heaps of paint. We are able to buy them from a local business- maybe you could too? I haven't come across one of these glued on lids yet- sounds like a bad idea for the end user all right.

[John B]

Those are all good points guys. now that the rushofbloodtothehead has dissipated I'll no doubt fall back into my "stick with what you know" mode and continue to use the product afterall.

Paul, the point was that the can gets damaged by merely opening it and it can't even be resealed while the job is going, let alone be turned upside down. They lightened the can and have this glue type seal now so the lid edge bends off no matter how careful you are and when you tap it back on... the taper fit is different now too so that if you put a foot wrong the whole can edge now distorts.
So you have to decant the product straight away whereas in previous years... oops... previous decades of use , I've been able to use the can from day to day and reseal it no problemo. With this stupid thing you may get away with it once or twice but its better to just go straight to a new tin/bottle/jar/replaceable, aftermarket lid.

[ 11-30-2005, 12:23 PM: Message edited by: John B ]

[uncas]

John B...ya actually put it up here....
Oh are you...more than a little annoyed...Sorry I posted the pic to begin with...
Although I can only agree with ya. :D

[John B]

I just never know whats going to set me off. no need to apologise. :D

I've had this email this am.

"John,
You have got it all wrong!!!
Surely the more relevant issue facing us hard working yachties is the issue involving Rum.
Why is it that "the day after", when you return to your bottle, the damn stuff has evaporated, even though the lid is tightly secured?"

[uncas]

I bought a bottle of rum last summer...not the first time and probably not the last.
Left the bottle..unopened in the cockpit...Next morning...woke up...looked at the bottle...completely empty...thought I had had some night visitors..
Nope...picked up the bottle and the bottle's bottom stayed in the cockpit...broke right on the seam.
Gotta a replacement for free though...

[ 11-30-2005, 02:36 PM: Message edited by: uncas ]

[John B]

Appletons? I've seen that happen with that brand.

[uncas]

Na...some Jamacian brand...Can't remember...It was on sale and I'm scottish if you get my drift... :D