Very OT, but sad, we need to paint our decks

[jcarter]

Went to the paint store yesterday to buy the good old tough Gray Porch and Deck paint. Our deck in Maine is exposed to salt spray and our 2 decks here in MA also, but not as direct. So we have used the oil based old tough paint and it lasts and lasts.
The clerk said, we cant sell it any more, its gone!
The new stuff is watery, and you have to apply more coats to get the same results, and its more expensive.
What gives?  Is the EPA going to ban all the good paint that we need?

Im disgusted, we will try in Maine, as they might have old inventory that they will sell quietly in the little local stores.
If we had known this, we would have stockpiled it. Though we do have an extra gallon in our cellar, thank god.
Jane

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

we have used the oil based old tough paint and it lasts and lasts.

If it's so durable, why are you needing to re-paint?! I suspect it was not only oil-based (which is not in any way banned, AFAIK) but also was "heavy" with Lead (no pun intended, of course). Of course, some oil-based paints use a lot of environmentally unfriendly 'volatile aromatics' that speed up the drying time.

[jcarter]

Need to repaint, as we do get lots of salty air, and the paint gets worn from foot traffic, (and dog nail traffic.) And it protects the wood and looks nicer.
The old stuff is oil based, but has no lead content.
And it did dry quite quickly. Which is important to us, as the decks get a lot of use.  We use it in Maine all the time. Used to anyway.

I am wondering why the EPA can make these decisions that have not been studied in depth. For example, they took pressure treated lumber off the market thinking that the stuff in it was absorbed thru human skin, and later it was proven that this does not happen.
Its sad when a good product gets banned without enough research to prove that it is in fact dangerous.  
Where are checks and balances?

[chriskleeman]

Jane, check this stuff out: Penofin

Based with Brazilian Rosewood oil. Good stuff, although it may not come in Grey, but I think it does. We use it here, very durable.

Chris  

[jcarter]

Thank you,
This looks like a good product.  It could be a light blue or tan if not grey.
I will be needing to look into a product that will stand up around here and in Maine.
A neighbour is a commercial painter and he said he is trying out some new products and will let us know what he recommends.
This is his puppy playing with Lilly yesterday,,,,,,,, for some reason this little .mov wont load properly. Here is a photo instead,

[kcourt]

Here in California, we have not been able to purchase any oil based paints for years.

I agree with you that those latex paints are not as durable, and if you don't do the pre-treatment carefully, you will find the paint scraping off.

Kathy

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

for some reason this little .mov wont load properly

Assuming you mean it won't load at TS, it's probably because the only images allowed are jpeg, gif and possibly tif and png. No movies of any kind, AFAIK. There's probably a list of accepted formats in the settings, somewhere. Mainly, if the format is not allowed, if "Upload" button simply doesn't work. There are also size limits, no matter what their format, of course.

When all else fails, read the stupid directions?

[jcarter]

Oh, I forgot to look for the info, should have put the movie up onto my site.
But instead here is a picture, see if you can find Lilly, hint, she is under the water after jumping out of my husband's kayak today.
Im getting OT here, but it was such a perfect day, and still plenty warm enuf to swim in the lakes, but the ocean is colder.

[Texas Mac Man]

The Changing Landscape for Household Paint
http://www.oldhousejournal.com/changing_la...s/magazine/1131

Oil Based Paint Ban
http://paintingyourhouse.info/oil-based-paint-ban.htm

Why did the EPA ban Oil-based Paints recently in the Painting Trade?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qi...29142950AAMhOZK

[jcarter]

Thank you for these links.
The EPA has far far too much power!  
Many of their bans are not researched enough, and the products that they have banned, come to find out after the fact, are not that harmful.
And what is 'Harmful?'.
There needs to be much more understanding of what is a good product and what is really bad. If we have to use much more of a lesser 'harmful' product to accomplish the same results, is there any difference?
Its indeed upsetting to see the products that worked well and were not harmful, stripped from the market without proper research.
Thats my rant for the year.
Jane

[RHPConsult]

The "new" washing machine standards are another example of the Nanny State (designed and managed by far too many liberal arts (e.g. "World Politics") majors who wouldn't know an engineer if one sat down in their lap(s).

The new ones work so poorly that one must buy "cleaners" for the washer, ferhevensakes, to prevent all sorts of problems over time.

How's that Statism thing workin' out for everbody?

[jcarter]

Thats the reason we are keeping our old washer running, you can still get parts for them and other old and good appliances, thank god.

We subscribe to Consumer Reports and they really dont tell the truth any more, but you sure can get the info on the 'net, and we are getting some pretty pathetic products sold to us.
Though I can say our new dehumidifier works very well. But thats only one of many.

Jane

[Xairbusdriver]

Perhaps you have some links to the "washing machine standards" that are causing companies to create 'new' products for "cleaning the cleaners?" I've seen ads for these products and assumed that it was more idiotic 'marketing' blather (usually created by those non-engineers?). I'd suggest that there are no "washing machine standards" that have anything to do with their ability to do their job. Rather it is the environmental standards for the detergents that in the past have heavily polluted our fresh water that is the cause of any lack of 'self-cleaning' effects. Still a result of EPA regulations, of course, but, apparently, a new source of income for the corporations making these new products. Nor are the new products a new phenomena, 'snake oil' is one of the oldest 'products' around, probably second in age only to the "oldest profession" known.

Now, if these regulations, designed to protect the environment and thus all other life forms, are such a problem, perhaps the "studies" needed should have been done prior to the creation of the products? Of course, that would have meant increased costs and investigations by corporations and we certainly don't want their quest for profits to be in any way deterred, after all, their CEO's provide numerous jobs for maids, drivers and butlers, thus proving jobs for Americans (occasionally, anyway).

My point, of course, is that we need to be careful about throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Or maybe just go back and read a little of the consequences of unregulated industry. Or even move to some third-world country? Things are seldom as 'black or white" as we wish.

I can even remember a time when our legislators considered the voters as their constituents instead of worshiping large contributors. The concept of public service seems to have been forgot by the vast majority of elected officials at all levels of government, IMHO. And who's fault is that (he asks while looking in a mirror)?

[jcarter]

You sure said it well, let them do their studies before they zilch a product.
Im going down to our hardware store to get some upholstery cleaner, lets see if I can get that good old foaming stuff that works wonders.
What do you bet, that its been 'replaced' and taken off the market.

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

let them do their studies before they zilch a product.

I think you missed who I'm talking about... You're "them" and "their" pronoun is called the corporations who create the products that cause pollution, health problems and even death. The "they" is the EPA. Two entirely different entities. One designed to make money and hopefully emily Americans. The other is a division of our Federal Government that was created by our Legislators who also tell it what and when to do something, often changing with the whims of the elected 'leaders,' of course.

Both groups can provide great benefits to all of us. However, both need supervision and monitoring. Both are run by humans, who, so far, always seem to be fallible. Neither is inherently evil, but neither is totally "pure as the fallen snow," either. BTW, "pure" snow flakes have a piece of dirt/dust in its center...