Behr Varnish

[larry wave]

I was in Home Depot the other day found myself wisfully looking through the Behr products, hoping to find an old can of varnish that had sat unnoticed since becoming discontinued. What I found was a gallon can of Behr classic oil Spar Varnish B-320. I thought that maybe this was the old stuff in a new can. SO I called Behr products yesterday and was told that it was a new product, but "just as good as the old stuff." I am doubtfull. Before I open the can, does anyone have experiance with this stuff?

[CharlieCobra]

Keep us posted on the results...

[Jay Greer]

Well, that is a new one on me! After going around the block several times with the corporate heads of Behr, they may have taken notice. I'll check further into it. The only reason for changing the formula may be to bring it into EPA compliance. The old formula has been around for nearly sixty years. One way to get it to pass restrictions is to increase the viscosity. This is what most other manufactures have done. And that is why nearly all current varnishes need thinning in order for them to flow correctly during application.
Jay

[larry wave]

So I just got off the phone with a tech rep at Behr, and he says that it is basically the same stuff- the only differnce is that the new product is made with soybeen oil instead of lineseed oil. Seems like that could be a big differnce, but I'm no chemist. All I know about soybean oil is that it burned pretty well in my 86 F-350, as long as it was about 140degrees before going through the injectors.

[Jay Greer]

Well, since I am the guy who got this whole tempest in a teapot put on the front burner, I suppose I should buy a can and compare the new to the old.
Jay

[larry wave]

I don't have anymore of the old stuff, so yes, you should do a comparison. :D

[santone]

Default Re: Rustoleum MARINE paint and varnish: Reviews?
I've used Rustoleum Marine paints on my dinghy very successfully. I'd compare it favorably to Interlux Brightside and suspect it has more solids, so it's a better value. I haven't tried the varnish since I'm really excited about the True Tone Varnish http://www.mclendons.com/item.asp?sk...61&from=search
which I started using in 2008 after reading the fa favorable comments on the WBF.

[StevenBauer]

Since the True-Tone was the same as the Behr Super Spar does that mean that the True-Tone formula is changed, too?

I think I still have enough Behr Super Spar to last me two more seasons. By then you guys will have figured if the new formula is any good. ;)


Steven

[banjoman]

One way to get it to pass restrictions is to increase the viscosity.

If the formula is essentially the same, would this do anything other than make it a better value? (assuming the price is similar) Thinner is relatively cheap.


On a side note, we redid Starduster's rub rail and toe rail last week. We used Epifanes. It was really thick. We thinned and it went on well. Visually, it is MUCH nicer than the Interlux that we had on there.

I am going to HD to pick up a can.....if it is there.

[StevenBauer]

I've never seen the Behr Super Spar in Home Depot. I've just ordered it over the phone.


Steven

[larry wave]

On the west coast it used to be in HD. Bher stoped making it with lindseed oil and started using soybean oil( according to the tech rep that I talked to). Now it's called Spar varnish. If your still getting the old stuff somewhere than maybe you could be encouraged to share the location.;)

[StevenBauer]

If your still getting the old stuff somewhere than maybe you could be encouraged to share the location.;)

I bought two gallons a year or so ago. ($70) One is unopened. The other I poured into 4 clean new 1 quart paint cans and sprayed them with Bloxygen before sealing them. I used two quarts last spring fitting out. And Jim (FSS172) gave Holly a quart for the spars, rudder and daggerboard of her Nutshell Pram. I'm stripping back a lot of varnish this year, I started this afternoon, but I still have plenty. :)


Steven