This is truly an SOS!

Have done a lot of intricate woodwork pine panelling, and in a Focus
store the other day I went looking for a clear water-based satin finish.
(Out of stock.) But came across "Focus Quick Drying Interior Pine
Varnish" which is water-based. On the front is a picture of a stairwell
balustrade looking finished and natural, and on the back it stated "This
solution may appear milky but dries clear". There is a circle of colour
indicating the finish is coloured for pine. Well, when I opened the tin
at home I saw the nutty brown colour and guessed that if it was spread
THINLY enough all should be well. Woke up this morning, and HORRORS,
all the panelling had dried to an awful transparent CANARY YELLOW!

Thankfully, none of the panels have been applied to the walls yet.

How best do I get this stuff off, so as to get back to the natural
appearance?

If it going to have to be a case of Nitromors, any hints? The panelling
is "corrugated", not flat, so its going to be a tricky job.

There's a pic of the tin at:
http://s246.photobucket.com/albums/g...=Focuslies.jpg

Thanks,
Eddy.


a
href="http://s246.photobucket.com/albums/gg82/EddyBentley/?action=view&current=Focuslies.jpg"
target="_blank"img
src="http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg82/EddyBentley/Focuslies.jpg"
border="0" alt="Photobucket"/a
http://s246.photobucket.com/albums/g...=Focuslies.jpg
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g.../Focuslies.jpg

On 28/03/2008 18:33, Eddy wrote:

There's a pic of the tin at:
http://s246.photobucket.com/albums/g...=Focuslies.jpg

'ere Frank? Lend us your glasses :-)

There's a pic of the tin at:
http://s246.photobucket.com/albums/g...=Focuslies.jpg




Obviously bought 'out of focus !!!!!' :-)

WoodGlass wote:
Obviously bought 'out of focus !!!!!' :-)

Andy Burns wrote:
'ere Frank? Lend us your glasses :-)

OK, OK, OK, Andy & Woody. Very funny! Ha, ha, ha! But do you know
anything about how best to remove this new-fangled coloured water-based
"varnish"? I used Nitromors a lot about 30 years ago but on
old-fashioned oil-based varnish. I tried a bit of Caustic Soda
solution an hour or so ago on this new stuff and it had no effect
whatsoever. Maybe even Nitromors won't remove this stuff!? They're
always changing the constitution of these paints and varnishes. I
noticed while applying this stuff that it dries quickly to a very
plastic-like film.

No more joking, PLEASE. Empathise with my PAIN!

Helpful comments, please.

Eddy.

On 28/03/2008 19:12, Eddy wrote:

OK, OK, OK, Andy & Woody. Very funny! Ha, ha, ha! But do you know
anything about how best to remove this new-fangled coloured water-based
"varnish"?

Any clues of the ingredients?

On Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:33:06 GMT, Eddy wrote:

Have done a lot of intricate woodwork pine panelling, and in a Focus
store the other day

When did Focus cease trading? The Penrith one closed several weeks ago
after sereval weeks (if not months) selling off stock and is now a
Wickes...

There's a pic of the tin at:

I'm glad I have an opticians appointment next week but I didn't think my
eyes had got that bad.

As for getting it off a decent pic of the panels might have been better,
so we can see what "corrugated" really means.

--
Cheers
Dave.

Andy Burns wrote:
Any clues of the ingredients?

Not a single constituent listed anywhere on the tin except a couple of
words announcing that the "VOC content is low". The only other clue
mentioned is that brushes can be cleaned in water. Well, the brush
certainly cleaned very easily in lukewarm water, although I noticed that
the varnish I had got on some of my fingertips during the job had dried
and would not come off under the tap. I had to peal it off. It was
like plastic film.

Rang Focus's 0800 number earlier on and got the message "Due to
unforeseen circumstances we are not able to assist you at this time."
And now, of course, they're closed.

Eddy.

In message , Andy Burns
wrote
On 28/03/2008 19:12, Eddy wrote:

OK, OK, OK, Andy & Woody. Very funny! Ha, ha, ha! But do you know
anything about how best to remove this new-fangled coloured water-based
"varnish"?

Any clues of the ingredients?

Water

--
Alan
news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com

On 28/03/2008 19:42, Eddy wrote:

Not a single constituent listed anywhere on the tin

if you've got some left in the tin, varnish up some offcuts of wood and
when dry, try removing it with acetone or nitromors

Eddy wrote:
WoodGlass wote:
Obviously bought 'out of focus !!!!!' :-)

Andy Burns wrote:
'ere Frank? Lend us your glasses :-)

OK, OK, OK, Andy & Woody. Very funny! Ha, ha, ha! But do you know
anything about how best to remove this new-fangled coloured
water-based "varnish"? I used Nitromors a lot about 30 years ago
but on old-fashioned oil-based varnish. I tried a bit of Caustic
Soda solution an hour or so ago on this new stuff and it had no effect
whatsoever. Maybe even Nitromors won't remove this stuff!?

Nitromors contains methylene chloride or summat apart from other goodies.
They do "Nitromors Specialist Varnish & Lacquer Remover" which sounds like
the kiddie to me.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

Eddy wrote:
snip

How best do I get this stuff off, so as to get back to the natural
appearance?

snip

The product Remove-All from Unika might be of use. Water-based
lacquers/varnishes are often PVA-based. However, I couldn't find
anythign except the safety information. :-(

http://www.unika.co.uk/UserFiles/File/PDF/safety-technical/Remove%20All%20March%202006.pdf
--
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org

On Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:35:11 +0000 (GMT), Dave Liquorice wrote:

When did Focus cease trading?

Answer: They haven't but they have been in "financial trouble" recently.

The Penrith one closed several weeks ago after sereval weeks (if not
months) selling off stock and is now a Wickes...

Now that is interesting. Focus bought Wickes in Sep 2000 but sold it to
Travis Perkins in Feb 2005.

Jan 2007 saw the appointment of Rothschild to advise the board on the
companies future, Jul 2007 saw Focus sold to "capital management" company
Cerberus.

How the might have fallen in 2002 Focus Wickes Group was the 2nd largest
DIY firm in the UK (turn over) with 430 stores.

http://www.focusdiy.co.uk/page/corporate

--
Cheers
Dave.

Rod wrote:
Eddy wrote:
snip

How best do I get this stuff off, so as to get back to the natural
appearance?

snip

The product Remove-All from Unika might be of use. Water-based
lacquers/varnishes are often PVA-based. However, I couldn't find
anythign except the safety information. :-(

http://www.unika.co.uk/UserFiles/File/PDF/safety-technical/Remove%20All%20March%202006.pdf


http://www.birbek.co.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/Birbek/5023778070063

Quite possibly available elsewhere.

--
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org

Andy Burns wrote:
if you've got some left in the tin, varnish up some offcuts of wood and
when dry, try removing it with acetone or nitromors

Thanks, Andy. Tried acetone yesterday. No go. Also tried caustic soda
solution. No go. Am off to see what's on the local shelves.

There's a product called "Lightning Strip" which antiques dealers
strongly recommend for the purpose, but it seems it's only available in
the USA.

Eddy.

The Medway Handyman wrote:
Nitromors contains methylene chloride or summat apart from other goodies.
They do "Nitromors Specialist Varnish & Lacquer Remover" which sounds like
the kiddie to me.

Thanks, Dave. Will keep an eye out for that one this morning. Am
readying self for a day doing battle!

Eddy.

Rod wrote:
The product Remove-All from Unika might be of use. Water-based
lacquers/varnishes are often PVA-based. However, I couldn't find
anythign except the safety information. :-(

http://www.unika.co.uk/UserFiles/File/PDF/safety-technical/Remove%20All%20March%202006.pdf

Thanks, Rod. If the latest paint-stripper doesn't do the job, will turn
thoughts to Remove-All. Very few listings for Remove-All though on the
internet, so thanks for locating it at:
http://www.birbek.co.uk/mall/product.../5023778070063

Good to have an array of weapons ready!

Eddy.

Just thought I should warn everybody that "Focus Quick Drying Interior
Varnish" does not respond normally to either caustic soda solution or
nitromors. I would avoid using it. Have been in touch with several
"dip n' strip" companies and they think they may be able to help via
immersing the wood in stronger chemicals.

Eddy.