Silica Sand?

Billyjackass · Post by **Billyjackass** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:04 pm

I have begun varnishing my Nomad, and I thought I read somewhere that one could mix silica sand with the varnish, for the bottom of the inside of the hull, creating a non-slip surface. Am I goofy? I know Epifanes makes paint with that ingredient, but has anyone done this with clear varnish?

Please and thank you.

sedges · Post by **sedges** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 10:50 am

is the name of the material I use. By a company call NYBCo. It is made to be mixed in the coating, not sprinkled on after. It is very fine stuff and kneeling on it is no uncomfortable. I even kneel on it with bare knees. It takes very little of this stuff, just a few spoons full to a half pint of varnish, to make the surface non-skid. I have been using the same little bag of this stuff through a dozen new boats and several refinishes.

I mask off the bottom, no point in putting this on the sides.

canoeblderinmt · Post by **canoeblderinmt** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:20 am

Concur with Sedges. I used the same stuff, mixed in with the varnish for the bottom of the boat. It's a very nice surface. Be sure to tape off the hull at the bilge as it is noticeable where the transition is to plain varnish and you will want a neat line.

Greg

Billyjackass · Post by **Billyjackass** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:14 pm

Gentlemen,

Thank you kindly. Is the product called silica sand or sedges? I'm having trouble locating a supplier online.

:confused

Billyjackass · Post by **Billyjackass** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:19 pm

OK. I see the subject now, "skid no more". Google search is only giving me paint-on products, not powders?

Sorry to be such a needy student.

:embarassed

Tim Eastman · Post by **Tim Eastman** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:13 pm

I bought some VERY similar material in the paint/finishing dept. of Home Depot. I was quite skeptical when I first opened the package since it was quite milky in color. But when I tested it by dusting a little of it into wet varnish (or epoxy - I don't remember which) it completely disappeared.

I bought a small pouch of it and there's miles of it left. You can go very sparingly with it.

In answer to one of your questions - it seems to be a kind of granular glass bead rather than a true sand.

Rehd Brown · Post by **Rehd Brown** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 9:45 pm

I used a product called Skid-Tex from Bondex.
Picked it up at Home Depot. It's in a white plastic container with orange lid, like Elmers putty.
I mixed it in a few ounces of epoxy, taped off the bottom and poured it in, spread with squeegee and let set, pulling tape out before epoxy sets completely. Worked very well. No sharp points, edges or anything. It's all epoxy coated with gloss finish.
With my old ragged knees, I have to kneel on a folded towel, but the kids don't seem to mind the surface.

Rehd

Billyjackass · Post by **Billyjackass** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:21 am

Thank you kindly.