Traditional Wooden Boat Supplies Le Tonkinois Varnish tack cloths.

Traditional Boat Supplies

Shipwrights Tools

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Paints and Antifoulings

Teamac Marine Paints

Varnish Le Tonkinois

Barrier Coats and Primers


Please note: All prices now plus VAT Varnish 'Le Tonkinois' During Brest 96 I was made aware and shown this varnish by the French Navy. Used on all their sail training vessels. I have as yet not included a varnish in my catalogue because in general the time taken to put around 12 coats to achieve a decent finish I just do not have the time to do this and maintain. I am very happy to have been awarded a Distributorship for Le Tonkinois. This is an old Chinese varnish. Found by the French when they had an empire in Indo China. It's ORGANIC. No solvents or the need to start with a 50/50 first coat. Just straight from the can but ALWAYS DEGREASE BARE TIMBER FIRST. Best results are on bare timber but will cover over old varnish. 6 coats for exterior and 3 coats minimum for interior. The only time to sand is if you have the odd nib. Brush marks disappear naturally. It has a natural resistance to UV the bain of all varnishes but as this product is ORGANIC it has natural properties to protect it. Resistance to abrasion and shocks, withstands boiling water, hot cups etc. Utopia? Well the proof is on my own boat where the rear of the wheel house has now withstood 3 seasons with NO Maintenance. When I think of all those years of work Sold in 1/2, 1, 2.5 and 5 litres
2.5 Ltr £36 1 Ltr £18.50 1/2 Ltr £10.00 After much testing on my own boat and demand by customers I shall only be stocking Le Tonkinois No 1 in future after low stocks of 1 and 1/2 litres are sold out. This is a much improved product, still organic but has improved flow during application, reduces tendency to "nib" and reduces the skinning in the tin. Also the purity of the Linseed in the manufacture has been raised from the standard 96% by a further 2%. Its a remarkable step forward. Gelomat This product will give a matt/satin finish when added to Le Tonkinois varnish. 0.25 litre £8.00 Tack Cloths When you have prepared your surface to be varnished please consider using tack cloths which all professional varnishers and French polishers use. These cloths remove the minute particles of dust left after you think your surface is clean and ready to varnish. How many times when you have prepared your surface to varnish have you found that after 5 minutes work, tiny particles are coagulating or are picking up on your brush. This is because the surface that you thought was clean is not. For example with a tack cloth, try cleaning your television screen or computer monitor and see what muck comes off on the cloth. These cloths are sold in packs of 3 or 10 and are priced at Ł3.50 and Ł9.50 respectively. Pack of 10 Tack Cloths for £9.50 Pack of 3 Tack Cloths for £3.50 Danish Oil This fast curing, natural,oil based treatment for bare timber is a golden oldie. I use it on bare wood before Le Tonkinois Varnish. Soak the wood well every 30 mins around 4 times with a brush or pad. Always keep the surface wet when working. Wipe off any excess after the 4th treatment. Allow to dry. Then apply LeTonkinois Varnish. Danish oil will seal the timber against rain and you can then varnish when better weather arrives. Sold in 2 1/2 litre cans. Price is Ł24.00 Coelan This remarkable type of varnish has a longevity that is almost unbelievable. It is a man made product not organic like Le Tonkinois and if used on bare wood (it will not work over old varnish) will give results that last many years with no maintenance. First you have to use the primer. For Mahogany and dark wood one type and yellow pigmented for teak,pine,larch spruce etc another. YOU MUST USE THESE PRIMERS!!! Sold in 1 litre tins @ Ł35 each. Then the clear Coelan which is in 750ml tins goes over 5 to 6 coats. 750 ml tins @ Ł36 each all plus carr. 1 litre tins of special THINNERS for thinning down Coelan and cleaning @ Ł16 (Normal thinners don,t work) The finish is magnificent and once done has a life of 10 years or more. Its not cheap but for wood will cut down the maintenance work enormously. I have just done the bottom boards of my aft cockpit with it and its like glass but brings out the lovely mahogany colour. Prices again as follows: 1 litre tins primer @ Ł35 for either dark or light coloured wood. Please specify on ordering. 1 litre tins Thinners @ Ł16 750 ml tins Coelan @ Ł36
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