I am having a realyl rough time finding Butyl Tape. So much so, that the local Chandelry asked me to let him know if I found a supplier so he could get some for himself.
Anyways, I found this and am going to try it. May work may not. I will let you know.
http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogSearchResultView?D=941871&Ntt=941871&catalogId=10051&langId=-15&storeId=10051&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntx=mode+matchall&recN=0&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber&eid=ShopToIt&utm_source=ShopToIt&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=941871
Go to an RV store.
I was unable to find butyl until somebody on the Cape Dory board suggested trying an RV store. They had the tape in all sizes. And cheap, too.
--Joe
I actually went to an automotive windshield and glass place and bought 2 rolls of Butyl.
I am still in shock that the local Chandlery didn't even know what Butyl Tape was. Pretty bizarre IMO.
Quote from: Greenman on August 11, 2009, 12:34:01 PM
I am still in shock that the local Chandlery didn't even know what Butyl Tape was. Pretty bizarre IMO.
It
is shocking that U.S. chandleries don't know about butyl. I learned about it from a post on the Cape Dory board. Then, when I researched it further on the Internet, it seems that it's frequently used as a bedding compound in Britain.
Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but 3M 4200 or 5200 is a lot more expensive.
Anyway, I think our cousins across the Pond know a thing or two about boats and sailing.
Cheers!
--Joe
Compas Marine in Maine sells butyl tape in a medium gray color. compassmarineservices@gmail.com
One caution with Butyl, if you use mineral spirits to clean up it creates an unholy mess. I'd accidentally ground a few small pieces of butyl into the nonskid when I was sealing a port. Tried to clean it up with mineral spirits and it turned into a black slurry that stained my very old and porous gel coat. A couple of small dots of butyl turned into 3" diameter grey stains. Remove butyl by scraping, peeling it off or with soapy water and a rag. Actually soapy works pretty good as butyl won't stick to a wet surface.
Compass Marine's butyl is the real deal--made for marine applications, as opposed to RVs.
I'd second the recommendation.
--Joe
I've been using it for a couple years now and am very pleased. I picked up a couple rolls from an online RV shop. I noticed the other day that Defender now carries it in stock.
I bed everything in this stuff. It's easy, it works, and when it's time to remove a fitting (something I've done several times as I continue experimenting with different ideas) it cleans up fairly easy. Well, easier than any kind of goop in a tube, anyhow.
I have a caulking gun tube of butyl that I got from ACE Hardware. Use it often.