How to move solvent based stuff?

[vandenboom]

I am in the process of relocating from Melbourne to remote NT but don't know how I can move my supply of nitrocellulose & thinners as such things are not accepted by the removalist. I don't think Qantas are likely to be happy about it either. Also there is no road transport possible to east arnhem this time of year (wet season).
Can anyone suggest an honest, legitimate way of achieving it.
What is it that allows Durobond to ship hazardous goods interstate?
Thanks. Frank.

[DarwinStrings]

You can only move it via road freight (so I have been informed by the guys I buy mirotone off) so I reckon you are out of luck during the wet Frank. If you can find someone who does not charge you a arm and a leg you can send it to me and I will hold it for you till you can find a way to get it out to the boonies. Maybe you could phone Air North or one of the smaller mobs up here that charter to Nhulunbuy from Darwin, see what they have to say.

Jim

[Nick]

Not sure about things in Aussie Frank but I imagine it would be the same as here where flammables are shipped by road & have to be carried by a company that have drivers with a dangerous goods license. Removal companies shift furniture so won't, and aren't allowed to, carry DG's. Try ringing a few carrier companies & check that they can ship these. If it's a small amount, unless they have a regular run to or through where you are going, it may be more 'cost effective' to leave what you have & buy a fresh lot at your destination because I think they charge abit more. But will be another question to ask the carrier.

[Allen]

Durabond and others ship by road and their carrier will have a Hazardous Material Transport license. You pay big $$$ to have the privilege of shipping your paint and solvent along with everyone else's stuff that pays a fraction of what you will. I can't see you having much luck with this. I'd recommend you look at other finish options for your time away.

[Taffy Evans]

I ordered some Hard Shellac from Brisbane to be included in a machine order and come by road. it added around $30 to the freight, so I cancelled the Shellac.

[J.F. Custom]

Hey Frank,

Just to add to what the others have already said; DG shipping is the only solution to transporting flammable material like Mirotone Lacquer and thinners. It is exorbitantly expensive and is likely to cost as much if not more than buying fresh stock closer to you, or an alternative if you can't get it.

Jeremy.

[vandenboom]

Thanks guys. I get it. Not sure what I will do yet but there are a number of avenues to check out here over the next few days. Frank

[kiwigeo]

Maybe you could phone Air North or one of the smaller mobs up here that charter to Nhulunbuy from Darwin, see what they have to say.

Jim

They may fly the goods but youll definitely need the goods to be packed by a DG certified handler and DG paperwork will be required. I'm also certain dangerous goods usually cant fly on an aircraft carrying passengers. I know for sure that when I fly gas samples off rigs via chopper and fixed wing the samples have to go by freight flight.

Youre best option is by road with DG packing and paperwork.

Cheers Martin

[Kim]

Fear not Frank, I hear that semen milked from the Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus), mixed with ear wax of the Fat-tailed Dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata), makes a surprisingly effective high gloss finish. Best pack some ear buds, a copy of the DVD "Beryle the Naughty Numbat Goes Ferrel" and some 'really' really' small cups.... or may be now is a good time to look at developing some french polishing skills...

Cheers

Kim

[Puff]

I reckon some of the 'conditioners' stocked in aircraft bars and 'finishing ' products in passenger's hand luggage are pretty hazardous too And what about all that stuff they pour into the tanks in the wings? And all that stuff the punters deposit in the holding tanks?

[kiwigeo]

And all that stuff the punters deposit in the holding tanks?

When's the last time you successfully got a turd to burn??

Incidentally..IMO the most hazardous substance on a Qantas plane is the food. If that's the best Neil Parry can come up with then I'm going to open a restaurant and make a ton of loot by pretending I can cook.

[DarwinStrings]

I was being optimistic with my air north suggestion. I just phoned my partner at work and they occasionally send volatile art gear out there on the barge and the barge is not affected by the closed roads, so if you can get it to me I can put it on the barge or alternatively I can but stuff here and barge it out to you. Remember that most of these products are no stocked in Darwin though and there is a wait but last time I bought mirotone they did not add a dangerous good freight charge, it was around $100 for 4L of thinner and precat.

Jim

[kiwigeo]

I was being optimistic with my air north suggestion.

Jim,

Air North frequently fly hazardous stuff from Truscott to Darwin...after 4 weeks out on a rig I'm considered a hazardous cargo and should fly with DG paperwork and a big red "hazardous to small noisy children" sticker on my forehead.

[DarwinStrings]

My kids would be treated the same way with "hazardous to irritable adults"

Jim

[vandenboom]

.... or may be now is a good time to look at developing some french polishing skills...

Yep, that's is definitely part of the solution - have already ordered the super blonde shellac & pumice to take with me.....

I have a half finished archtop that I want to complete as my first project - it is for moi, and I plan to FP that.

As far as other alternatives go, I just finished 2 guitars with Whittle's oil/wax product and I really like it, although I did nitro the tops.

I do have one dreadnought to make in 2011 which has to be lacquered. That's the main issue. I will be back in Melbourne for 4 weeks in July - could do it then - but not the best time of year to spray in Melb. So still not sure what I will do yet.

[vandenboom]

Jim - couple of things. On the nitrocellulose front, I spent some time today talking to various carriers and the bottom line is that it's dumb for me to try and ship my stuff to remote NT. I am better off buying new product because crowds like Durobond etc at least have preferred supplier arrangements and pay more reasonable rates. I was told by Mirotone in Melb that there is a supplier in Darwin - Lincoln Sentry - which I'm sure you would be aware of. But they basically order in what you need from Adelaide, and you pay the associated shipping cost.
But to do this for one guitar - a bit rich. In short, I have decided not to pursue this goal of trying to get nitro to Nhulunbuy. I will be flying home for 4 weeks in June, so will aim to get the guitar finished by then, and spray back in Melb. I will need to try and find somewhere indoors with a spray booth given that Melb weather in June is unlikely to be spray friendly.

I will call you when I am in Darwin in week of Jan 17 for my orientation if that's ok - would love to try and drop by if that suits you.
Thanks again. Frank.

[DarwinStrings]

No worries, any time Frank.

Jim

[Kim]

You could try Protec Frank. They have a branch in Darwin as per dealer list so it may be worth a call to see if they have any stock on shelf.

http://www.protec.com.au/distributors-b ... /i1001238/

I used Protec hi-gloss Catlac which is their precat lacquer and I really like the product so will be using it again in the future. Following Al McFarlen's fabulous tute, its what I used on the F11 Matey rebuild. A few of the guys from this forum seen that guitar at playmakers earlier this year and had commented that they liked the finish. I am pleased to report that it has held up beautifully since and that is with my two daughters playing it daily, that guitar never sees the inside of a case.

For the lads down in Albany WA, I see that Protec also have a branch in town for you guys, my advice is to give them a call.

For what its worth, I used a standard thinners for clean up and SCA "PREMIUM" lacquer thinners which I bought from Super Cheap Autos for spraying. Just because the thinners came from Super Cheap does not mean its rubbish cause it was still over $30 for 4 lts. Super Cheap now sell 3M brand standard and premium thinners that are the very same products, very same 4lt tin. In fact it 'is' the SCA stuff re-branded. When Super Cheap was doing the stock change over, the store manager told me that the SCA product always was supplied to them by 3M anyhow, good part for me was they moved the old SCA branded stuff at just $12 per 4lt tin so I grabbed 4 of them...KABOOOM!!!

Cheers

Kim

[duh Padma]

Go to your local watering hole and ask the tenderbar for a hook up to the Midnight Transport Co.

blessings
duh Padma

[DarwinStrings]

Unfortunately Kim Protec only stock their automotive products up here, They could order it in but it is the same wait as mirotone from Lincoln Sentry. They are very helpful guys though and I bought my guns off them as well as those scouring type buffing pads.

Jim