What's the deal with oil based finishes and California.

[ryan.s]

I heard a little while back that some of the HD's were clearing out their stock of oil based finishes. Not sure if this anyway related but I really didn't think much of it. So I stopped in my local rockler today in Pasadena, CA to pick up some wipe on poly. There was none to be found. The employee there said someone came in and bought all 7 pints of their stock. I asked if anyone else carried it locally and as far as he know's Rockler was the only place. He said they would have some more soon. My next stop was OSH, from what I remember in the past they usually carried a good variety of stains and finishes. Couldn't find any wipe on poly there either. Their shelves looked pretty bare. As a last resort I stopped in at my local hardware store. Their shelves were empty. The owner said they had to clear their shelves of all oil based finishes as of June this year. Not sure how rockler can still sell it but the hardware store can't? Can anyone enlighten me on what is going on?

[MilDoc]

Has to do with the VOC (volatile organic compound) rating of the product, i.e., that have high enough vapor pressure under normal conditions to significantly vaporize and enter the atmosphere. CA is usually ahead of the rest of the country in trying to cut down on pollution = SMOG.

[ryan.s]

So the guy at the hardware store was correct? How can Rockler still sell it? I'm confused.

[Hellrazor]

VOC issues are going to eliminate oil based products in the near future. I cleaned the local hardware store out of their oil base solid stain last fall. He was giving me almost 50% off to get it out of his inventory.

I am not sold on water based products either. I absolutely hate water based poly. It sets up too fast and looks like crap on hardwood floors and gym floors. It looks like you put poly on 100grit sandpaper.

[Hellrazor]

So the guy at the hardware store was correct? How can Rockler still sell it? I'm confused.

Ryan,

I can purchase oil based at work without issues. But normal home users are going to have more and more problems. The current gym floor finish I purchase is 275 VOC compliant. It used to be 450, 350, etc.

In the long run it depends on your state laws, manufacturers compliance and supply and demand. Commerical vs residential use might also come into play. Their are products you can no longer buy over the counter that a painting contractor can still purchase.

[MilDoc]

With proper ventilation and "scrubbing" volatile compounds can be recaptured rather than spewed into the air. Good luck doing that at home!

I agree - many oil-based products will slowly be outlawed. But manufacturers are coming up with low VOC products, even some oil based. It will never be like it was decades ago tho'.

[Tom Slick]

I haven't heard anything about it here.
You are in the LA air quality district and they have stricter standards then the rest of Calif. They may have been the ones to impliment the phase out.

In my area they stopped selling gallons of oil based coatings because the rules are lighter for quarts then they are for gallons and above.

[Thom2]

This issue just bit me in the heiny a few days ago. I had a gallon of Muralo deck stain in the utility room and decided it was time to use it. Well I must've been daydreaming when I thought a gallon was enough to do the job as it just covered the railings and stuff, not enough to even touch the decking. Upon calling the paint store where I purchased the product from I was informed they no longer make it and don't have a replacement product for it. Apparently PA has also jumped on this VOC bandwagon (I sorta remember some issues at work with new legislature regarding automotive chemicals).

I ended up at Sherwin Williams and was pretty much told the same thing, fortunately they still had a gallon of redwood oil-based on the shelf. Now I've got a two-tone deck that looks a little odd but oh well, at least the job is done.

[TheRic]

So the guy at the hardware store was correct? How can Rockler still sell it? I'm confused.

Just guessing here, but the guy at Rockler might be confused. He probably thought they were going to get more to replace the ones they have sold. He probably has no clue about the phase out. Saying they have more on order, coming in might be a standard reply to empty shelf.

[ryan.s]

Just guessing here, but the guy at Rockler might be confused. He probably thought they were going to get more to replace the ones they have sold. He probably has no clue about the phase out. Saying they have more on order, coming in might be a standard reply to empty shelf.

We'll have to wait and see. He seemed pretty confident and said that they just ordered 10 pints for the next shipment of the satin.

[Hellrazor]

Thom,

PA is pennsyltucky and pennsylfornia all in one

The only reason I don't have problems ordering the oil based is because its done through work. I could not order the same products on my own. A contractor ordering from Shermin Williams can still order oil based since they have a contractors license.