Imron hazards, was [CR]Rubber Bar cover and Romic frame

(Example: Events)

Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 21:47:18 -0500
From: "Harvey Sachs" <hmsachs@verizon.net>
Subject: Imron hazards, was [CR]Rubber Bar cover and Romic frame
To: <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>, Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>


With reference to his Romic, Jerry Moos wrote:

<snip> I'm almost sure Ray pained this with Imron, even though it is a mid-priced touring frame, probably Tange tubing. I know Ray used Imron almost exclsuively for his top frames. Some say the alleged toxic nature of Imron may have contributed to his early death. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dupont Imron is a fabulous product when done right. It is a catalyzed paint, activated by a polyisocyanate. The class of stuff that caused major problems at Bhopal. It is a neurotoxin, and beats up other organs right good. I'm told that it was standard practice that any painter found without full respiratory protection in a booth where Imron was used was immediately fired - whether or not a can was open. If you want headaches, read MSDS #7 at http://pc.dupont.com/dpc/en/US/html/visitor/b/dr/s/product/msds/home.html.

Les Lunas, who had painted for Bruce Gordon, Steve Calvert, and others in Eugene, moved east to work at Bell Labs. We met through Jim Papadopoulos, and together adapted an outbuilding as a spray booth. Because I'm bearded, I never painted with Imron - just can't feasibly get good protection without positive air supply. But, Beloved Spouse did some lovely work on frames there, including a Town & Country triplet she shot in a fantastic cabbage purplish red. After careful mentoring by Les. That booth would change its air completely about every 6 seconds, but we still had a firm rule that no container of paint or solvent was opened until the fan was on, and all in the booth were masked with the right masks. All spraying was carefully done with the gun downstream of the breathing zone. And so on.

Why am I bothering you with all this? I believe that we all have a serious obligation never to ask for painting with this stuff w/o being sure that the painter isn't sacrificing his health so you can save a few bucks.

I suspect that only painters who are obsessive enough to do all this protection right well be obsessive enough to spend the huge amounts of time that are required to get the surface exactly right, too. Les was religious about surf prep. Not just the phosphating and avoiding any skin contact after that, but touching up all surface imperfections after shooting the Corlon (?) epoxy primer, so he got a perfectly smooth finish.

Done right, Imron gives fantastic results: a real "wet" look of incredible glossiness, and wonderful durability and resistance to chipping. Of course, that may not be completely authentic for our older bikes, but... :-)

Susan and I had prior experience painting with more conventional enamels, which also require care. But Imron was a huge step up in quality, and in consequences if not done right.

Your mileage on this one won't vary.

harvey sachs
mcLean va usa.