WALNT SHELLS

[BJ]

Hi all

Its been a while since I was on the forum. I finally got started working on my vacationer again after an extended sickness.

I am ready to put the no skid surface on the deck and was wondering if anyone new where the best place is to buy crushed walnut shells.

[Barry Pyeatt]

There are several different grades of crushed/ground Walnut Shells. They vary from quite coarse to very fine. Pet supply stores sell the coarser grades for bird/pet use. Gunsmiths have the fine grades for polishing use. An automotive finish supply house will sell various grades for polishing as well, they are used in shot booths to strip paint and rust off materials. You would probably look and ask for a medium grade for non skid. Broadcasting it over the wet surface as per the video is the best way to accomplish it.

In my opinion, Walnut shells make an excellent non-skid, it is easy on the feet/legs and holds up well. When it comes time to refinish or replenish the non-skid surface, it sands right off. Unfortunately, sand doesn't.

[Russ Sylvester]

I found mine in a reloading shop west of town. I found the place when I went to the nearest gun store and asked if he carried the stuff. Whe I told him how much I needed and what I wanted it for he kind of look ed at me funny and said that I would do better at the reloading place. If I remember correctly it was just a bit more coarse than coffee grinds. It worked out perfectly just coarse enough for the feet but not too bad on knees and elbows.

You know now that I think on it I got the same strange looks every time I went searching for parts to build the weekender. Some people got excited and really wanted to help out and some just thought I was out of my mind.

Russ

Missing my weekender.... I came across a picture of the launching the other day. Was a while before I could get that frog out of my throat.

[BJ]

Thank you guys, that will help. I had no clue as to where to start looking.

[Tony Pratt]

On my boat a weekender I went to home depot and they have an aditive like walnut shells that they put into your paint of choice and mix it up then paint it on works great no mess it goes on even and not to sharp on the hands and knees when moving around the deck. one package mixes one gallon and its around 3-4$.

[Tim Diebert]

Russ. Why don't you build another baot?

I wish the guy that built my boat used walnut shells....my side decks are like a cheeze grater. It is common practise to warn all new crew and supply a roll of paper towel and a box of bandaids.

On Sunday I mounted some new deck fittings and had to drill through the stuff 8 times. Had to sharpen my bit after every hole. Walnut shells sound pretty good to me.

[Bob Taylor]

Got mine at Wal-Mart in the pet department.

[Frank Hagan]

If you embed the walnut shells in epoxy like the video shows, when it cures you can go back and hit them briefly with a 1/4 sheet finish sander and 100 grit sandpaper and knock the tops off of them. That makes it even kinder on the feet and knees without losing any of the traction.

You don't want to sand too much; you want it to look like that "Kool Deck" decking around swimming pools, but with deeper crevices.

[Russ Sylvester]

Actually I did build another 'boat'. It was/is a single sheet flat bottom skiff that I built with no plans, making measurements on the fly. Painted it with latex house paint and used el cheapo zinc screws. I used it to scrub the hull and apply Poli_Glow on the O'Day. I store it under the dock and the last time I looked it had sunk after filling up with rainwater. Several other folks along the dock use it now and then for scrubbing and painting chores. I named it SS Michelob.

I did have a guy ask me to build him a strip plank kayak. I might just give that one a try.