Raptor Paint / Gravitex Plus as cheap alternative to KiwiGrip?

[Franziska]

Hi,

we are trying to source a cheaper alternative to KiwiGrip, which can be bought in Europe (ideally France).
Handling and looks similar to KiwiGrip.

KiwiGrip is 73€/L, Gravitex Plus bedliner is 10€/L.
Someone suggested it would work, has someone here tried this?

As part of our deck is painted with KiwiGrip and we are super happy with it, we really look for something similar but less costly for some other surfaces in our deck.

[Chotu]

Kiwi grip is nothing more than thickened paint. I believe they use cabosil.

So that’s what I did. If you have some cabosil around, you can just thicken your paint as you did your epoxy and roll it on. It comes out the exact same as kiwi grip. You just have to practice a little bit to get the texture the way you want it.

My entire deck is done this way. Now, however, I don’t know if they are on the market over there at this time, but there are some porch and patio outdoor paints they are making now for around the pool area. They have a nonskid built right into the paint already. Depending how high the peaks are in your kiwi grip, This stuff might work for you as well. We have been using it on my boat as a touchup for the deck where we have been wrecking it from other projects. It’s remarkably identical to the texture I created with the cabosil. It was recommended by none other than our very own Manateeman.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Kiwi grip is nothing more than thickened paint. I believe they use cabosil [2]...

KiwiGrip is an acrylic polymer [paint] providing a durable, homogeneous, elastic surface.
According to the MSDS, it contains:
Calcium Carbonate [1] 15.0%
Barium Sulphate 15.0%
Titanium Dioxide 15.0%
Oxygenated Solvent 2.0%
➥ https://www.pyiinc.com/downloads/kiw...ds-english.pdf

[1] Calcium carbonate is widely used as an extender in paints, in particular matte emulsion paint, where typically 30% by weight of the paint is either chalk or marble. It has a regular and controlled crystalline shape, and ultrafine particle size.
➥ https://web.archive.org/web/20080222...carbonate.html

[2] Cabosil is Fumed [or pyrogenic] Silica, which is an extremely fine powder, of silicon dioxide particles, used to thicken liquid materials.

Both products are thickeners.
The texture is achieved through roller nap selection, and rolling pressure.

[Chotu]

I didn’t know the exact components list was readily available. Good thinking looking at the MSDS.

I wonder if the calcium carbonate is less expensive. I know Cabosil has gone up tremendously in price recently.

In any case, after choosing the thickener, she should also choose very durable paint. I used some linear two-part polyurethane I had left over from painting other things. So my deck paint was just about free. I actually spent no extra money on it. Leftover cabosil and leftover white paint.

I also must add that the porch and patio nonskid from the big box hardware store is holding up just as well so far. It’s also easier because it’s ready to go (no mixing) and it’s water-based believe it or not. So, it doesn’t produce fumes and toxic byproducts in the air.

[Spot]

Calcium Carbonate is inexpensive when bought in larger bags 5-10-25 pounds as 'whiting' from a pottery/ceramics supply house. I just bought some a few days ago. I enjoy going to specialty vendors and skipping some of the online mark-ups.

I have not bought fumed silica in ten years, still on my first 1 quart tub. My vendor still has same price online. This one comes volume not weight as it is very light.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Spot

Calcium Carbonate is inexpensive when bought in larger bags 5-10-25 pounds as 'whiting' from a pottery/ceramics supply house. I just bought some a few days ago. I enjoy going to specialty vendors and skipping some of the online mark-ups.

I have not bought fumed silica in ten years, still on my first 1 quart tub. My vendor still has same price online. This one comes volume not weight as it is very light.

Sometimes it is hilarious to me to hear the quantities that other people buy. And that it might last them 10 years.

I bought a few boxes at 8 cubic feet each. That’s 270 quarts per box. And I think I’ve gone through 3 or 4 of them. About 1000 times more silica than you have.

The difference in quantity is sometimes is just staggering. When you build a boat