I took delivery of the "white" graphite today. Its has the same consistency as icing sugar (very very fine). I purchased the expensive stuff (70 nm) because I didn't want to risk getting something that was too granular. That said, what I got looked as white as titanium dioxide (TiO2) - you know the white stuff on those tasty little donuts that you can buy at 7-11. Yes, the sugar doesn't melt because it has TiO2 in it. Anyway, my first test on its lubricity, er...lubricative powers, hmmm...ability to lubricate was done with my index finger and thumb. I rubbed the stuff (supposed to be chemically inert) between my fingers. It embedded into my fingerprints and created a very thin sheen on the rest of the skin. The end result was that it created a very slippery surface on the skin of my fingers. Even after washing my hand with water, the sheen was still evident.

The one pound sample size that I purchased looks like enough HBN to allow me to coat several kayaks, maybe enough for a dozen 17' kayaks. I will not be able to coat the hull of the VJ this weekend as I am taking off to Calgary to visit a "friend " for the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend. Once I get back, I'll get the VJ on props and coat the hull. I will be adding Cabosil to the mix but that shouldn't create any kind of dulling effect on the whiteness of the HBN. I'll post pictures of the whitened hull ASAP. Once I have posted pics, then I start having fun with the graphite mix. Gonna write something like "Oops!" or "I want my mommy" on the bottom of the hull. I am open to ideas for a graphic pattern done in graphite for the bottom. Might as well make the best of it.

Robert N Pruden