Am I the only one who dislikes the new skin on McKenzie forms?

[bw]

Not every one of them I order is like this.... but about half of them have the rather hard rough skin that looks like it is covered with tiny wrinkles.

It makes it difficult to tell where I have and havent roughed up the form, especially on the face.  It hasnt bothered me enough to call them and ask.  I just wondered what everyone else thought about it.

By the way, Im assuming that its on all the lines they sell.  I use the Meder forms and I know its in those.  I figured it was in all of them since it occured after they changed foam.

[*]

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[Laurier]

suppliers get their foam changed on them all the time . New regulations , so sometimes a thick skin, some times a thin skin.Call and let them know , so they can complain to their suppiers.

[KBauman]

I have complained to McKenzie for 3 years about the foam. 

[bw]

One thing that I really dislike about the rough foam is that you really have to use a stout ruffer or some scratching type of rougher to prep the form. 

For those of you who havent tried it yet.....sandblasting is the best method I have found to prep a form.  But with the new skin on the McKenzie forms, it just cant be done.  It deteriorates very inconsistently with the sand hitting it.  You will wind up with a hole and a slick spot right next to it.

[walleta]

Quit badgering McKenzie about the foam. There is nothing they can do. Blame the EPA. The suppliers are paying three prices for the best foam they can get their hands on.

[kebees4]

Its probably to cut costs. I work at a factory the pours urethane foams and with differant formulas you get a differant end product. We are constantly making changes to reduce costs and improve in production rate. BASF will work with you to accomplish the end result you want. The ratio in the mix will also change skin of final product. Equipment is a very big factor. Some equipment mixes better so end results are better.I wouldn't blame the EPA.

[Rickey logan]

Hilton Eppley still uses a very good grade of foam it works like the old stuff. He said it is twice the cost of the sorry stuff but works 3 times better...... its all in what grade of foam you buy. Like taxidermy, its the quality you should be paying for.......... Rick

[Cory W]

bw,  I use a sandblaster all the time on the new forms and haven't had the trouble you are referring to.  Maybe it is your set up.  Happy roughing.

[George Roof]

God I'm so tired of conspiracies.

First and foremost - YES - the EPA has mandated changes to the foam yet from form to form ( I don't care how much you argue) McKenzie uses its own recipe and you'll play hell finding a form void free like theirs.

TWO - the surface that you're bitching about is simply a test product line that may one day eliminate any roughing up of the form.  I sandblast rust off of parts but I'll be damned if I'm going to clutter up my shop with a blaster for forms.  The stout ruffer absolutely destroys detail and I've been using the WASCO form scratcher ever since Rick Carter sent me one.  It takes a hot 10 minutes to do your entire form and you don't lose ANY detailing.

And three, if you want to bitch at McKenzie about something, start with those silly assed plastic sawtooth hangers imbedded on the back of the forms.  They are totally useless to real professionals.  The thing that particularly bothers me is that they're usually stuck right where I want to install a REAL hanger.

Once you realize that McKenzie is a volume supplier and uses a machine to mix and spray their foam, you'll understand that many if not most smaller suppliers still mix their foam by hand and electric mixers.  When I want a stouter foam, I simply call Jameson Company, Ltd and order the 10 or 12 pound foam instead.  Until then, I'll buy McKenzie's by the half gallon kits.

[EJ]

George,
            I agree with you totally on the foam and form issue! Everything that leaves my shop leaves on a McKenzie form, panel or driftwood. I would use their products even if they weren't in driving distance of the house. But George! Why you gotta go and knock the best ruffer on the market? But then again I don't guess they give Stout Ruffer's away?LOL! If you rough with the detail you won't loose it. Heck, I don't think you need to use it like you're sidegrinding the rust off an old Chevy anyway? It takes me about a Hot 10 to rough one up to! "I couldn't Resist any longer"

[Todd K]

    I dont agree with the EPA bull----! Thats why I dont use their forms, or most others for that matter. Unless you use a sand blaster their a pain in the butt.  I use mostly Hilton Eppley forms and cringe at the thought of roughing up someone else's forms.  If the EPA thing is true then why arn't Hiltons forms hard to rough up? Could it be better quality foam? Makes you wander.  And before any of you start to defend McKenzie I want you to know that I buy alot of supplies from them and almost all LS forms. Its a great company, I just dont like their skinny faced whitetail forms on our Ohio deer. But they are a pain to rough up!

[KBauman]

I often wondered why other major supply companies don't have the same foam problems as McKenzie.  Anyway, I have heard all the EPA stories and the stuff George is speaking about.  I guess, I have mounted on my last Ben Mear's form with great foam.

[*]

I personally know and do work for a chemist at BASF. The skin is a b*itch to get right on the new foam, they are having trouble with the new regs they have.
But I don't know anything , The EPA is still on this ozone/ gas from the foam thing.
Me, I heard it from the horses mouth. Pretty cool tho' having BASF chemist as a client, mount a deer head and when he picks it up I gladly give it to him and say , bring me anything?  Then opens the van and  drops  5- five  gallon pails of A+B varies densities at my back door. Pretty good deal on my end with the cost of foam. 50 gallons for a deer head, got the same for a turkey, and a fish.

[jcompton]

 "They are totally useless to real professionals."  Why? They mount flush,they look nice,and they work.