Has Orca Coatings changed?

[JSR]

I would be wary about putting it on a public forum, Ian. Check out the smallprint at the bottom of each page of the PDFs.

The one curious aspect is that the tests cover Orca-coated mugs and RN-coated mugs, but no mention is made of Duraglaze mugs - so there's still nothing to prove the original claims (at least, not without proof that Duraglaze *is* RN).

It's very reassuring to read how Orca mugs are very dishwasher-safe. There's certainly no evidence to suggest that they should be labelled "handwash only". This is the kind of thing I was asking for in the first place - to prove to customers who ask that Orca mugs are perfectly dishwasher-safe.

[Andrew]

You've got it as well Jonathan?

[JSR]

I may have glanced at it in passing. (I'm saying nothing... )

[Matt Quinn]

Not to steal Ian's thunder by any means...

I have the results of four tests in front of me. Two appear to be on Orca coating, two on RN coating... Now; I appear to be able to source RN coated mugs from a number of suppliers...

...Nothing here in these reports about 'Duraglaze'.

Elsewhere (not in the reports) I see reference to a patent in respect of Duraglaze... And claims as to its exclusivity...

But am unable to confirm what patent might exist in respect of this precise product. In fact about the only thing I can confirm about Duraglaze is that the name's not particularly orginal... According to one American company that goes around re-painting baths:

"DuraGlaze ™ is an aliphatic acrylic polyurethane coating. This two part catalyzed coating was originally developed for NASA and the aerospace industry a number of years ago. It is now used in many industries when an extremely hard, abrasion resistant, and durable finish is needed. "

- It might well be! - Who the trademark might belong to is unclear. One thing is for sure... The name is used by many people for many products and services. But these reports are on Orca and RN....

The four reports confirm that Orca will last for at least dishwashwer 500 cycles with the extened tests showing some breakdown after about 750 washes and notable degradation after 1000

The RN coating... (Duraglaze or whatever?) Two sets of tests are apparent. The second set seems to confirm that after 64 hours immersion (the equivalent of 1000 cycles) there was:

"No visible change to the colours but a clearly visible change to the glaze"

- Not exactly 'bomb proof' then? - And possibly not exactly an exclusive 'patent protected' product?

Bit late in the evening... But I'll ask one of my contacts at Trading Standards and see if there is a legal definition for 'dishwasher safe'...

[Ian M]

here would be better tho

Sorry going to play it safe & not publish this in an open forum. As Jonathan says because of the small print on the reports.

[daviddeer]

So after all this does anyone have a clue as to the most durable and reliable mugs to buy for sublimation. I am now very confused.

[Andrew]

RN which is what Listawood use for their coating but call it something else.

[JSR]

So after all this does anyone have a clue as to the most durable and reliable mugs to buy for sublimation. I am now very confused.

Both Orca and RN mugs will serve you well. Each of the tests concludes with: "BSI PAS 54, December 2003: MEETS the requirements"

The tests performed were accelerated tests (so no dishwasher was actually used). Each 16 hours is said to be equivalent to 250 regular dishwashing cycles. The "requirements" of the BSI document would appear to extend to 32 hours (or 500 cycles). Both Orca and RN pass that test and meet the requirements.

It looks as though a further test, outside the remit of the requirements, was done in an effort to prove that there is a difference between Orca and RN. At the third 16 hour inspection (equiv. 750 cycles), both Orca and RN begin to show weaknesses - Orca moreso than RN.

It'd be a desperate person who relies on that little difference between the mugs after 750 washes to determine which coating they go for. Strictly speaking, RN is slightly better than Orca (something I think we all knew). But there is zero evidence whatsoever to backup the original claim that Orca is for "handwash only". If Orca are classed as that, then so should RN be.

At least, that's what I remember from glancing at the document in passing...

[JSR]

RN which is what Listawood use for their coating but call it something else.

We have nothing in writing to confirm that - it's just informed speculation really. The tests were done on Orca mugs and RN mugs, but there is no test report on Duraglaze mugs. Unless they admit that Duraglaze is the same as RN, we have nothing to say how durable Duraglaze mugs are.

The last Duraglaze mugs I bought appear to have the whitening of Orca mugs, not the natural dullness of RNs (like the ones I got from BMS). So who knows for sure what Duraglaze really is?

[Andrew]

It would be good if all mugs went through this test and also if we new what temperature and conditions the test is at. A standard test to compare the durability wouldn't be hard to achieve.