Bad bare metal foil?

Anyone else has this problem? I'm getting cracks in a sheet of BMF, I can't peel it off without it falling into a hundred little pieces. :banghead: Anyone know if this is a common thing or I just got a bad sheet?

Here are a couple pictures to show what I mean:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh266/davezilla17/339fef1a.jpg?t=1211941533

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh266/davezilla17/9c542776.jpg?t=1211941535

I have heard that BMF does have a shelf life, and after awhile it does go bad. Ive heard of people having similar issues w/ older sheets cracking like that and basically being unuseable.

This is pretty much an epidemic with BMF lately. I don't know what's changed but it seems to have gone to sh*t. However, they will replace it for free if you shoot them a note.

I have the same problem with one of the older BMF sheets I have. Must be 4-5 yrs old at least.
It's only in one smaller part of the sheet, but still a bit annoying.
I also had problems with the BMF loosing some of it's adhesive properties over time.

same problem here :(

TBH this issue comes up with such frequency and since forever, I am surprised that:

a) BMF haven't fixed the problem (whatever it is); or
b) someone hasn't come onto the market with a good alternative product (or maybe there IS one that I am unaware of?)

its bad, they will replace. but my fresh replace lasted full ok 2 months or so. its usable few more months but its going worse and worse over that time.
i think its unstopable. its shame but if you need it you must buy it and be prepared it will happen

that sucks, I have 5 year old sheets that look good as new

BMF does have a shelf life, and often the stuff at the hobby shop is too old to use. If it has visible cracks or wrinkles, it's going or gone bad.

Best to order fresh BMF directly from them, and they claim that leaving it in the refrigerator will protect it from drying out. I hear they are trying to figure out why it's drying out/cracking so badly vs. previously where it just lost adhesive over time.

My 4-year-old BMF looks exactly like that. In fact, it began developing cracks after 2 years from purchase (though I don't know how long it had been in the shop). But my 8-year-old Meta-Look by Modelers is still clean and usable. Both are carefully stored in the same box, so I think this is just a unique problem of BMF.

I had this problem and also poor glue and asked for replace by mail (including the almost intact bad foil). The letter was sent last year and how about the reply??????

Well, in my experience, I had a sheet that I bought like 14 years ago, of which I still have some remains that work perfectly, and recently I bought a new sheet which I was unable to use because the adhesive was too bad, then I wrote a letter to Bare-metal and they sent a replacement free of charge, and it seems like it is Ok.

As was said before, the best way to go is buying them directly from the source.

Well, I sent a message to their customer service last night. Let's see what they say.

i think they will have to to do "something" due to high replace requests. soon they will have back almost all they sell.

Ask your dealer before you buy how often they restock. Alot of resellers have noticed this trend and are starting to stock very low amounts of bmf to try and fight this. I restock on BMF about once a month making sure to sell the oldest first. A few other vendors I have talked to about this are doing the same. So before ordering from someone just ask them about how long they have been sitting around.

While some BMF sheets may deteriorate over time, not all will. It's not like milk, it does not have a best by date. Some sheets will be just as good after years as the day they were made, and some may be nearly useless after a few months. I've had multiple sheets of BMF for over 8 years now, and have never had adhesion deterioration or cracking. In all likelihood, these are batch problems and not age problems. So instead of getting a new sheet, you should really only need to get a good sheet.

instead of getting a new sheet, you should really only need to get a good sheet.
That's good to know :thumbsup: I'll be sure to mention that in my next order to HLJ. Is there a special stamp or something on the good ones they should look out for? :evillol:

I think BMF is a great product when it works and I like it a lot but in all honesty, the inconsistency of quality and the cracking issue in what (for me at least) is an expensive product actually pisses me off.

That kind of inconsistent quality in almost any other product would, deservedly IMHO, result in bad press and a reputation as a poor product but for some reason in the case of BMF we mostly seem ready to accept it and factor the wasted money into the cost of using it :confused:

If everyone stopped buying it because there was a good alternative available, I am sure they would fix the problem pretty damn quick. Boycott anybody.....? :evillol:

MY BAD EXPERIENCE:

Dear Sirs
Last year, I wrote a letter including a sheet of Bare Metal Foil chrome with adhesion problem and since that, there was no reply.
The letter was adressed to 29800 Grande River Ave. - Farmington Hills - MI - 48336, as found in your site and I didn´t sent a copy to the adress shown in the foil package.

This is my original request:

To Bare Metal Foil Co.

Dear Sir

I am a brazilian modelist that use your products allways having very good results. I never had problems since I bought this foil that I am returning because the glue is too poor and impossible to fix and conform in the model. The shop where I use to buy said the product is ok and refused to replace it.
If possible, I would like that you try using the foil and according to your conclusion, please mail another one to the address below.
Thank you in advance.


Hi Aldo,

Sometimes when I am talking with people who are having trouble applying the foil, it ends up being a problem with the preparation of the model. Before you attempt to apply the foil to the model, wash the model with plain detergent (I recommend Palmolive green, it contains no oil) to remove any residue & then dry it. Also, wash your hands before you begin your application of the foil, to remove any oils that may be on the skin. Do not wax the model & make sure that you do not touch the back of the foil or that could destroy the adhesiveness of the foil. Please try these suggestions, if you have not already. The preparation of the model is very important to having a positive Bare-Metal Foil experience. Thank you for contacting Bare-Metal Foil Co.


Dear Eldred
I´m 53 years old and proud of my modelling production that started in 1963. I allways take care about oils or general dust in the whole process of building a model. The main aspect is that in equal condittions there are foils that fix and consequently conforms well in the surfaces and others don´t (I use Bare Metal for a long time), so I returned the sheet that I think has a problem for your consideration, but I don´t know if it was received in the adress shown in the site.
Thanks for the answer. Maybe next time with some luck I can find another good foil.
Aldo


Hi Aldo,

I'm sorry, but I do not recall receiving the foil to test. If you would like to order your product directly from us, that will insure that you will receive fresh stock. You may order from us directly either by FAX or email. If ordering via FAX, our FAX # is 248-476-3343. We have a $10.00 minimum (includes shipping cost) if ordering via credit card.

Outstanding customer relations :worshippy :D:D