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For The Preservers using Hammerite.

2585 Views 7 Replies 2 Participants Last post by  zulu ferret, 
zulu ferret
As I mentioned before, the original Hammerite, with the fireproof thinners, was one tough cookie! Resisted chipping, scratching,rust, and salt corrosion. I started using this, along with the original Waxoyl in about '69, or thereabouts, if I remember correctly?:rolleyes: This was virtually impossible to brush-on to achieve a good finish, but it gave excellent results when sprayed. The finish always 'Fish-Eyed' as it was supposed to, and gave that really slippery finish, which stayed with it permanently, due to it's silicone content. Sprayed lots of gear with it, including a number of cars.:):

The next generation of Hammerite, did not use the Carbon. Tet. or whatever fireproof thinner, and gave reasonable results when applied with a brush. OK to spray as well:): I have my Bradbury jack, mini-hydraulic ramps,and axle- stands, in this second type of Hammerite, and have used some today,(must be 12yrs. old, but hasn't deteriorated to any degree,) to finish a set of steel wheels on the old runabout. Now you guys out there, are more conversant with the latest issue under the Hammerite logo, so is it as siliconised, and as tough, and does it thin well enough to spray? Any recent refurbishers out there who have used the new brand? I have tried the Smoothrite, and was not overly impressed with it's durability, when compared to the original heavily siliconised types.:(: Don't think smoothrite has silicone in it anyway?:(:
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Bodger
I think Hammerite is good stuff but it isn't the shortcut to rust treatment that is often suggested.

I used to get the sprayable Hammerite smooth but it didn't seem to work at killing/neutralising rust, and the aerosols clog.

It is a good tough paint for brushing onto Chassis rails, floors, sills etc. with at least 2 coats, but if it is going over rust then a coat of Zinc primer makes a big difference to the time it takes for the rust to come back through.... IMO.

I didn't know that about the silicone.
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zulu ferret
Thanks for your input Bodger.:): I reckon the original Hammerite, was a commercial biased finish, that could be oven baked, if required, to give a really long lasting and durable finish,hence the fireproof thinner, then made available for public purchase. The original was used on storage heaters, early fan heaters, toolboxes, and engineering snap-gauges Etc. Etc. It was the business. The names the same, but the product is not, IMO.:):
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Bodger
Is it the regulations that killed it?

I'm confused on what type of paint you can still buy/use for respraying.
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G
I found the old Finnegan's Speciality Paints Hammerite to be good if brushed on thickly but I have a tenedency to brush paint out a bit too much - the result on my motorcycle frame (did this in 1969) was that it pinholed. Didn't look right on a Velocette anyway but I was young and inexperienced. Took bloody ages to try to get off.

More recent experience has been with the smooth stuff - about ten years ago I painted an old bench vice. Now I think many people just bang the stuff on to smarten things up and that's what I did. The result is easily chipped but I'd suggest that this is my fault. I only cleaned off the old paint with Nitromors and wire brushed the cast iron - hardly what you'd call proper preparation.:rolleyes:
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zulu ferret
Thanks again chaps, for you interesting views, experience. The 'Snap Gauges' I spoke of, I'm pretty sure were sprayed in Hammerite, prior to being oven baked, thinking about it.:): The legislation probably stopped access by the public to the product finally. As was the use in the garment dry cleaning business? The original as I have said, was virtually impossible to brush on, as it flashed off very quickly.:(: The follow up product, was 'brushable' and gave a good durable finish. Wonder if the original is still commercially available, for industry? PS. Mudhut, MSS, Viper? Venom? Not an original LE, was it?:):
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G
zulu ferret said:
PS. Mudhut, MSS, Viper? Venom? Not an original LE, was it?:):
Click to expand...
Oh hell, time to confess ZF. The year was 1969 and I was 16 years old. I got rid of my Honda C200 (90cc of pure power) after I became fed up with being passed by Lambrettas.

Short while later I found this old Velocette in the corner of a bike shop. No idea what it was and it didn't go so naturally I bought it. It turned out to be a MAC - a 350cc from 1953. Rebuilt, changed frames twice and converted it to a Viper. Crashed into the side of a van in 1972 (his fault).

Pics show the bike around 1970 in two stages of development.

Sorry about mini hijack ZF - it's your thread!
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zulu ferret
Good machine, as was the MSS?:): Didn't reckon many would settle for a Noddy LE:): Although I bet some have cherished models of this 'sneaky' policemans machine.:): Pity they don't patrol on them now, and nick more bad people,:(:
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