Hitchcocks Forum

So got around to removing Bertie's swinging arm and striping it back to bare metal ready for painting, wanted to use Hammeritte after a £50 quote for powder coating, but shock horror cannot get Hammerite thinners, apparently Hammerite have withdrawn it due to it being dangerous.
Now I'm stuck, what do I paint it with, suppose I could buy a pack of cheap brushes and ditch one after each coat of paint. Anyone got any other ideas please ?

Well, you could try contacting Hammerite and investigate the possibilities...


Link: Hammerite

When did Hammerite withdraw the thinners? I bought a tin in December from Homebase?

...and according to the OECD product safety pages, the withdrawal is due to packaging, which is not childproof, and not the product. I think it's only in the UK, so maybe I could find some for you here in Denmark, or you could try ordering from Hammerite Netherlands..


Here's the Rapex data from their website:



A11/0038/14

United Kingdom

Category: Chemical products

Product: Brush cleaner & thinners

Brand: Hammerite

Type/number of model: 1L, 250ml

OECD Portal Category: 47000000 - Cleaning / Hygiene Products

Description: The product is used for cleaning paint brushes and thinning paint. Available in 1L & 250ml.

Country of origin: The Netherlands

The child resistant closure (CRC) of the product can easily be opened without squeezing the lid. Prior to first opening there is a ring pull in place under the CRC which cannot be removed by a child. If liquid is swallowed by a young child this may cause vomiting and the product entering the lungs could cause aspiration pneumonia.

Voluntary measures: Withdrawal of the product from the market

You need to re-coat very soon after initial application or the paint will react with the earlier coat so, after applying by brush wrap the brush in cling film and then unwrap it for the next coat, usually only a short time later. Then re-wrap brush, it'll stay soft for a long time. This is an old painter's trick and actually works, I've tried it. However, I don't use Hammerite anymore as it is carp after being reformulated (!) and I now use either Japlac (International Paints,) by brush (white spirit to clean,) or Plasticote Projekt (sic) Paint by aerosol which is loads better. REgards, Mark

Hi Bertie, I am pretty sure I just used petrol to wash the brush with after the last time I used hammerite. It seems to work with most other enamel / gloss / whatever brush paints I have ever used, as well. As a bonus, with the stuff we have nowdays supposedly attacking valve seats, fibreglass etc, a bit of paint on a brush should be a doddle for it! Cheers, Paul.

I have used a paint called Plasti-kote Metal Protekt http://www.plasti-kote.co.uk/ with good results. I would not use Smoothrite / Hammerite as it goes off too quickly and drags on the brush. I have also found it to be a brittle paint as well. It definitely has its uses, but not bike frames.
I painted two frames from bare metal with brushed on primer for a good thickness of paint and sprayed on black Plasti-kote Metal Protekt as a top coat with very pleasing results.

Hi BERTIE --------- as per others I also have found that this current Hammerite Black is not as it used to be...There seems to be a slight Brown undertone ??........And as per Mak M I can recommend International "JAPLAC" Jet Black, High Gloss enamel paint...... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/27146431 ... ht=true&lp -------------- I recently used some to freshen-up the framework of a 1960's BSA B40...... A thorough wipe-down with a petrol dampened cloth to de-grease then one coat applied with a thin bristle 1/2" brush....Leave for 24 hrs and it will look like new with a very high gloss indeed and no brush marks either !!!....... Brush washes in white spirit or petrol....

Since Hamerite was reformulated some time ago, cellulose thinners does the job. I use the rattle cans when I can, good finish.

As PeteF reminds us, Hammerite changed formula some time ago and the new formula is not nearly as good - and takes ages to dry too! I can highly recommend metal paint from Toolstation (made by 'Flag') in either hammer or smooth. It still contains xylene so performs exactly as Hammerite used to - plus Toolstation also stock xylene based thinners.
I suspect that legislation will soon remove this product from the shelves, though!
I have also heard of a similar product called Hammercote which also still is xylene based, although I haven't tried it myself.