Can someone please tell me if Hammerite smooth Finish Metal paint can be used to paint the outside of a caravan? My Van has an aluminium skin. It is a 1989 Sprite Alpine. I was thinking of using a brush as the van sides are dimpled.
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Hammerite is no longer the same hammerite that made it so famous in fact I reckon that it's pretty useless now after all the ingredients that made it so popular have now been removed. You would probably find ordinary paint as good or even better.
One paint it might be worth trying though is Plastikote - yes it's a spray paint in a can but it is so easy to use, covers anything and when dry looks like a professional finish.
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Have a look at Wizards site,he has a recipe for "pikey-paint" and tips on painting with a roller etc.
On the Hammerite front,I once brush painted a volvo estate with it and it took LOADS and cost an absolute fortune.You used to be able to thin it with standard cellulose thinners and spray it....now?I dont know.On the other hand I painted my old Thompson T line with normal car cellulose,some rollered some sprayed,and it worked well.If you go to your local trade auto paint supplier ask them what white (if you want white) that they sell the most of because that is likely to be the cheapest.Last time I did it Ford Diamond White was the one.But do remember to buy thinners and dilute the paint even if you dont spray.For dimple a roller would work fine.Or even an electric spraygun.Take your time with your masking,lots of tape and newspaper and wear a proper vapour mask - you can get disposables.And eye protection.If you want a really good finish,use a primer/filler paint first,after degreasing and rubbing back the van surface first.Then rub this back a bit,or not if you arent that worried.Theres lots of how-tos on Expert Village and Instructables sites.But I seriously wouldnt bother with hammerite for the whole thing - way too expensive!Coo-var do a similar product if you want to do the chassis,but the cheapest and best Ive found is spraying Underschutz underseal over the entire underside.The spraygun is a tenner and the shutz 6 quid or so a can.You can wash the used tins out and use them as reservoirs to use the spraygun for other rough painting.
Another tip,if you dont want to thin your paint then stand the can in very hot water,replacing the water as it cools until the paint is very warm.Then spray it on,putting the guns can back in hot water if it slows.
The point of hammerite is that it is a rust preventative. Your aluminium caravan will not rust so hammerite is not a good product to use. It does not brush on well.
Talk to your local car accessories shop and get some brush on cellulose. It won't be brilliant but will be better than hammerite.
For a good finish it needs to be sprayed. Your dimple finish will be fairly forgiving.
Cellulose is not suitable for brushing, especiall this weather, it will dry before you get the brush onto the job. Synthetic gloss is far better. Why not just use exterior grade gloss?
I used cream coloured Smoothrite on my old caravan & I brush painted the whole rear panel. It wasn't a perfect colour match but as it was the whole rear panel & it was dimpled you didn't notice anything bad on it.
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Topic: Hammerite smooth?
