Hammer effect paint: features of use
Painting metal products often becomes a big problem, since it is difficult to pick up paint. Often metal structures, especially if they are used on the street, come to complete ugliness after a few seasons, and everything seemed to be done according to technology.
In this article we will talk about what hammer paint for metal is and why the price for it is sometimes higher than for the metal product itself.
The content of the article
Paint feature
The modern market of paints and varnishes is so diverse that it is very easy to get confused, especially if you do not encounter this issue daily. But paint with the effect of a hammer continues to occupy its own niche not only in the price category, but also in the quality of the coating, so what is its secret?
In fact, everything is simple - the secret is in stable polymer resins that firmly adhere to metal surfaces and protect the product from corrosion. It is with the polymeric resins in the composition that the hammer effect of the paint is associated, so named for its similarity to the prints from the forge hammer on the metal.
The characteristic potholes are often confused with powder spraying, but this is not entirely true. Because unlike powder paints, which are applied to the surface in special heat chambers, hammer paint for metal with a hammer effect is sold in cans, which is already ready for use. And anyone can work with her, even if there is no relevant experience.
Of course, this material has a number of its features associated with the application and use of hammer paint, but more on that later, but for now let's talk about the competitive advantages of this material.
The advantages of hammer paint
It:
- It can be applied directly to the metal without additional treatment and primer.
- It has high thermal stability.
- It is not afraid of moisture and can be used outdoors.
- The characteristic texture of the paint is able to hide defects in the product and fills all the bumps.
- Fully UV resistant. It does not fade in the sun, and does not lose its qualities over time.
- You can work with hammer paint in several ways, and even for a beginner, applying with your own hands will not cause great difficulties.
- The scope of the paint is not limited to metal products, and it can be used on wooden and drywall constructions.
- Painted products can be washed without difficulty, even with strong products.
Of course, hammer enamel is imperfect and has a number of drawbacks, but to be honest, when writing this article, we had to fairly break our heads to find them.
disadvantages
So:
- If you need to update the coating, you may encounter certain difficulties, namely, hammer paint is very difficult to remove, since it does not lend itself to solvents and is poorly cleaned with a special tool.
- If there are hard-to-reach places on the product that could not be painted, corrosion will begin to form in this place, which will spread over the paint surface over time.
- The high cost of paint can also be considered a minus, especially considering the high consumption of this material per square meter of area.
- When applied with a spray gun, gaps may form on the surface, which are very difficult to remove subsequently.
Important! The instruction for applying hammer paint with a spray gun provides for coating in several layers, but if the coating is obtained in different thicknesses, the color difference will remain after the third layer.
Paint thinner
Hammer paint is a nitro enamel with polymers and is diluted with any chemical solvents.
It can be:
- Solvent 646 and other brands.
- Xylene.
- Solvent
- Petrol.
Often, the quality of the coating as a whole depends on the quality of the solvent used, so it is considered optimal to use specialized ingredients of the same brand for the paint as the paint itself, as shown in the photo above.
Important! Hammer paint for metal can not be applied over the old oil-based coating, since nitro solvents in the composition will lift the old layer and the paint will not stick to the surface.
Work with paint
Like many other materials, paint on metal with a hammer effect can be applied in several ways, and the choice depends on both personal skill and the complexity of the product that needs to be painted.
Brush
The easiest way to apply without skill. It is with a brush that you can achieve a pronounced hammer effect, since this tool puts the paint in a thick layer, and it is easy to close all places on the product.
The only and most significant difficulty when applying paint with a brush is the slow pace of work, and the ability to skip some hard-to-reach spots. But this tool also has a significant advantage - minimal paint consumption, which is especially important when you need to paint a small product.
Roller
Roller coating is only suitable for painting products with a large plane, since they cannot be reached in hard to reach places.
Important! When working with hammer paints, it is impossible to use a foam roller, since the solvents will simply eat it, and many few nice spots will remain on the surface.
It is best to use a small fur coat for work, as it does not pull the paint along and allows it to spread on the surface on its own.
Airbrush
Of course, the fastest and highest quality method of painting, since the dye is sprayed in all hard-to-reach places, and with the appropriate experience, the coating is uniform and smooth. But it should be remembered that when working with a spray gun (see We select a spray gun for painting), the hammer paint will have to be diluted to a more liquid consistency, as a result of which it may be necessary to apply several layers to achieve the desired effect.
Advice! It is unlikely to apply paint with an electric spray gun, since it has a large weight and a thick consistency, and the power tool has little power to spray such paints.
You can see the video in this article to understand the whole process of applying hammer paint for outdoor work with a spray gun.
A few secrets and useful tips
As mentioned above, to understand what a hammer effect is, a paint is small, it will take experience and a hard hand to work, but if they are not there, we’ll give some useful tips that can help you get a high-quality and durable coating.
So:
- It is undesirable to work with paint in rainy or foggy weather, as bubbles form on the surface, which subsequently burst.
- If it is necessary to apply the paint in several layers, then everyone needs to be allowed to dry well for several hours. Otherwise, an air gap forms between the layers, which prevents the paint from drying on the surface itself.
- The thinner the paint, the weaker the effect of the hammer on the surface.
- When working with a spray gun, the outlet pressure should be significantly greater than when working with other paints. As a rule, it is 4-6 atmospheres.
- The surface before painting must never be primed, this will not only not improve the quality of the coating, but also vice versa worsen the adhesion of the paint to the metal.
- Hammer enamel dries very quickly, so when working with a brush or roller, you need to cover the product very quickly, since drying paint will begin to shrink from the surface.
As you can see, there are no big difficulties in working with hammer paints, the main thing is to strictly follow all the rules and instructions, and also not to neglect safety measures, and if you get into your eyes or respiratory tract, immediately consult a doctor.
