By AX from Miami on 6/27/2008

Thomas Edison was asked how he felt taking so much time and over TWO THOUSAND attempts before finally achieving a lasting filament. Edison responded "My dear friend, it didn't take me two thousand attempts to find a lasting filament, I discovered two thousand ways how NOT to make a light bulb!"

In the coastal regions of the Southeastern US, the corrosive battle of salt, high humidity, and steel is relentless and frustrating. So many products, many requiring special equipment or multiple steps, tedious application processes, two-part epoxies, extended curing times unrealistic for properties already occupied or in service, or ALL OF THE ABOVE! After modern processes like powder-coating, electrostatic processes, hopes of finally winning this battle were quickly dashed as I witnessed the all too familiar reddish-brown cancer begin to break through the promising shiny coatings, much like weeds poking through concrete embankments.

My conclusion: avoid spec'ing steel whenever structural requirements permitted and use more costly powder-coated aluminum; the costs of which were often prohibitive when budgets were tighter than tolerances!

Wandering the isles of a small "mom and pop" hardware store, I came across rather non-descript cans of paint of a brand I'd never heard of, with a picture of a rather bumpy-looking finish referred to as "hammered", touting the inclusion of GLASS FILAMENTS. If ever there was a gimmick, this HAD to be one I thought. . .

Often accused of being relentless or suffering from a Quixote-like syndrome battling rusty windmills, I was inexorably drawn into yet another attempt of winning what seemed an untenable battle.

Whatever the reason, it appears marketing is not at the top of the list for Masterchem, for if it was, there’d be a lot less rust in Miami; the endless rows of rusted security doors and windows would cease to scar the homes they protect.

Even after decades of exposure or single coats applied too thickly by novices, I see no sign of cancer. The only provision being it must COMPLETELY cover the steel substrate, no matter how fine the detail of the steelwork. Patio furniture, security doors, railings, continue to shine, and the “hammered” texture continues to draw the attention and touch of passers by. The most difficult part of the application is FINDING the product!

This latter problem now made worse by a far more commonly known brand that clearly recognizes the value of marketing, their ads often seen on television, and their introduction of a product that looks not-so-coincidentally almost identical to Hammerite and now easily found in both small hardware stores and home centers. But caution, that is where the similarity ends. Due to ease of purchase, I’ve tried this product and its performance in no way resembles that of it’s predecessor! Its cure time is far longer, tack time seems endless, adhesion far weaker, the finish less consistent. How they got their product to look so similar yet perform so dissimilar is a complete and dismal mystery to me.

Rarely have I taken this much time and so many words to comment on a product, but the performance of Hammerite and the introduction of a copycat that may hurt Hammerite in more than one way. This copycat looks so similar that some may generalize its performance to that of Hammerite’s. It is this heinous possibility that compels me to devote so much time in composing this review.

As always, caveat emptor to the consumer, and tempus fugit to Hammerite: a company that should look back at the battle of Betamax Vs VHS, two now defunct products and a battle from which Sony learned and learned well; witness “My First Sony”. Until such time, Hammerite will be relegated to the few, the competent, and the relentless.

By Bigred Automation from Houston Texas on 6/11/2008

The paint tended to "Fish Eye" slightly in areas that had been applied with a brush, but then again I may have applied too thick of a coat. Using a good quality roller and applying the paint in long strokes in the same direction proved to be the best for my application. Spraying would most likely be the ideal way to apply, but wasn't possible in my case. Brush applied small sections did not "Fish Eye" on me, which baffled me a little. I am completely satisfied with the results, sometimes it takes a little trial and error, with a product you're not familiar with. I will be using this paint alot in the future and have already purchased this same product twice since the original purchase.

In the 1982 "Men At Work" song "Do You Come From a Land Down Under" the opening line was "Travelling in a fried-out Kombi..." which refered to a Volkswagon bus that had been salvaged after a major fire. Ironically, in 1990 I bought a 1976 VW bus for $75 following a major engine fire. The goal wasn't a "show quality" resoration, but "let's get this thing working again, and looking good on a budget. A couple new tires, some upholstery, engine parts, and a paint job were all that was needed. And you guessed it, HAMMERITE was the paint. I scored a couple dozen cans of mid-green Hammerite, sanded and masked off the van, and spray painted that "fried-out kombi". It made three trips cross country and down into Mexico before I sold it for $2500. The paint looked great, if a bit unconventional. the Hammered finish was easy to keep, and never faded or looked dull. I cannot convey strongly enough how much I recommend this product.

By Joe from South Bend, IN on 2/22/2008

I've used a number of various paints over the years and never come across anything similar to Hammerite. You can put this paint over just about anything, even rust, and it requires very little prep work. It also acts as a rust inhibitor once it's applied. The "hammered" finish gives a look that no other paint can come close to.