Dunno what you mean by ‘recently’. The formula most certainly changed when it was no longer produced by Huntings Paints. Likely a cost or chemical reason for the change, but certainly not the original formulation. The smoothrite I have says do not re-coat within six weeks if the current coat has hardened. These days one can add a further coat at any time.

Certain the new hammerite is nothing like the old. I did paint some steel with the new while ago and it all went well. Your exerience makes me wonder if the current hammerite solvent pulled contamination out of the cast and it's failing to dry completely? Looking at hammerites site link

And at their solvent data sheet suggests that their solvent is a complex mix (pehaps something like a turps substitute???) and may well ahve soem extended dryng time in cetain situations…?

pgk

I always understood that the hammered look of Hammerite was caused by silicone in the paint causing the effect – which might explain why your scales did not stick, but usually the paint sticks to the object like glue.

New Hammerite is crap as the EU banned the use of chlorinated hydrocarbons which was the solvent used in the original mix.

Sounds like the sooner we dump the EU the better. Bring it on!

Can't see it doing much good. The whole Industry has had to move over to water based paints. Stupid thing is, You say paint a car or anything else.

You give it coats of water based primer, various colour base coats. Then a clear coat. The clear coat is still 2 pack, which is isocyanate based or includes it.

Son in law has a garage. Car bodywork & classics. He hates the stuff, but is forced to use it now.

Steve.

Point taken, but what's causing Hollowpoint's problem then? I like the idea it's 5G!

Paint / filler incompatibility? Dirty cast-iron? Old paint? Failure to stir? I doubt it's because all new Hammerite is crap.

I foolishly bought a small cheap cast-iron vice at an Exhibition without opening the box. Perfect paint job, shame everything else about it is nasty!

Dave

FWIW I've found that the Smoothrite range, which the OP used, does tend to chip far more easily than the hammered finish ones.

Anyone who thinks leaving the EU will relax environmental legislation is deluding themselves. Firstyl most are based on international agreements, not just the EU. Second companies will still have to comply with EU rules if they want to trade with the EU and they are not going to make two versions of the same product.

Robert G8RPI.

They use the word 'slick' too. I read that as 'greasy', remembering that the lubricating properties of cast-iron allow it to be used as a bearing metal. Graphite is slippery and might not let paint stick to it. Possibly the exact type of cast-iron matters as well. My main stock came out of a night storage heating system. It's noticeably soft and dirty – the polished metal blackens a sheet of paper rubbed on it! Another bit of junk cast-iron is harder and cleaner. And I suppose the chilled skin often found on castings might be a better surface for paint than the metal underneath.

Dave