Hammerite Brush Cleaner and Thinner

[Arizona11]

I notice that this product comes in either a blue tin or a brown tin. The brown seems to be cheaper.

DAK what the difference is between the different coloured tins?

I am using Hammerite white radiator paint and Hammerite black smith finish metal paint.

Many thanks.

[AF62]

To be honest, given the price they charge for the Hammerite brush cleaner I have always found it cheaper to just use a disposable brush and throw it away after using it.

[88V8]

Back in the days when Hammerite was actually worth using, I used cellulose thinners as a brush cleaner and thinner.

V8

[Itsallaguess]

I notice that this product comes in either a blue tin or a brown tin.

The brown seems to be cheaper.

DAK what the difference is between the different coloured tins.

Here's some product and data-sheet links for both tin colours on the following pages -

Blue tin product - https://www.halfords.com/motoring/paint ... 23388.html

Blue tin data-sheet URL - http://www.my-sds.co.uk/auto.aspx?accou ... 1867215013

Brown tin product - https://www.hammerite.co.uk/product/bru ... r-thinner/

Brown tin data-sheet URL - http://assets.an-platform.com/public/cl ... inners.pdf

I've only taken a quick look at both, and the details contained in the 'Composition/information on ingredients' in Section 3 of both of the above data-sheets look identical to me.

In addition to that though, there doesn't seem to be any stand-out differentiating information on either the above two product pages *or* the tins themselves either, with both front labels clearly saying 'For use with Hammerite metal paint', and I think it would be fair for the average man on the street to expect any differentiating information to stand out quite clearly if there actually was a difference, and so taking all of that into account, I think it looks like you'd be fine just buying the cheapest tin you can find, of a quantity that suits you...

I should caveat all of the above with the fact that I also agree with the earlier poster who touched on the point of using throw-away brushes for this type of paint-job, if that's the cheapest and easiest route to take...

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

[Sobraon]

I use Xylene (Ebay £15.99/5L) for brush cleaning and thinning.

[Dod101]

Back in the days when Hammerite was actually worth using, I used cellulose thinners as a brush cleaner and thinner.

V8

I am with you. I have never tried to clean a brush after I have used Hammerite. I try to line up jobs and do them as a owner. Then throw away the brush.

Dod

[Arizona11]

Just had this reply from Hammerite themselves.

“The blue tin is the old Xylene based formulation and will not be compatible with our current paints.

The current tin is brown in colour.”

They also said it works for all their paints manufactured after 2010.

Thanks for all the replies and I hope their answer helps.

[GrahamPlatt]

Petrol works.

[Itsallaguess]

Just had this reply from Hammerite themselves.

“The blue tin is the old Xylene based formulation and will not be compatible with our current paints.

The current tin is brown in colour.”

Which seems to suggest that one of the product suppliers I've linked to earlier in the thread is linking to an incorrect data-sheet from their website, because there was no discernible difference between the two data-sheets offered that might suggest such a clear difference in functionality between the two...

Glad you got a good answer though - it's a shame there's no clearer information on the product sites or the tins themselves regarding that compatibility issue though.

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

[88V8]

....all their paints manufactured after 2010.

That would be around the time it stopped being any use.

If I want something durable now I use Eastwood chassis black https://www.frost.co.uk/eastwood-original-gloss-chassis-black-paint-us-quart/ or for everlasting durability - subject to appropriate rust treatment first - Epoxy 121 https://www.rust.co.uk/product/cat/em-121-epoxy-rust-proofing-chassis-paint-7

The cost of decent paint is mind-boggling nowadays, but I hate having to repaint anything.

V8