Problem with hammertone finishing

[rockhorst]

I wanted to try finishing some boxes in hammertone, so I got some Hammerite Hammertone colors and started experimenting. I've primed the aluminum per instructions and rolled the paint on with a roller. The results are excellent when using metallics, like silver, copper and gold colors. The blue and red colors I've tried come out almost flat, not nearly as patterned as the metallics even though I've used an identical way of application under the same environmental circumstances. I can still see strokes from the primer pain through the red, which probably means it's too thin. The blue box I tried has a thicker coat but very shallow hammering going on. Quite disappointing.

Any tips on getting the non metallics to work, or should I just live with it?

[Güero]

I wanted to try finishing some boxes in hammertone, so I got some Hammerite Hammertone colors and started experimenting. I've primed the aluminum per instructions and rolled the paint on with a roller. The results are excellent when using metallics, like silver, copper and gold colors. The blue and red colors I've tried come out almost flat, not nearly as patterned as the metallics even though I've used an identical way of application under the same environmental circumstances. I can still see strokes from the primer pain through the red, which probably means it's too thin. The blue box I tried has a thicker coat but very shallow hammering going on. Quite disappointing.

Any tips on getting the non metallics to work, or should I just live with it?

Try  lower the pressure if you are using painting pistol and/or minor distance between the box and pistol.

[rockhorst]

I'm rolling on the paint with a roller currently, no paint gun options. Should I think lighter coat, or thicker coat?

[Güero]

I'm rolling on the paint with a roller currently, no paint gun options. Should I think lighter coat, or thicker coat?

I dont know Hammertone produtcs, cause here in Brazil we have another traditional brand for decades.
For this brand the only way to achieve this hammerite effect is through the paint spray/pistol  application.

[kiwiandy]

You could try blowing an electric hot air paint stripper gun over the surface of the wet paint for a few minutes. I've found that this helps smooth out the finish and bring up the hammertone effect. A hair dryer set on hot might work if you don't have a paint stripper.

[Buzz]

I'd go with thicker. I have used hammertone brushed onto large machinery parts. In that case we had to put it on thick to get the effect. Anywhere that was coated too thinly wouldn't get the effect.

The thicker the paint, the deeper the effect. You just have to be careful not to leave hangs or drips.