Box Trailer Paint

[101RRS]

My box trailer needs a new coat of paint. Like most smaller box trailers it has been painted in a "hammer" paint and I would like to do the same.

I am familiar with Hammerite Brand which is a a great paint and UV stabilised but is hard to find. Hardware stores like Bunnings sell a Hammer paint (Hammertone) but this is not good for outdoor use as it breaks down in UV.

So does anyone know what "Hammer" paint the trailer builders use and where do you get it.

Cheers

Garry

[lux201]

good question! I too would very much like to know this, I will look around and see what I can find.

-Jarrod.

[DiscoTDI]

They generally get the cheapest they can for bulk, I have found the best colour for longevity is charcoal, blue and red fade quickly in the sun. Townsville Is a good testing ground as the sun will nail anything that's left unattended.

I have repainted a few trailers and all the hammer tone needs is a good clean, scrape off the surface rust and spray away, the stuff sticks like **** to a blanket :)

[Hoges]

Wattyl epoxy metal paint if applied in multiple light coats and left to cure for a few days in between coats, will build up into a very hard surface. Takes a while but is worth the effort.

[Chucaro]

After building several steel hull yachts my recommendation for a near life time paint work will be sandblasting the trailer and then apply a undercoat using POR 15 paint.
Once the coat is tacky then apply 2 coats of Wattyl (http://www.wattyl.com.au/Killrust/Documents/W1618%20-%20KR%20ColourcardJan12_12pp_FINAL_LR.pdf) paint.

The Watty paint will protect the POR15 undercoat wich it is not UV resistant and the POR15 will protect the metal surface against the friction made by shovels, cargo, etc.
It is very important to apply the first coat over the POR15 coat when the undercoat is not dry. Once POR15 is dry nothing stick on it.

You do the job once and is done for ever. Only occasional touch ups will be required for the top coat.

If you do not like to have to touch up the top coat, then do the top coats with POR 15 for marine decks and that is the end of your slavery ;)

[101RRS]

Thanks for the alternative suggestions but I am after Hammerite - if anyone knows where I can buy it I would appreciate it. The local stockists listed on the Hammerite website have never heard of it and of course do not list it.

I can contact Hammerite next week but was hooping to do the painting this weekend.

Thanks

Garry

[Owl]

Wattyl Killrust is available in Hammertone finish!

[101RRS]

Wattyl Killrust is available in Hammertone finish!

I have used it before and on initial use seemed great - seemed to degrade after about 6 months so may not be UV stable.

Thanks

Garry

[brend0n]

how did you go with this my trailer is up for a paint job now

[101RRS]

I could not get Hammertone so just used the cheap hammer finish spray paint from supercheap. Is not great paint.

I painted the trailer and then sold it that week so I have no idea how it is holding up.

Garry

[brend0n]

seems masters (rockhampton) sells Hammerite.

[Slunnie]

We have the powdercoater blast and powder coat in hammertone.

[DoubleChevron]

If it's a box trailer ................. The cheapest paint you can find. Mis-mixes are good for trailers. I got some self priming "rust" type enamel from Aldi last year. It was cheap, so now my trailers are all heritage green (as it's the only colour they had left when I spotte dit :wasntme: ).

My reasoning behind this is you will never "wear out" a paint job on a trailer. It will ALWAYS need another within a year or two. You'll scratch it loading ***** on it. Scratch it up by scraping shovels on it (after loads of sand/gravel/chipbark/etc).... Basically using a box trailer leads to scratching all the paint off it. Especially in the load area, so why use expensive paint or put huge time into a paint job .... that'll you'll scratch right back off :confused: )

I just give 'em a quick scrape and wire brush every couple of years to remove loose/flaky paint and re-coat with a $4.00 roller kit (you'll paint 95% of the trailer in 10minutes with a roller and get a good heavy coat on). Then chuck the roller kit in the bin.

seeya,
Shane L.