Hammer paint

Crackle finish or hammer is a painting with a special varnish that produces a net-like structured surface during drying. This structure ( typically about 3 mm measuring) the visual impression of a worked through many a hammer surface is awakened.

The slightly iridescent areas caused by the different orientation of the smallest of shiny platelets suspended in hammertone finish. These plates are aluminum flakes or the mineral mica. Mica is chemically inactive and very resistant. The special surface structure is produced by targeted surface defects caused by the addition of small amounts of silicone oil.

The crackle finish is primarily used as a means of beautification of technical devices and less as a protective lacquer. The optical advantage of the crackle finish is that the painted surface will still look good when the component surface itself is not very smooth and regular. In order to achieve the same visual effect with a smooth finish, the component surface would often reworked, for example, smoothed, polished or smoothed. With a crackle finish, this step is omitted.

In addition, the durability of the coating is increased by the platelet-shaped pigments. Mica and aluminum protect the underlying binders from UV radiation and prevent rapid aging. Hammer coatings can be produced relatively hard and scratch-resistant by the incorporation of various additives.