Metal Paint

Hammerite is available in the SELF d.i.y. store in Piederipa. Think in the 2nd aisle on the left as you go in!!!

Which shelf ? S

SELF is a chain of DIY stores! Hammerite is buyable here in Italy, though not everywhere by any means. Galv steel is a difficult surface to get paint to adhere to - I suppose what you'd be looking to read on the tin would be fondo per zincato. That'd buy you a 'primer' which should stick to the accaio zincato, over which you could use any smalto.

For a decent job on galvanised metal you need to use 'special metals' primer first, not sure what that is in Italian mind.

You will also have to remove the old, flaky paint....

For all your replies, haven't been to Self for some time Badger so will have a look and thanks for the translation Fillide, that will be most helpfu. Yes, Gala I fear that the stripping of the old stuff might be hard work! Jo

Just because I was browsing the specialist paint shelves (as you do) I noticed a tin labelled 'zincato'. Now this paint was intended for bare metal, and claimed to make untreated steel 'fake galvanised': this is not what you need. Possibly your galv steel doors are a bit exposed to the sun, which means they will expand and contract quite a bit, and there are few paints which will cope with this - Hammerite is probably the best because it has a bit of flexibility. If you can't find anything which works then maybe embracing the 'shabby chic' aesthetic would be your best route!

Sorry Sprostoni. I think it is the last gondola on the left hand side at 2mtrs high. To remember the shelf, I may need the colour that was never stated , as that gondola had a good selection.

if you need to thin down the hammerite , petrol works fine but at a big saving (even now) on the hammerite thinners... just the mean Scotsman in me again.

Just use cellulose thinners.

From memory hammerite thinners was (is ? )mainly para xylene ie 1,4 dimethyl benzene , unleaded petrol contains quite lot of benzene hence my recommedation-it worked for me as they say. Lots cheaper too.

I agree with Fillide, exposure to the sun is your major challenge here. I would also advise to use a light colour. A dark one will deteriorate very quickly.