Re: Joe's '55 Clipper Custom

Posted by BigKev On 2009/8/21 0:19:39

Here's the deal with rattle can primer. It worked okay when the paints were all lacquer. But with the catalyzed base coat/clear coats and single stage paints used today you really need to use a catalyzed primer. I still use rattle can primer for painting things like engine accessories where you are going to paint them with rattle can paint anyway. But if you are going to drop $200+ on a just the paint (which is typical paint prices today for just the paint, activator, and reducer), plus any body work labor, and the labor cost to spray the paint, and all the masking supplies, why would someone use $50 worth of cheapo rattle can primer under that. I know a lot of paint shops that will not paint a car where the someone has used that. Too much of a liability.

My favorite primer is Valspar DTM. (Direct To Metal). Basically this is a self etching catalyzed primer. It sands easy, and your can over reduce it and use it as a sealer. So a gallon of it goes along way. It's not cheap, but it really good.