Technical Can anyone recommend a good rattle can primer paint?

Good old rattle can lacquer primer that sticks good, fills OK, and sands well is pretty hard to find nowadays. Home center primer , usually Rustoleum, is junk, basically satin enamel that is runny, doesn't fill, and can't be sanded. Duplicolor primer at auto parts store is disappointing, similar to the Rustoleum. I buy some at my auto paint store that is pretty good but costs $25/can!!

 

I had good luck with the Duplicolor self etching primer on the rollbar in my Nova, this was quite a few years ago when I bought it at NAPA and it was about $8.00/can, now it is $15.00 there, I do see that Summit has it for $10.00/can.
Seems a lot of paints have been reformulated as of late (Krylon to name one) so can't vouch for any one paint now, been away from day/day car activity for a bit.

 

I used Nason hi fill primer. I wanted to fill in the groves in my moon discs for a special look. I just put paint on them

 

Everything has been reformulated to be environmentally friendly. Doesn't last like it used to.

 

Look for Upol products at a good auto paint store or online.
Products - U-POL
Not cheap. $15 or more a can. Local BMW dealer body shop uses it for spot repairs. I will admit to using it on a whole fender.

 

Agree on UPOL. I use their weld thru primer, bed liner and rock guard. They do have several high build and direct to metal rattle can versions.

Other than that NO rattle can primer for me.

 

I have been using the Duplicolor self etching rattle can primer for years and it seems to do a good job, but I only use it with small projects that will be painted soon.

A steering wheel is small and a rattle can is easier than mixing the paint, spraying the paint and cleaning up the gun. HRP

 

I’ve used Rustoleum and Duplicolor sandable and thought both were good. I like Duplicolor best because I can get 3 colors. The 1956 Purolator dual quad air cleaner looked like an acne face when I bought it and is perfect now done only with rattle can spray primer, color, and $25 a can high solids clear coat from an auto paint supplier.

 

Rustoleum has several types of primer.

They have a self etching primer: https://www.rustoleum.com/en/product-catalog/consumer-brands/auto/primers/self-etching-primer

They have a high build primer: https://www.rustoleum.com/product-c...uto/primers/2-in-1-filler-and-sandable-primer

Another: https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/auto/primers/filler-primer-spray

And they have a primer sealer: https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/auto/primers/primer-sealer

I've had good luck using the self-etching primer first over bare metal, the hi build primer over that for block sanding, and the primer sealer over that before applying color.

I see they also have a guide coat primer: https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/auto/primers/guide-coat-primer

Here's a link to the rest of their primer products: https://www.rustoleum.com/en/product-catalog/consumer-brands/auto/primers

I'm sure you can do better than these, but it will be hard to beat the value, IMO. They all work well when you use them for the right application.

 

I've been using 3M Bondo 720 Acrylic lacquer primer to restore antique toys for over 10 years. It's the best I've found
It dries fast and sands nicely.


Bondo® Gray Filler Primer, 00720, 11 oz, 6 per case > Adhesion Promoters > Industrial General Store

 

Agree UPOL

 

Krylon has their act together. Superior to Rustoleum. Have no fear. priced competively, superior coating, looks great.

 

That looks promising! Will give it a try.

 

That looks promising! Will give it a try.

 

Rustoleum takes forever to dry .I am a Krylon guy

 

Bondo 720 primer
Duplicolor auto spray paint
Rustolium Clear acrylic lacquer
3M 39009 Machine Polish (hand rubbed)

 

Thanks took 2 years to find one. 1956 NASCAR approved one year only. . Dual quad models for every manufacturer. Each slightly different. This one is for the Ford.

 

@HOTRODPRIMER @Tow Truck Tom
May be onto something. I looked up duplicolor and krylon, they're both owned by sherwin williams. Wonder if it's the same stuff in the can ?

Just a few general comments on spray can primer.

Be sure to look at what kind of paint it is, most rattle cans are laquer or enamel and have pretty aggressive solvents to allow it to be a rattle can. Lot of paint interaction issues even with Same Brand of paint due to incompatible paint types.

If you're using it to spot in work with other automotive primers - it will sand differently and leave waves in your panels - it's softer and will cut faster when blocking creating a low.

 

I'm using Transtar 4603 primer lately. $22 for a big can, but sprays well and dries fast. SEM also makes a good line of primers and are a little bit less expen$ive.

 

A bit off topic perhaps but kept a partial reduced quart can of black Variprime handy & after cleaning fasteners & small parts etc. (wire wheel/viniegar etching) would toss them in & retrieve with a magnet tool. They say the primer has a pot life but have not had that issue as a light topcoat helps.

 

Sandblasted, primed with Krylon and painted with Krylon. I have been using it since a teenager (and that is a lot of since) and love it.

 

2 part epoxy primer and paint in spray cans is available.

For cheaper stuff, I've been using Krylon. I think I'll follow some of you guys' recommendations and try the UPOL.

 

One thing about Upol is to find a seller that moves a fair amount of it. It settles in the can and is hard to shake up and spray. The one place that sell it near me is more expensive than the other. ($5/ can difference) Cheap place was out of it, grabbed a can at the other place and had to fight the tip blocking up.

 

I oder UPOL online from major sellers, versus buying locally to ensure they're turning inventory, tcp global is one.

Same with seam sealer, been burnt several times buying seam sealer off the shelf, only to find out its junk. Most stores will take it back but I just wasted a lot of time.

 

I've used the SEM satin black trim paint with great results, though it really is more of a niche paint but can be used on other things.

 

SEM is good stuff

 

I find ProForm to be an excellent product.

 

Has anyone tried that thing that attaches to a recip saw for shaking up rattle cans? Just wondering if it would help...

 

No, but I heard a story about this guy that..............nevermind!

 

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