[Slickriffs]

I've gotten back into bodywork after a 10 year absence. When I last primered, primers were gray and red oxide. I notice many of the Journals I look at show stages where the body is primered in a "baby diaper" colored primer. What is that?

Keith

[willys36@aol.com]

Primers have come a long way from the old black, gray, and red lacquer you are used to. Can't even buy lacquer anything here in California, except lacquer thinner. Doesn't really matter though 'cause the new two part urethane, epoxy, and polyester primers are so vastly superior to the old stuff it isn't worth even trying to find it. totally inert when cured, stick like a banshee, sand and feather like a dream, absolutely zero shrinkage, and top coats weld solidly to them. The primer comes in several colors - white, violet, baby potty yellow, the standard black, gray, & red, etc., which makes it much easier to over coat it, especially with hard to cover colors like red and yellow.

[Slickriffs]

A lot of good qualities there. Damn, I would mind driving around in violet primer. Although a long way off I have Tangerine in mind for the color..so the yellow might work well anyway. Who's a common supplier?

Thanks,

Basic info..But you won't know if you don't ask.

Keith

[willys36@aol.com]

No problem, that's what this board is all about! Every manufacturer carries pretty much the same things. Pro painters seem to like to prime bare metal & repairs w/epoxy. Haven't detected a brand preference from all of my reading. For fill and sand primer, PPG urethane K2 seems to be the standard. Dupont, Sherwin Williams, etc., carry an equivalent products. I personally like Nason which is DuPont's low price brand. Everything I can find out about it is that it is every bit as good as the big name stuff, just cheaper. I also like the two part polyester fill and sand primer 'cause it seems just as good as K2 but is a bunch cheaper.

[Slickriffs]

Funny thing about not being able to buy lacquer. You can't but it at automotive paint stores here either in CT. But you can go to Home Depot and wood workers supply houses and get it. The law seems to lack consistancy.

[willys36@aol.com]

For a long time I could not buy lacquer primer at my auto parts store in the auto paint section - but I could buy it in the house paint section if I promised to paint furniture with it.

Other nifty Kalifornia laws,

• You can only buy epoxy paints in quart cans - you can buy 4 quarts but you can't buy a gallon.
• You can only use epoxy paint to prime bare metal. If your car is stripped, you can paint the whole thing on epoxy. However it is illegal to paint bondo repairs or use it as a sealer prior to a color coat.

[Slickriffs]

Damn-Do they send the Bondo Police to spot check...

[MARTINSR]

Keith, read thru the "Basics" and you will get a better idea of these different technologies. "Basics of Basics" paint technology (click here)

The "Beige" primer you are seeing is likely DuPonts "Uroprime" a urethane primer. But others have used the color because of the popularity of Uroprime.

[Slickriffs]

Ahh..so they call that beige! Will check out the basics.

Thanks Martin. Have a great holiday weekend.

Keith