need primer advice
 

right now my truck is three different colors. I am going to prime it myself. want it to be 1 color until I can have it painted. it may take a year or two before I can get it finished. WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST KIND OF PRIMER TO USE FOR SUCH A LONG TIME BEFORE A REAL PAINT JOB IS DONE?

Re: need primer advice
 

Epoxy any type most can be tinted too

Re: need primer advice
 

x2!

Re: need primer advice
 

I'm also gonna say epoxy. But you must know that the time frame your looking at is way out of any recoat possibility. In the future when your ready to farther the project in this area, your gonna have to sand it [and that stuff sands like concrete]and recoat it a couple times before proceeding.
Epoxy is the ONLY type of primer that is not gonna absorb moisture and pull it near the metal causing rust.
If your shopping look into the epoxy by PPG's Omni line. Omni is a line geared to body shops and it is economical. Omni can and will save you 10% to 90% over the top shelf DBC paints and clears and the DPLF primers. They also have a great high build[MP282]
The black Omni primer number is MP175[I think] I don't use near as much epoxy as I do high build cause I mostly work on newer stuff. I do however use the Epoxy and high build both on my old stuff. Jim

Re: need primer advice
 

looks like epoxy is the way to go. how much should I get for a swb stepside? any tips on prep before I spray it?

Re: need primer advice
 

Re: need primer advice
 

It's not hard to do just gotta take your time to prep and tape it all up .. If your using a 2k primer I'd buy a harbor freight gun

Re: need primer advice
 

I went to harbor freight yesterday. could not decide on which gun to buy. im going to prime it this weekend.

Re: need primer advice
 

Get the purple gun with the plastic cup .. It's normally on sale for less that $20 with the coupon.. It's perfect for priming and if you don't clean it properly then your only out $20.. Wish I was off I'd give a hand but fixing to start a 18day run at my plant

Re: need primer advice
 

ok thanks for the tip. for $20 if I can prime 1 truck its worth it.

Re: need primer advice
 

Yep.. Lmk what day you plan to prime and I can swing by after work and give a hand if you want.. I get off at 5pm

Re: need primer advice
 

Last I knew primer IS NOT how you want to leave your vehicle. Water penetrates primer. You have to seal it.

Re: need primer advice
 

If a person were to reread my post they would see that the epoxy is the only primer water won't soak into. It forms a plastic type barrier around the metal. While it is true it has no UV protection and will not last [long term] in the weather.
The best case in your case would be after you prime spray the truck with equipment enamel. You can get a gallon and the mixing components for less than $50 per gallon. Spray that behind the epoxy and it will last for a very long time. Jim

Re: need primer advice
 

thanks for the tips EVERYONE. I have never painted anything. I am going to prime it myself and go from there if it comes out good I will then tackle the paint job.this will never be a show truck but I enjoy working on it I am semi-retired and it gives me something to do.

Re: need primer advice
 

^^^agreed^^^
Eastwood has a budget epoxy primer kit that doesn't break the bank. I gallon kit will not be enough and two you will have some left over. Kirker also has pretty good budget stuff.
I think both can be purchased on Amazon. Use a prime account and it's free shipping.

Re: need primer advice
 

Check into Omni anywhere you can buy PPG. I get mine at a O'reillys. I have used the high build and the epoxy and it is good stuff. Jim

Re: need primer advice
 

Omni is great stuff and if you apply a couple of coats of the MP 172 mixed with the 175 catalyst and add a splash of MR 186 reducer it will go on reasonably smooth. As was stated earlier it is not going to hope up to UV but it will protect metal. Since you are not stripping the truck to metal only making it one color this option should work.

Re: need primer advice
 

Also if/when you buy a gun or one of the gun kits with multiple guns in it for different types of painting, make sure to get a 1.4 for paint [and clear coat] and a 1.7 or 1.8 for primer. I use to use the 2.0 tip for primer and have even gone as big as a 2.3 gun for primer[might as well just pour it on]but I went to a 1.7 and it with the MR 186[or this time of year in the heat MR 187]and it went really slick. It saves a TON of sanding [to get smooth] if you go with the 1.7 tip. I have used many gallons of that MP282 high build and it really does well. You will be happy with the results. But keep in mind that the primer is porous and will soak moisture. that is why I suggested spraying some equipment enamel over it for two reasons. 1 it will seal it up and 2 it will provide cheap color

Re: need primer advice
 

can you get this equipment paint from a auto paint supply? what sandpaper should I use befor paint? THANKS

Re: need primer advice
 

My suggestion, mostly like others have already said: Prime with epoxy initially. Then within 24 hours, apply a coat of lacquer primer. The lacquer primer will protect the epoxy primer from UV degradation. Sure, the lacquer primer will absorb water, but the epoxy primer will keep it away from the metal. When you are ready to paint, the lacquer primer can be easily removed via sanding and the process will provide the necessary tooth to the epoxy primer for recoating as needed.

Re: need primer advice
 

I was in the parts store today [but I live in farm country] and they have the equipment enamel. I was thinking about using some of it to paint one of my frames. Th three stores plus the lumber yard here in my town have it and you can get some color choice , you don't have to paint a tractor color. Although some colors can be cool like Allis Challmers orange or John Deere yellow, IH red is a pretty red color.
Now on the sand paper start [if you have a 6inch D.A. sander], with like some 180 or 220 grit then go over that with 400 grit D.A. paper before priming.
Now if your doing body work on some places you will need some 80 grit and 120 grit as well to sand 80 then 120 before going to the 220 grit to remove scratches.

Re: need primer advice
 

The Eastwood primer is what I use. Good build, great adhesion and it does not allow water intrusion. It DOES cure a bit slow but that doesn't matter unless you leave your stuff outside.

Re: need primer advice
 

here is the truck I am about to prime. the tarp is to keep leaves out of the cowl because I just cleaned it out. the dog is my helper. tools I just bought also. one question--- WHAT KIND OF PRESSURE SHOULD I USE FOR PRIMER?

Re: need primer advice
 

The primer mfg should tell you what pressure and tip size to use on the tech sheet or "P sheet". The SPI epoxy I use, I run a 1.5 tip and spray it at 23 psi at the gun to give you an idea. But definitely follow the mfg's sheets.

Re: need primer advice
 

I love your wheels I have two sets of 5 lug and one set of six lug. I plan on putting them on my trucks someday.But when your building 6 of them your talking 12 rocker panels and 12 fenders and 12 doors 12 bedsides That is a lot of rep over time I don't have.