Why won't my primer stick?

[CutlassCam]

Hi all, I'm not a complete noob, but I've been having problems undercoating my models with a white primer.

 

I've only ever used black before so I'm not sure whether I'm doing something wrong or not, but when I spray my models white it doesn't cover properly and sticks in the recesses obscuring the detail. I use the citadel skull white and chaos black worked just fine.

 

Do I need several coats?

 

I shook the can reasonably well, and I did it outside where it's fairly cold. I brought them inside after I had sprayed them though.

 

Any ideas?

[Olis]

I think the issue is that it was cold where you did it. Cold is not good for priming. I can't help though as I've never needed to look up the solution... :whistling:

[OptiMAT]

The only problem I've ever had was with Black in the cold would do that, and when you press too lightly and get too much propellant in the mixture it wouldn't stick properly.

White primer, which I've only ever used over black, always came out a little speckled and dusty, as it were.

 

So, to summarise, never had that with white only with black and the above was the cause, maybe that helps.

[SCC]

Have you washed the minis in some warm soapy water then rinsed them off prior to spraying?

 

Sometimes plastics, and especially resins, end up with a thin layer of the removal agent left on them and, as it's designed to help get the model out of the mould, it's a pretty slippery substance that's no good for sticking primer to at all. It's easy to forget the simple stuff from time to time - I've done this to a Dreadnought before, that was a paint to clean up...

[notsoevil]

Read the spray can. I'm sure it says something about only using it in weather 50 degrees or warmer (Fahrenheit).

 

You simply can't use spray primer in cold weather, though I hear the sandable auto-primer from Duplicolor works quite well regardless.

 

If the weather is already cold for you but you have things to primer:

 

1) Spray inside a garage (with ventilation of course).

2) Try a brush on gesso primer.

[Subtle Discord]

If it is cold weather that is your issue (Sounds like it is) than you might find this useful. It's taken from a thread asking about priming in winter. I explain it this way for people who have no choice but to prime outside. It's all well and fine to say something like, 'I just prime in my basement/garage with fans cranked up', but that isn't an option for some people.

 

I know this problem only too well. I've found that you can get away with priming in colder temperatures if you do the following;

 

Temperature is key. Keep everything as warm as you can. You can even go so far as to hold the paint can close to you, or under your arm, for a few minutes to warm it up before you get started. Don't let the miniatures sit outside at all before you start.

 

And, work in very thin layers. I find if you try to put too much on, it will give an almost glossy surface. Each layer needs to dry, but in the cold temperatures the solvents in the paint can't evaporate quickly enough.

 

Combine the two by doing the following; Work near a door if you can. Prepare miniatures and warm your paint inside. Step outside and quickly give the miniatures a very quick ghosting of primer. Quickly step back inside and let the first layer dry until it's matte. Repeat the 'step-out, spray, step-in' process until you have 2-to-3 light layers of primer.

 

You 'need' to step inside for two reasons; 1) It lets the solvents in the primer evaporate in the warmer air. 2) The paint and miniatures stay warmer, so the paint sprays better, and the miniatures take the primer better.

 

This is not perfect, but it's the best process I've been able to come up with.

 

Also, with primer in general, don't worry too much about getting a perfect all-over coat of paint (if that's what you aiming for) just a light layer on all the major raised/exposed places is fine even if it's a bit 'blochy'. Once the primer is dry you should always start the painting process with an all-over coat of a base colour, painted on by hand, or with an airbrush. That all-over coat will be when you aim to get a nice even base.