Cost Effective (Spray On) Primer

[PaganLinuxGeek]

Being a frugal person, I usually try to find more cost effective ways to achieve the results needed. With the cost of models recently increased I need to save $ where possible.

After some experimentation I have found that the Ultra Cover Spray Primer by Rustoleum provides a smooth even coat that bonds well to both plastic and the older metal models.

It's available at Home Depot at less that $4 a can. A can provided enough to prime a drop pod, land raider, rhino, guns, and several terminators. The primer is available in WHITE, GREY, RED, and BLACK.

Home Depot offers a 12 pack price of about $19.00 online with ship to store options. So for slightly more than the cost of 1 can of gw or army painter primer I can get 6 cans!

Here's the obligatory link... Product Series Page on Rustoleum's site.

 

Here's the obligatory picture...

 

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/0e/0ec3ebdf-edb5-473f-833a-43ca4c29bf84_300.jpg

 

I have picked up a can of their clear matte coat spray but not tried it yet...

[The Wolfmeister]

Another cost effective quality option is Krylon Fusion spraypaints for plastics.

 

Edit: If you don't like that clear matte, Krylon's clear matte spray 1311 is awesome. Very protective and doesn't change the appearance of the original paint job.

[Jacinda]

I use Krylon. I have found Rust-oleum primers to be too think for the deatils we work with and they leave a slick surface with very little tooth. If you like how it performs, I guess that's all that matters, but it doesn't like me very well. :lol:

 

For what it's worth, local Ace hardware stores here have their own brand (which is just Krylon with a different label) at half the price of the name brand. Maybe they just fit my hand and how I spry better but it is both the paint I prefer and the lowest price! I feel lucky to have it as an option.

[PaganLinuxGeek]

I use Krylon. I have found Rust-oleum primers to be too think for the deatils we work with and they leave a slick surface with very little tooth. If you like how it performs, I guess that's all that matters, but it doesn't like me very well. :lol:

 

For what it's worth, local Ace hardware stores here have their own brand (which is just Krylon with a different label) at half the price of the name brand. Maybe they just fit my hand and how I spry better but it is both the paint I prefer and the lowest price! I feel lucky to have it as an option.

 

Could you provide a picture of this product?

 

Another cost effective quality option is Krylon Fusion spraypaints for plastics.

 

Edit: If you don't like that clear matte, Krylon's clear matte spray 1311 is awesome. Very protective and doesn't change the appearance of the original paint job.

 

I will check out the krylon options too, thanks!

[Jacinda]

Krylon spray primer:

http://www.dekesrus.com/Krylon/krylon_dual...white_spray.jpg

http://www.acetogo.com/photo/product/17098.jpg

 

Ace Hardware spray primer is a store brade. A "generic" version of spray paint. Only it is the same as Krylon with different packaging. The caps are even similar.

 

 

Of course now that it has turned cold again I am priming more indoors with gesso.

http://www.artsupplies.co.uk/img_item/Gesso.jpg

[Seahawk]

Krylon is my favored primer as well.

[PipX]

I personally use the Brite Touch brand of primer from Advance Auto Parts. They are 3.50 a can, and go on smooth, without clogging details. Here are some links to them:

 

Black

Gray

[PaganLinuxGeek]

I personally use the Brite Touch brand of primer from Advance Auto Parts. They are 3.50 a can, and go on smooth, without clogging details. Here are some links to them:

 

Black

Gray

 

Do they have white primer as well?

[PipX]

I personally use the Brite Touch brand of primer from Advance Auto Parts. They are 3.50 a can, and go on smooth, without clogging details. Here are some links to them:

 

Black

Gray

 

Do they have white primer as well?

 

They do, but it is an enamel. (No idea how acrylic paints work on acrylic primer) You can get duplicolor primer in white though link it's a couple dollars more expensive but a couple more ounces. I do recommend though that if you are looking for cheap primer, stick with stuff designed for automotive, as it seems to be a bit finer and less likely to obliterate small details if used properly. I've used various Krylon colored primers and a can of Rustoleum, and each time they would clog up details.

 

Edit: Also, since I notice you are in Florida, once you test out that matte clear spray, I'd be very interested to know the results. I use army painter dark tone on my models, so a matte varnish is a must. It's been a pain finding easily accessible, reliable sprays though. The only ones I've found that don't fog up down here are Testors (pure flat finish) or Windsor Newton (which leaves a semi matte finish)

[PaganLinuxGeek]

"Fog up" do you mean to say the clear coat turns milky and clouds up? I think we'll try it on a scrapy piece of sprue then....

[PipX]

"Fog up" do you mean to say the clear coat turns milky and clouds up? I think we'll try it on a scrapy piece of sprue then....

 

Yea, exactly. Even with shaking the cans really well for more than five minutes on "bargain" matte varnishes, and checking that the outside humidity is at 60% or slightly below, they still do it. Testors only does it when overapplied and I've not seen the windsor do it at all. Krylon is hit or miss, but usually fogs up around with my ambient conditions (Kissimmee)

[PaganLinuxGeek]

"Fog up" do you mean to say the clear coat turns milky and clouds up? I think we'll try it on a scrapy piece of sprue then....

 

Yea, exactly. Even with shaking the cans really well for more than five minutes on "bargain" matte varnishes, and checking that the outside humidity is at 60% or slightly below, they still do it. Testors only does it when overapplied and I've not seen the windsor do it at all. Krylon is hit or miss, but usually fogs up around with my ambient conditions (Kissimmee)

 

Does the clouding occur DURING application or after it's set? I mean have you tried application in a garage or controlled envoirnment until it's completely dry to see if that's the issue? Im in Panama City. Will post pics after testing.

[PipX]

"Fog up" do you mean to say the clear coat turns milky and clouds up? I think we'll try it on a scrapy piece of sprue then....

 

Yea, exactly. Even with shaking the cans really well for more than five minutes on "bargain" matte varnishes, and checking that the outside humidity is at 60% or slightly below, they still do it. Testors only does it when overapplied and I've not seen the windsor do it at all. Krylon is hit or miss, but usually fogs up around with my ambient conditions (Kissimmee)

 

Does the clouding occur DURING application or after it's set? I mean have you tried application in a garage or controlled envoirnment until it's completely dry to see if that's the issue? Im in Panama City. Will post pics after testing.

 

In my garage, the cheaper stuff I've used can start fogging shortly after being applied, as well as a few minutes after application. The last time I used the Krylon in particular (In the garage) was I think October, it was 60% humidity outside and I hit some cultists with it, they had a few small fogged areas. I hit a couple of Chosen with the Windsor at the same time, and there was no fogging at all.

[Tamwulf]

Dupli-color sandable primers. $5 at local automobile parts stores. Come in a variety of neutral shades. Covers like a dream. I really think it's the formula that Privateer Press uses in it's P3 Primers (the best on the market as far as I'm concerned).

 

However, I have to ask- priming is one of the foundation and most important steps in miniature painting. You can get by with Creamcoat, Apple Barrel, or whatever kind of paint, or a bad glue job, or poor miniature prep work, but the primer...

 

It's the first layer, it's the layer that prepares the surface for your paints to stick to. It can cover up bad sand jobs, or create a huge mess if applied poorly. It's the one step that can make or break your paint job. Why skimp on this important step?

 

So why would you want to use a 'cheap' primer? Use a primer made for miniatures! As I said, I consider P3 Primer to be the best on the market. Next would be the Army Painter stuff. It boggles my mind when I see threads like this. I understand money is always in short supply, and we all look for ways to save some. I just don't understand how people can spend $25+ on a single miniature, or $50 for a box set, yet they would rather pay $4 for a cheap primer made for engine blocks or wood, rather then $10 for a can made for miniatures.

[Dvmendoza]

I work at a car lot for a living and use ALOT of spray paint (spray door handles bumpers mirror, etc.) And over the past 7 years i have come to the decision that Dupli-color makes the best primer and paint for what i use it for hands down. Its slightly more expensives then Krylon or rust oleum but there is a reason for that IMHO.

 

Now when i started getting into 40k I bought the DV set and decided to go all out so i bought all the citadel paints (because i didnt know there were other brands that worked just as well if not better) and army painter gray primer. When i used the primer i was beyond pissed that i spent $10 on a can of primer that in my opinion gives the same quality as a $6 can of duplicolor primer. So on the next model i painted i used my duplicolor It didnt clog any of the details and lays perfect. Now thats all i use and i still have the almost full can of army painter primer lol. Maybe its because i haved used the stuff day in and day out for 7 years and know the ins and out of properly laying spray paint and primer but i really would recommend giving the duplicolor a shot sure its a little more expensive but as said above your models are worth it and its not as expensive as the hobbby shop stuff but does a great job.

[Chaeron]

GW's Spray Primer is one of the few things I do purchase, simply because I've never had a bad can of it - works well, despite the cost.

 

I've heard good things about the Hycote Spray, and is a lot cheaper - but I haven't tried it yet.

[Todosi]

Dupli-color sandable primers. $5 at local automobile parts stores. Come in a variety of neutral shades. Covers like a dream. I really think it's the formula that Privateer Press uses in it's P3 Primers (the best on the market as far as I'm concerned).

 

However, I have to ask- priming is one of the foundation and most important steps in miniature painting. You can get by with Creamcoat, Apple Barrel, or whatever kind of paint, or a bad glue job, or poor miniature prep work, but the primer...

 

It's the first layer, it's the layer that prepares the surface for your paints to stick to. It can cover up bad sand jobs, or create a huge mess if applied poorly. It's the one step that can make or break your paint job. Why skimp on this important step?

 

So why would you want to use a 'cheap' primer? Use a primer made for miniatures! As I said, I consider P3 Primer to be the best on the market. Next would be the Army Painter stuff. It boggles my mind when I see threads like this. I understand money is always in short supply, and we all look for ways to save some. I just don't understand how people can spend $25+ on a single miniature, or $50 for a box set, yet they would rather pay $4 for a cheap primer made for engine blocks or wood, rather then $10 for a can made for miniatures.

 

We have these threads because the primer "made for miniatures" are often exorbitantly priced repackaged primers from other companies. GW, for example, used to be rebranded Krylon, back when GW's primers were much better than the last few years. There are only a very few primers actually designed for models, Tamiya comes to mind. Everything else including Army Painter and P3 are just rebranded spray paints with a company markup.

[Todosi]

Dupli-color sandable primers. $5 at local automobile parts stores. Come in a variety of neutral shades. Covers like a dream. I really think it's the formula that Privateer Press uses in it's P3 Primers (the best on the market as far as I'm concerned).

 

However, I have to ask- priming is one of the foundation and most important steps in miniature painting. You can get by with Creamcoat, Apple Barrel, or whatever kind of paint, or a bad glue job, or poor miniature prep work, but the primer...

 

It's the first layer, it's the layer that prepares the surface for your paints to stick to. It can cover up bad sand jobs, or create a huge mess if applied poorly. It's the one step that can make or break your paint job. Why skimp on this important step?

 

So why would you want to use a 'cheap' primer? Use a primer made for miniatures! As I said, I consider P3 Primer to be the best on the market. Next would be the Army Painter stuff. It boggles my mind when I see threads like this. I understand money is always in short supply, and we all look for ways to save some. I just don't understand how people can spend $25+ on a single miniature, or $50 for a box set, yet they would rather pay $4 for a cheap primer made for engine blocks or wood, rather then $10 for a can made for miniatures.

 

We have these threads because the primer "made for miniatures" are often exorbitantly priced repackaged primers from other companies. GW, for example, used to be rebranded Krylon, back when GW's primers were much better than the last few years. There are only a very few primers actually designed for models, Tamiya comes to mind. Everything else including Army Painter and P3 are just rebranded spray paints with a company markup. For the record, I have been using Krylon for nearly 10 years living in Northern Ohio and Central Florida with not a single problem.

[PaganLinuxGeek]

Dupli-color sandable primers. $5 at local automobile parts stores. Come in a variety of neutral shades. Covers like a dream. I really think it's the formula that Privateer Press uses in it's P3 Primers (the best on the market as far as I'm concerned).

 

However, I have to ask- priming is one of the foundation and most important steps in miniature painting. You can get by with Creamcoat, Apple Barrel, or whatever kind of paint, or a bad glue job, or poor miniature prep work, but the primer...

 

It's the first layer, it's the layer that prepares the surface for your paints to stick to. It can cover up bad sand jobs, or create a huge mess if applied poorly. It's the one step that can make or break your paint job. Why skimp on this important step?

 

So why would you want to use a 'cheap' primer? Use a primer made for miniatures! As I said, I consider P3 Primer to be the best on the market. Next would be the Army Painter stuff. It boggles my mind when I see threads like this. I understand money is always in short supply, and we all look for ways to save some. I just don't understand how people can spend $25+ on a single miniature, or $50 for a box set, yet they would rather pay $4 for a cheap primer made for engine blocks or wood, rather then $10 for a can made for miniatures.

 

We have another vote for krylon. I shall have to give it a go when i finish construction of my current project (scratchbuilt fortress of redemption)

[Jacinda]

So why would you want to use a 'cheap' primer? Use a primer made for miniatures! As I said, I consider P3 Primer to be the best on the market. Next would be the Army Painter stuff. It boggles my mind when I see threads like this. I understand money is always in short supply, and we all look for ways to save some. I just don't understand how people can spend $25+ on a single miniature, or $50 for a box set, yet they would rather pay $4 for a cheap primer made for engine blocks or wood, rather then $10 for a can made for miniatures.

If you like Army Painter you might want to look for Montana 94. That way you don't get hit with the re-branding mark up. It is still on the expensive side but at about half the price as gettng it through AP.

[Brother Ambroz]

Does anyone know any good primers that Lowe's would have? I usually just use Foundation paints but I need to get some primer that'll work on FW too. Any ideas on that?

[PaganLinuxGeek]

Does anyone know any good primers that Lowe's would have? I usually just use Foundation paints but I need to get some primer that'll work on FW too. Any ideas on that?

 

According to lowes.com Rustoleum's Painter's Touch products (and specifically the primer) are available at their stores. I would suggest a quick visit to the spray paint aisle after a review of this thread as several other options were suggested, krylon being one. :-)