primer

[67RED]

hey guys. i have been working on my hood. got it down to the metal. i am going to paint it red . i was wondering what would be the best primer color to go with. this may sound like a dumb question. thanks

[hardtailjohn]

Go with a white or at the least grey... and use that color all the way through the project. It's amazing what a difference it makes when you park two rigs side by side in the sun, one with a white primer and one with something else.... the white makes it just glow!
John H.

[Sharkdance]

I always thought that a dark primer (Black, Red, etc.) should go under a dark color and a light color primer (White, Grey, etc.) should go under a light color.

[hardtailjohn]

You're right sharkdance...but if you want a red, green, blue, orange or anything like that to really glow, put a white primer under it!! Sometimes they want it to actually be a bit darker, then we use a grey or black primer.
I used the same brand/color paint on 2 identical airplanes and it was really amazing when they were parked next to eachother in the sun. The difference was night and day!
John H.

[67RED]

thanks for thw help guys. i was thinking the darker primer may make the red a little darker than i wanted.

[hardtailjohn]

Best way to know is to do a test panel. It doesn't take that long and will answer all your questions!
John H.

[Jake11]

Hardtail knows his stuff.

[Leadfoot]

With my experience the color doesn't mater as much as The quality of the primer. Make sure you use some sort of sealing primer when you are at bare metal. ie not just cheep gray, made that mistake cost me a paint job, talk about rust.


I now go sealer, yellow primer, and three coats red finish, then clear . It will give ya a nice safety red color, very bright, and it last along time.

[binder56jd]

i just learned another thing- good info- HTJ thanks- 67 thanks for bringing it up-jd

[Big D's 69]

If you use a white primer or a dark primer remember that later on what ever youuse you will have to use that color later. I would recommend gray. That is what we use in our body show. The color of primer tends to change the color of the paint. THe lighter color is gonna lighten the color and the darker will darken it. The gray will leave it a more nuetral color.

[marz68]

I also just learned something new.
This info will be used very soon on my bare metal truck!

[68 ford truck]

If you are worried about what color primer to use deeber, along with most major brand paint companys, makes a tintable primer that way you can tint it to what ever color you are planning on useing. It works realy nice