
After you remove the rust scales from the metal on your car, you need to apply self etching primer. It's a mix of phosphoric Phosphorus is a chemical element with the symbol P and atomic number 15. Elemental phosphorus exists in two major forms, white phosphorus and red phosphorus, but because it is highly reactive, phosphorus is never found as a free element on Earth. It has a concentration in the Earth's crust o…Phosphorus
When painting over dark colors should you use Primer?
Paint colors that are very saturated will show through lighter, less saturated colors. If you want to save yourself the hassle of five or six coats of paint, prime over that fire-engine red before you put up that picture-perfect white. Often the most popular primer color to cover extreme colors or prepare the wall for extreme colors is grey.
Should you use primer when painting exterior house?
When Painting a House Exterior, Should You Use a Primer?. It's important to prime bare exterior wood prior to painting because it seals the grain, prevents bleed-through and improves paint adhesion.
When can I sand epoxy primer?
Epoxy primer can be topcoated after about 30 minutes (45 minutes to an hour if more than two coats were applied), or even up to five days after the last coat. If you are waiting more than a couple days, the surface should be lightly sanded again prior to topcoat application.
What is the best primer for bare metal?
U-POL 0741V Primer for Bare Metal | Acid Etch Primer
- Corrosion-resistant
- Provides enough adhesion
- Perfect for all metal especially for steel
- Applied in any environment

Do you need to prime over self etching primer?
As a rule of thumb Self Etching Primers need another coat of primer over them to fully seal everything up long term. We suggest using a Urethane Primer over the self etching primer as a barrier between the self etching primer (Do not use Epoxy over Self Etch).
What is the purpose of self etching primer?
Self Etching Primer is a rust preventive coating that etches and primes in one coat. Self Etching Primer features an advanced spray system that allows you to spray at any angle, even upside down for those hard to reach areas. A comfort spray tip with a wider finger pad reduces fatigue caused by continuous spraying.
What is the difference between self etching primer and regular primer?
The main difference between self-etching primer and regular primer is the presence of acid that can etch the underlying material. Smooth surfaces – especially metal and fiberglass – are hard to paint. With self-etching primer, the acid makes the surface rougher, leading to better adhesion.
How do you prepare a self etching primer?
0:553:58Self Etching Primer - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAreas. So do a good job scrubbing. It down with the a paper towel and then follow that up with a dryMoreAreas. So do a good job scrubbing. It down with the a paper towel and then follow that up with a dry paper towel. The wet one kind of softens it up it makes it so you can you know get to it.
Should I sand self etching primer before painting?
In any complete restoration or body repair project, you will to sand primer at one point or another. However, most manufacturers of self-etching primer, due to the acid base of the products, don't recommend directly sanding the self-etching primer.
Do I need etch primer on bare metal?
Both Epoxy Primer and Self-Etch primer (Self-Etching primer) can be used on bare metal. Both provide corrosion protection, and both can be top-coated with primer surfacer.
Can you apply epoxy primer over self etching primer?
It is no longer recommended to use an etch primer under an epoxy primer. Residual acid from the etch primer can interfere with the proper curing of the epoxy. This may lead to extended dry times, potential blistering, and even adhesion failure.
Which primer is best for metal?
While a water-based primer is not to be applied on metal surfaces, other primer options such as rust-inhibiting primers, galvanized primers, and iron oxide primers are more suitable options. Applying the primer immediately after surface preparation can help keep away flash rusting or dust accumulation.
Can you spray etch primer over paint?
You can use etch primer on old paint - but - if it is an aerosol can then use thin coats (in order to reduce the chance of it reacting with the edges of the old paint) and as little as possible, followed by a proper coats of grey primer to build it up, then rub with the finest wet/dry paper you have, (used very wet) to ...
How long can you leave etch primer before painting?
24 hoursAll Etch Primers need to be left for a minimum of 24 hours at a temperature of 18 - 20 degrees Celsius to dry properly. Whilst this is the minimum it is advisable to allow significantly longer before applying topcoats.
Does etching primer stop rust?
It's purely a surface coating, and it doesn't stop the rust. It does, however, prevent the rust problem from worsening. You need to make sure that you apply self etching primer to bare metal that's been thoroughly cleaned in order for it to be fully effective.
What do you put on bare metal before primer?
To properly prepare new metal surfaces, use mineral spirits to remove grease and apply a rust-inhibitive primer before painting. For painted surfaces that are in sound condition, remove dust with a clean, dry cloth, de-gloss the surface with light sanding, and wipe with mineral spirits to ensure good adhesion.
Does etching primer stop rust?
It's purely a surface coating, and it doesn't stop the rust. It does, however, prevent the rust problem from worsening. You need to make sure that you apply self etching primer to bare metal that's been thoroughly cleaned in order for it to be fully effective.
Can you spray etch primer over paint?
You can use etch primer on old paint - but - if it is an aerosol can then use thin coats (in order to reduce the chance of it reacting with the edges of the old paint) and as little as possible, followed by a proper coats of grey primer to build it up, then rub with the finest wet/dry paper you have, (used very wet) to ...
Can you brush on self etching primer?
Avoid over-brushing and over-rolling as Etch Primer is quick drying. Do not thin for application by brush or roller. If spraying, thin up to 10% with Omega Methylated Spirits. Allow Etch Primer to dry for at least 4 hour before application of undercoat and finishing product.
What is the best primer for aluminum siding?
Priming Your Aluminum Siding I personally recommend priming with Kilz Adhesion Primer. Kilz Adhesion Primer is a bonding primer formulated to adhere to surfaces that traditional water and oil-based primers wont. This primer can bond to glossy surfaces, chalky surfaces, and all types of materials, including metals.
What Is Self-Etching Primer And What Is It Used For?
Self-etching primer is a primer coating that etches or corrodes the surface to allow the topcoat to stick properly. Self-etching primer is designed for slick materials including metal, aluminum, fiberglass, and steel.
When Should I Use Regular Primer?
You should use regular primer when you want to paint over an organic material like wood or clay (brick). You should also use regular primer when you want to paint over drywall, concrete, masonry, plastic, and the likes. Usually, any surface material except metal and fiberglass should be coated with regular primer before painting.
What is Regular Primer and What Is It Used For?
Regular primer is a type of paint that is desired with adhesive compounds and binders. The primer is to be used as an undercoat before laying the paint or topcoat. Regular primer when dry produces an even and slightly textured finish. This textured finish allows the paint or topcoat to bite into the primer coating. The even nature of the finish also makes the topcoat appear smooth and even when dry.
What is a Self-etching Primer?
Self-etching primer is a little bit different from a regular primer.
What Happens If I Use Self-etching Primer on Plastic?
The best way for us to learn is through mistakes. If you have an adventurous spirit and like to try things out for yourself, you can perform a practice test.
How Do I Paint Plastic Using Plastic Primer?
Now that we have seen self-etching primer isn’t ideal for plastic. You must know how to use a plastic primer. Because if you don’t use it correctly, there’s a good chance you won’t be so happy with the results.
Do Plastic Primers Address the Flexibility Issues with Plastic?
Without a doubt, plastic primers promote paint adhe sion on plastic. Unlike self-etching primer, which gets absorbed into plastic, these primers create a strong undercoat.
Does Self-etching Primer Damage Plastic?
Fortunately, the self-etching primer doesn’t damage the plastic.
Can I Use Self-etching Primer on Shiny Plastics?
The biggest challenge with all types of plastic, including the smooth, shiny ones, is paint adhesion. The paint doesn’t adhere to plastic.
Is It Okay to Use Adhesion Promoter on Plastic?
Instead of using a self-etching primer, you are better off going with an adhesion promoter. Unlike self-etching primer, which only works on fiberglass and metal, with an adhesion promoter, you can use it on plastic.

What Is Primer?
What Is Self-Etching Primer?
- Self-etching primer is also used as a primary undercoat. It’s a specialized primer intended for use on metal, aluminum, and fiberglass (source). Self-etching primers can do something that regular primers cannot. It contains an acidic chemical that bonds, or etches, onto a metallic surface. Etching readies metal for a topcoat (source). The etching c...
When to Use Regular Primer
- As a general rule, organic (or organic-like) materials, like wood, only require a regular primer. “Organic” refers, of course, to natural-occurring materials. Wood is a natural material, along with the clay that bricks are made of. Materials like this don’t needa heavy-duty etching primer. Latex- or oil-based primers will work. Some inorganic materials also fall in the regular primer category. …
Final Thoughts
- Before embarking on a painting project, you’ll need to have the right primer for the job. Primer helps make any project look professional-grade. The correct primer depends on the type of surface being painted. Potentially porous surfaces like wood or brick need a regular primer. Drywall found in homes only needs traditional latex primer paint. Primer is a must for protecting …