Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Tex]

I've got to buy some primer for some steel panels I've fabricated; I've also got a couple of chrome and aluminium parts I want to paint.

Rather than buy two kinds of primer, would it be okay to use etch primer on both and paint straight over it, or will I need to give them both a coat of high build over the etch before painting?

I'm wondering if the phosphoric acid content of the etch primer will affect cellulose and airbrush paints.

[colwyn500]

As far as I know, with cellulose at least; you spray a single, thin coat of etch primer (and it really is worth using). You shouldn't disturb this coat by flatting etc. Then soon after, you use regular primer, which contains more solids and can be built up with more coats. This can be stoppered if needed allows you to flat out imperfections before the top-coat.

In an ideal situation, where you could justify it, you would use different colours of primer as each coat dries, so that you know to stop flatting if you accidentally break through to the previous coat.

I did all this twenty years ago on my Austin and the bulk of the car still looks really good.

[Tex]

Cheers for that. I had a feeling that was the case. Oh hum, more bloody expense...

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[ukdave2002]

I'd agree with Wilson294; given the variety of materials you need to prime, Epoxy would be best. Epoxy will also give you some build (etch wont) and doesn't require the top coat to be put on quickly, whereas with etch it really should be within 48 hours

The challenge (with any primer) will be the chrome, this should be roughed up with something like 400 grit paper.

The stuff in the link is 2 pack, but doesn't contain isocyanates, so is safe to use at home with a simple mask.

Cheers

Dave