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Primer Job Vs Paint Job

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by jville_hot_skater, Mar 5, 2011.

?
  1. Primer

    14 vote(s)
    11.2%
  2. Paint

    111 vote(s)
    88.8%
  1. jville_hot_skater
    Joined: Apr 9, 2009
    Posts: 1,002

    jville_hot_skater
    Member
    from jville

    Im in a debate on whether i should just do my car in primer...or invest in a good paint job?
    this is a budget build...
    I always dig'd primer jobs...but alot of people are telling me that a paint job is the only way to go with a 1950 choppd merc.
    whats your opinion, and pictures to justify it.
     
  2. Da Tinman
    Joined: Dec 29, 2005
    Posts: 4,222

    Da Tinman
    Member

  3. Flat-Foot
    Joined: Jul 1, 2010
    Posts: 1,710

    Flat-Foot
    Member
    from Locust NC

    If you can afford it I don't see any reason not to paint it. Primer is fine if you're working towards the finished product but to me it's not done until it's painted. Just my opinion.

    Tell me this shoebox would look as nice in primer?
    [​IMG]
     
  4. Primer might be finer but Gloss is boss!
     
  5. Stefan T
    Joined: Sep 15, 2008
    Posts: 2,165

    Stefan T
    Member
    from Sweden

    With primer the car can rost if you have it out doors. Primer is not water tight enought.
    And rain is verry comon and near evry night will you have condes on the car if it's out doors.
     
  6. Paint it, primer looks cool on hot rods not customs.
     
  7. davidbistolas
    Joined: May 21, 2010
    Posts: 960

    davidbistolas
    Member

    Primer... THEN PAINT. Usually, anyway.

    Mine will be in primer for the next couple of years while I finish up the mechanicals and the bodywork. Then real paint.
     
  8. Strange Agent
    Joined: Sep 29, 2008
    Posts: 2,879

    Strange Agent
    Member

  9. If you are going to drive it in primer for any length of time, then decide to paint it at a later date, I would for sure strip it back to metal to make sure the primer didn't absorb any water thru the product to affect your new paint job. Nothing like moisture under the bondo to cause you grief down the line when it starts to bubble everywhere. Bondo and primers are water porous. Pat.
     
  10. I voted paint. I woulda done primer only if I wanted that look which is more rat rod, or if I had been $-constrained. I have more money into my bodywork than the paint.
     
  11. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 59,931

    squirrel
    Member

    Depends on the primer...if you use a decent primer then you won't have problems. I drove mine around for 14 years in urethane primer before painting it, no problems. If you use a porous primer then you can expect it to rust...but keep in mind that if it lets moisture in, it will also let it out.
     
  12. CutawayAl
    Joined: Aug 3, 2009
    Posts: 2,144

    CutawayAl
    Member
    from MI

    Some of the older epoxy primers protected pretty well. Those products have been changed to meet current environmental regulations and aren't as weather resistant as they once were. I am not aware of any current primer that's safe.

    If you want primer, paint the car then primer on top of that.
     
  13. davis574ord
    Joined: May 21, 2009
    Posts: 785

    davis574ord
    Member

    I was gonna paint the wifes lowrider s-10 gloss black, but after i primed it black it looked too kool, so i went to napa and bought their black sealer and sprayed it with that, looks killer kinda satin lookin and it been on the truck for 3 years now and looks as good as the day i sprayed it, and it was about $60.00 for a gallon with the hardner! Just a thought!
     
  14. Kripfink
    Joined: Sep 30, 2008
    Posts: 2,040

    Kripfink
    Member Emeritus

    Chopped 50 Merc?There is only one answer to this question and it ends up with your car being shiny and proud. The last thing this world needs is another scenester style flat rat Kustom. Primered cars are unfinished.
    You asked.
    Paul
     
  15. wvenfield
    Joined: Nov 23, 2006
    Posts: 5,667

    wvenfield
    Member

    Pictures to justify it? Really, you don't know what paint looks like?
     
  16. farmer12
    Joined: Aug 28, 2006
    Posts: 7,723

    farmer12
    Member

    Paint all the way. So far 32 people have voted and all are saying paint. I guess you got your answer. Good luck in deciding the colour.
     
  17. handyandy289
    Joined: Sep 19, 2010
    Posts: 354

    handyandy289
    Member
    from Georgia

    After going to all of the effort and expense to create a work of auto art, it seems foolish to not protect it from the elements. Primer is the first step to a paint job. If you are going to leave the car outside or drive it even very occasionally, Then paint it with at least cheap paint. Plan on doing a final paint job after the rest of the work is complete. Paint now will avoid heartaches later. If it is worth doing, then it is worth protecting.
     
  18. Strange Agent
    Joined: Sep 29, 2008
    Posts: 2,879

    Strange Agent
    Member

    The poll results thus far are pleasing. 35-0 in favor of paint. :D
     
  19. Back in the 50's everybody had their Cars in Prime
    because it cost about 15 dollars to do it
    and most Guy's didn't have the Money to Paint it
    Just my 3 cents
     
  20. 42 chevy
    Joined: Nov 1, 2006
    Posts: 623

    42 chevy
    Member

    Paint. Mine is only in primer till I can afford to paint it and it is not a custom.
     
  21. Kripfink
    Joined: Sep 30, 2008
    Posts: 2,040

    Kripfink
    Member Emeritus

    They're here........:rolleyes:
     
  22. 2935ford
    Joined: Jan 6, 2006
    Posts: 3,850

    2935ford
    Member

    Depends on the car and it's intent.
    Me, paint....you're always looking for your first scratch!
    Primer = driver and no worries!
     
  23. handyandy289
    Joined: Sep 19, 2010
    Posts: 354

    handyandy289
    Member
    from Georgia

    That is right. I lived in a humid area and had to reprime about every 3 months. These cars were "works in progress" projects. Many were never finished, because we had bigger dreams than money. Necessity made my sectioned 50 shoebox business coupe a daily driver to be finished only in my mind.
     
  24. Custom_Crestline
    Joined: Jun 1, 2008
    Posts: 542

    Custom_Crestline
    Member

    My thing is, and the reason why I didn't paint my car is, if you're going to paint it--do it right. I didn't have the money for new gl*** seals, and didn't have the time or money to take the doors off and do my car *right*, so it got all the exterior body work done, and sealed up in dp48.

    There are some sweet primered customs out there.
     
  25. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 24,516

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Primer sealer, if it is your intent to leave it with the primer look. Jut plain primer is porous, as others have mentioned. You want a closed coat on top or you will get rust.
     
  26. Westerman
    Joined: May 11, 2010
    Posts: 152

    Westerman
    Member
    from Cincinnati

    I say paint. A lot of guys see a satin or flat car and think that its primer. If you want that look go with a flat/satin paint. Primer was not intended for a final application.
     
  27. peter johnson
    Joined: Feb 21, 2009
    Posts: 203

    peter johnson
    Member

    Paint but it has to be more than 50 years old!
     
  28. lawman
    Joined: Sep 19, 2006
    Posts: 2,665

    lawman
    Member

    Being retired, I like primer better and spend my money on Food and bills !!!! I owe very few people and still have fun !!!
     
  29. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,618

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    We had a know-it-all guy that was the 'host' of a local '50s nite in San Jose.
    He proclaimed that the Full Kustoms were only painted for the Show Season, then 'went into primer' for the remainder of the year.
    He also told scores of people he owned my shop, and I worked for him.
    This guy was full of $hit. His '50 Merc was primered. Seven different times.
    Told him he should paint it with some real paint. He said "Nope...they were primered in the 'fifties..."
     
  30. tb33anda3rd
    Joined: Oct 8, 2010
    Posts: 17,583

    tb33anda3rd
    Member

    are you paying to have it painted or doing it yourself?
     

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