"What do you use for priming?" Topic

The idea of prebasing minis has got me thinking about the whole process I use to paint. I've always used GW or Armory black primer, but I've bought Gesso to try it out. I'd try black auto primer if it were recommended and available locally. I'd even give standard spray paint a shot if it were recommended.

So what do you use for priming? What brand do you use? What store carries it? Also, since this poll actually has practical application, what nation do you live in? After all it would be silly to look for a Danish brand of auto primer if you're in Australia.

Humbrol Matt White enamel,
or if the figure has a mainly white uniform then Humbrol Matt Light Grey.
I never use Black!
Humbrol enamels are available in most hobby stores in the UK.

I live in the USA.
I use WalMart's cheap $.99 USD Flat Black, or Flat White spray cans.

I have found to my sorrow that ALL BRANDS OF HOBBY PRIMER have quality control issues. The more you pay for it, the higher the probability of the primer turning grainy before the can is half empty.
I have tried them all, and all have had at the very least a 33% failure rate.
I blame this on the fct that hobby shops do not have the power to bully suppliers and manufacturers. walMart, I assure you, DOES have the power to bully suppliers.

So, I spend $.99 USD and have never had a can go ba. Great coverage too, and a fine surface on which to paint.

Not just the primers, either. I bought the fancy American OD paint from Battlefront, paid $12 USD for it, and had the can leak all over my hands every time I used it. I would have been better getting Krylon Camoflage Olive for $3.99 USD.

Testor's spray paints, on the other hand, are available at the big chain craft stores, like Michael's, AC Moore, etc. Although, a "hobby" spray paint, Michael's and AC Moore have the power to bully suppliers also. so, Testors pass.

If you balk at paying only $.99 USD for a large can, then pay $3.99 USD for Krylon or Rustoleum Flat White or Flat Black. (I do not feel the need to buy "primers" specifically. That way you can feel less cheap, and also get a fine quality spray "primer" that will have been bullied by WalMart into consistency.

Wal-Mart flat black. It is $.98 USD a can and much better than most products sold as primer. It is not very good spray paint in that it doesn't coat very well, which makes it perfect for priming figures because it doesn't gum up details.

I've tried other things, nothing works as well.

I live in the United States of America.

Halford's grey primer, white primer or matt black.

Pictors,
Im a bit confused by your answer. You say it is not a good spray paint because it doesnt coat very well. Umm, isn't that one is looking for in a spray primer? Something which coats the figures evenly? I wouldnt want to go back and have to respray them trying to hit the spots that didnt give good coverage.

John the OFM (PBUH), do you use Wal-mart paint or is it actual primer?

WalMart paint. I was in the process of editing the above when you posted your query.

What Pictors said.

I wouldnt want to go back and have to respray them trying to hit the spots that didnt give good coverage.

You should not be doing heavy coats anyway. Several light coats are the best.

Just like John and Pictors, WalMart flat black, white or gray (ColorPlace spraypaint) primer here in Canada (a bit more than 99 cents, more like $2 USD but thats still dirt cheap for spray paint).

One can will do an awful lot of priming too doing several light coats (which is what you should do anyway to prevent heavy buildup in any areas of the piece)

I use the Wal-mart black spray also. Cheap, easy and a light coat, it works great.

Depends actually but like John said…most of my figures I prime in either Wal-Mart black primer, or good old Krylon Primer Grey spray…(Wal-Mart also).
I've had armory white primer that was so bad after one can I swore off of it…

Wal-mart spray for me too… unless it's plastic, in which case I use that stuff that sticks to plastic.

I use a brush-on metal primer by Delta Ceramcoat. It is clear so you just mix in whatever color paint-white, grey, black-that you prefer. Naturally it is more time-consuming than spray primer, but I live in an apartment with my wife so for the sake of domestic harmony I use brush-on. One nice thing about the Delta is that if you prime several figures at a time the first figure is dry by the time you finish the last.

I spray Walmart black autoprimer Then when dry a nice mist of matt white to hit the highlights. Even shooting outside I wear a nose and mouth mask.

WalMarts $.99 USD spray paint, on metal or plastic. Never had a problem with it.

I live in the USA too. I really don't like venturing into Walmart, but I do get my $0.99 USD flat black at Home Depot or Lowes home improvement stores.

For some reason they no longer stock flat white in the same no name brand. I end up getting the $3.99 USD flat white from Krylon or Rustoleum. It costs more, but covers better than the $0.99 USD and still costs at least half as much as the GW or other gaming brands of primer.

Flat black where I need a basecoat, not really a primer. Grey auto primer for something like resin where a real primer matters.

Walmart flat black. USA.

I use Krylon White from Wal-mart followed by a black wash, brings out the details so I can see them. The wash leaves the shading and the white helps the colors stand out( painting bright colors over a black primer doesn't work for me). Arkansas USA

wal-mart's cheapest flat spray paint, in white, gray, black, and brown depending on what I'm painting. I love the stuff, though the green tends to have some pretty serious issues so I avoid it.

Wal mart cheap flat white . Lousey spray paint great primer

I use Tremclad's flat black rust paint, it covers well and gives good detail.

I'm with the those who use Wally Wolrd Colour Place 98 cent spray here, Black, White, or Grey, whith the occasional red. Been using it for over 10 years for priming with no issues over plastic and metal. I have real world experience with laquer and enamels and for what we need in the mini world a "true" primer is just an un-needed expense with little benefit and a few down sides, so using plain paint does an acceptable job in our application.

THe Wally world paint covers well without out being to heavy and multiple coats don't build up and fill detail and still allows for brush filling those spots no spray reaches well. Even the expensive cans you sometimes get a dud but at 98 cents you don't worry so much about it.

I used to use GW spray cans, but as I'm currently in a location where I can't get aerosols shipped to me, I've got a bottle of Vallejo white primer. Once I get home I think I'll get a airbrush and start applying that way.

I will only use Dupli–Color sandable primer. Every time I've tried something else I've had to strip the figure and start over. It comes in white, black, and two shades of grey in most auto parts store in the U.S.

In the UK I've tried GW's old black and white primers; Plasti-kote matt black, black primer and white primer; and Halfords grey primer. Haven't had much bother with any of them. The Halfords stuff does seem a bit thicker and textured, though; but only in comparison – not enough to ruin minis.

Spray paints (not primers) by Humbrol and Montana Cans were a bit disappointing; but after good experience with the former's varnish and new info about the latter, I'm willing to give them another try sometime. But first, the hardware shop my Dad works in started selling Rustoleum sprays. I'll have to try one of those next.

I've started using black gesso for occassional bits too. That's pretty good stuff! Better than the brush-on primer I got from Gamecraft Mini Paints, or Humbrol enamel, IMO. I tried white gesso before that, but that didn't have the shrinking effect, and left me with a mini that looked like it spent a week in a pigeon coop.

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Warren B.
minisculpture.co.uk

Going in for another advocate of Wal-mart's Valu-cheapo spraypaint. I use white, black, and gray spraypaint. I also use Krylon's red-brown primer, for times I need to use that shade.

Damon.

I also use Walmart brand, either flat black of flat white, depending on what I am painting.

Black Rustoleum primer from Home Depot--I actually at age 65 got carded because I was buying spray paint in LA County!

I've switched from spray primer to brush-on gesso. I use white, black, or grey depending on what I'm painting.

Liquitex Gesso, in standard (white), Black, or Gray. I brush it on or spray through my airbrush.

I find with all spray primers that if I spray lightly enough to protect the detail, I still have to touch up with a brush, so for single models I don't find brushing primer costs me that much time. I can also do brush prime right at my workbench, versus going out to the garage to spray, though I have a spray booth nowadays so that is easier than it used to be.

Flat black or flat white from the Home Depot. In 16 years the number of times I've been into Wallyworld can be countered on the fingers on one hand.

Walmart White, Black, or Grey. Same as Pictors and OFM.

But first, the hardware shop my Dad works in started selling Rustoleum sprays. I'll have to try one of those next.

I picked up the white primer and clear matt varnish the other day. Both worked fine for me with neither too thick.

Cans are very similar though, made the classic mistake of picking up the white and spraying my nice hedge I'd just made using chair stuffing and green flock !!! Fortunately it I noriced as I did it so limited damage and quickly repaied by more PVA glue and flock :-)

Not tried the black yet.

They cost £9.99 GBP in Homebase though :(

Krylon spray primer: white or black. Available at most hardware stores in the US.

Al | ravenfeastsmeadhall.blogspot.com

Since I don't have a good ventilated outdoor space for using a rattle-can primer, I started using brush on black gesso. That worked pretty well, but can take a while.

Recently I bought a 60ml bottle of Vallejo grey primer and spray it with an airbrush. I've found this works very well: the coats are very thin, I can put the paint exactly where I want it, it's not toxic, and it cleans up easily with water and airbrush cleaner.

Live in US. I prime with Walmart Red and Grey colored spray paints.