I\'m sick to death of spray primers

[vincegamer]

I can never get them to work right.
Look at the close-up of the hand in this pic:
Zoid the Pinhead Barbarian
You can see the texture of the skin is rough, kind of like sandpaper.
I always get that result when I use spray primer.
I have used all sorts of brands, old cans, new cans. I usually spray outdoors but have once or twice sprayed in the underground parking garage at my work.
I hold the can closer, I hold the can further away. I make several passes, I hold the can in place.
Always I get this rough texture.
Brush on primers don\'t do this (well, GW smelly primer often has little particles in it, but otherwise not), but they are harder to find and take longer to use.
If anyone can help please do. I was starting to do some NMM, and I realized I will never be able to get a smooth metallic surface with all the bumps.
Luckily I have some more of the same minis so I\'ll just start over and use brush on (though my brush on doesn\'t seem to want to grab the metal anymore).

 

[mickc22]

Is that white primer Vince?
I get this with white, it doesn\'t matter who\'s it is, and it\'s only white that does it.
I don\'t get it when I use black, grey or red spray undercoats (the red is quite smooth btw)

I use Alex Castro\'s method from his book, when I use white: after it has dried hold it under a running tap, and with a bristle brush, brush away the lumps and bumps.
A bit of extra work I know, but it does work.
hope this helpful


Mick

 

[james9487]

I\'ve had the same problem in the past and for me the problem was the brands I used and technique. My GW black primer used to be good but now it gets that grainy look. Right now I use GW white primer and it is very fine and gets a smooth finish. Technique wise, it is a balance: too close and you get too thick, too far away and it dries in the air and gets grainy. Also, I try to get a few thin coats instead of one thick one.

 

[Kjugen]

Hi, my first post here...

I have that too somtimes - last seen on my landraider Fortunatly most of the dry lumpy stuff can be removed with a old toothbrush.

Are you making sure it\'s not to hot/cold or dry/humid in the air - this has a huge impact on spray primers.

Basicaly it\'s best to prime indoors on a normal nice day. Unfortunatly is quite dangerous to your health.

Humidity and a really hot and dry weather causes the primer to lump up or to dry in the air before hitting the model. And don\'t spray if it\'s to windy outside, the overspray tends to dry up and has a nasty habit of hitting the model from the back.

I usually succeed if i think on the temperature and how the humid/dry it is - if it\'s just right is works every time for me. But then again living in Sweden dosen\'t really produce a lot of days good enough for priming outside.

 

[mickc22]

Hi Kjugen,
Welcome to the forums, all input is welcome

 

[airhead]

Vince, just looking at it, I\'d say you are not starting the spray off of the mini. Start spraying to the left of the mini, then pass across the mini, THEN release the spray. If you start spraying ON the mini, little dry bits and other unmixed stuff in the collection tube in the spraycan can cause problems.

What brand are you using? I get good results from Krylon white primer, but go over a few rows at wal-marx and get the Duplicolor auto primer. Smaller can and costs a bit more, but very good results so far.

 

[vincegamer]

Can\'t recall my most recent brand, and I just chucked the can.
However, as I said, I\'ve had this happen whatever brand I use, and whether I pass over the mini as you describe or not.
I\'ll probably still try the Duplicolor you suggest just because spray priming is such a time saver in doing an army.

 

[Xavier]

Hear you lould and clear (AirBrush is the answer)

Yep I had this problem too. I went through many different brands before I just gave up spary cans altogether.

That is when I switched to using an internal mix AirBrush. It has been a major improvement in every area. With the control of the airbrush you get an even coverage with no missing spots like I use to see with spray cans. And I can prime in my room. I don\'t have to go outside

The only real disadvange of the airbrush is the upfront cost.

BTW I have that same Zoid character, yes I\'ve had him since 1990 ... and STILL unpainted.
I know there are more of us older CMONers it would be something to have a WIP painting thread on the Zoid character

 

[Trevor]

Try having the mini closer to the spray. I\'ve used GW sprays for years with no problems.

 

[Drake Farstrider]

I think most of use have had this problem Vince. It sucks! I got so tired of it I went to brush on primmer exclusively. I find that I get a better overall coat on the mini and I am less likely to lose details.

 

[angus147258]

Use Duplicolor primer! Man I love this stuff!

 

[Shawn R. L.]

Rustoluem - would\'nt be without it.

 

[DXM]

My very first post on this great site.
I strictly use Tamiya Primer avaliable at most hobby stores. It comes in Grey and white. It\'s a little expensive but I have never had the fuzzies and runs almost disappears when dries. It dries with a nice egg shell finish. Hope this helps.........DXM

 

[Dedwrekka]

This may seem like a simple question, but are you remembering to shake the can before you use it each time? I\'ve been in the cult of the black primer for a while and I\'ve had this happen to me before and recently when I forget to shake the can first and do a test spray off to the side of the mini.

Of course now this thread is turning into CMON voodoo lessons. Now do a backflip :bouncy:, stand on your head :flip:, and incite a prayer :innocent:. Then, from your headstand :flip:, flip over the mini :bouncy: spraying it with primer along the way :flame: while inciting every single word you can think of in the bible relating to the mini your trying to prime :innocent:.

 

[philologus]

Living in Georgia means I can\'t really spray prime anything after the middle of May due to the high humidity. I always get sandpaper this time of year on my sprayed models. It sucks completely for tank models. This is why my wife only brushes on primer. During the Winter/Fall months I have absolutely great spraying results with any type of spray.

 

[penguin]

I have never had any problems with GW black rpimer, that\'s the only one I\'ve ever used I do it up in our attic, holding about 20-30cm away from the mini. I always shake it hard for about 2 minutes before spraying, I think this might help.

 

[NickyBlade]

I use the GW black spray primer and have gotten a bit of texture from having the can too far away. I\'ve gotten better with time, and I\'m not nervous about spraying like I was at first. If it\'s humidity doing it though, I guess there\'s not much you can do about that.

 

[Modderrhu]

Got an airbrush, vince? Thin some PVA paint, and watch the most beautiful undercoat happen before your eyes.

 

[Bastetcat]

you know, I didn\'t really notice it before, but I think I\'ve been getting the \"grainy\" results as well. The black is a little smoother (been using GW primer), but after a recent experiment with black primer I will never prime black again (it doesn\'t work with my painting style - too dark).

So I may switch to paint on primer, at least for \"lord\" figures, if not for the rank and file regiment figs.

Georgia, Sweeden, HAH! I live in Florida, land of swamps. The humidity is currently 72%.

 

[mickc22]

yeah and \'Gators!