Painting Bare Metal Without Primer

Apply latex paint to the surface.

Painting bare metal without primer.

This includes bare plastic. Acrylic latex provides the best coverage on prepainted surfaces. The paint should adhere to the prepainted metal surface. A cordless drill with a wire brush attachment is also an option and a good one if you are stripping away paint from a large surface area.

Most projects where you re going over a previously painted surface do not require the use of a primer. You can get away with spot priming if only a few areas are down to bare metal if you re going over old paint you just need to clean it and sand lightly before painting though without a primer you may experience paint incompatibility in a few cases. Continue reading below our video of the day. If you re painting bare metal you need a primer one speced for metal even if the paint claims you don t.

Use a brush roller or spray can depending on your preference or the size and shape of the metal object. Self etching primer is ideal for painting metal and creates the foundation needed to bond with the paint. Another time you don t need primer is when bare metal is not exposed at all. Follow the manufacturer s instructions on the side of the can for best results.

In many cases all you ll need to do is spot prime any bare areas that need to be addressed before applying your finish. The results show whether a paint hides well enough to not require a primer and also how well it stands up to wear and tear. And considering what percentage of minor damage happens to bumpers and the fact that most bumpers today are plastic you can skip the primer step without much worry at all. Without the use of a primer in many cases oxidation will begin leading to rust and the eventual decay of the metal.

A combination approach is best stripping large surfaces will go much faster with a wire brush and then use the sandpaper to get in the nooks and crannies.