Clear Primer

[BigTallDad]

I was in Auto Zone today (they give veterans a 10% discount), and noticed that DupliColor offers primer in clear. For what would you use a clear primer?

Edited March 31, 2018 by BigTallDad

[JollySipper]

Maybe to prep the inside of clear parts, like lenses for lights? I'm interested to know this, too........

Edited March 31, 2018 by JollySipper

[thatz4u]

sealer for color change or painting red plastic.......

[BigTallDad]

5 hours ago, thatz4u said:

sealer for color change or painting red plastic.......

Painting red plastic I understand, but "sealer for color change" is vague. Do you mean in conjunction with masking tape, where you use a clear to avoid bleed through? Why use a primer rather than a gloss? Please explain.

[Snake45]

Maybe it's intended as a primer for further clear gloss coats. I wonder if it's flat, matte, satin, or what. It might have some use in our world. Hmmmmm....

[Bucky]

I'm curious about it too. Using it with masking tape makes sense.

[martinfan5]

The clear primer is a adhesion promoter per Duplicolor website

https://duplicolor.com/product/adhesion-promoter

Edited April 1, 2018 by martinfan5

[thatz4u]

12 hours ago, BigTallDad said:

Painting red plastic I understand, but "sealer for color change" is vague. Do you mean in conjunction with masking tape, where you use a clear to avoid bleed through? Why use a primer rather than a gloss? Please explain.

to seal the color as in restoring an old build, & changing the color....

[BigTallDad]

1 hour ago, thatz4u said:

to seal the color as in restoring an old build, & changing the color....

Maybe it's just me, but that still isn't making sense. Here's how I understand what you're saying; please point out which step(s) I have wrong:

1. Clean the old build and put a coat of the clear primer on it.
2. Mask the areas that will remain the original color.
3. Apply a coat of clear primer to minimize bleed through along the masking lines.
4. Apply the new color.
5. Apply clear gloss (not primer) if desired.
6. Remove the masking tape.
7. Polish out the whole body, including the old color which now has a coat of clear primer (step 1 above).

Thanks for helping!

[TooOld]

8 hours ago, martinfan5 said:

The clear primer is a adhesion promoter per Duplicolor website

https://duplicolor.com/product/adhesion-promoter

I've never used the Duplicolor product but many many years ago we always used a spray Adhesive Promoter in door jambs and similar tight areas where sanding completely was difficult if not impossible . It basically etches the surface and was used before the primer and before the color .

[Jon Haigwood]

Sounds like a inter-coat clear for masking. I will have to try some with my Autoair Colors/.

[BigTallDad]

1 hour ago, TooOld said:

I've never used the Duplicolor product but many many years ago we always used a spray Adhesive Promoter in door jambs and similar tight areas where sanding completely was difficult if not impossible . It basically etches the surface and was used before the primer and before the color .

So, if it etches, spraying it over a finish coat (as in restoring an old kit) could be detrimental?

[Casey]

It's typically used over plastic surfaces-- like molded interior parts-- which you want to refinish, especially slick or surface which cannot be easily given a mechanical prep. You then apply a vinyl dye over the adhesion promoter/primer as the finish coat.

 

• Improves top coat adhesion to plastic and chrome

https://duplicolor.com/product/adhesion-promoter

[martinfan5]

On 4/1/2018 at 10:29 AM, Casey said:

It's typically used over plastic surfaces-- like molded interior parts-- which you want to refinish, especially slick or surface which cannot be easily given a mechanical prep. You then apply a vinyl dye over the adhesion promoter/primer as the finish coat.

 

• Improves top coat adhesion to plastic and chrome

https://duplicolor.com/product/adhesion-promoter

You posted the same link I did

[peteski]

Yeah, yeah, the clear primer stuff is not a typical primer but an adhesion promoter when painting plastic parts on 1:1 cars.

As a side-note, Tamiya's metal primer is a clear primer too.  Isn't that ironic, don't you think?

[Art Anderson]

On 4/1/2018 at 2:52 AM, martinfan5 said:

The clear primer is a adhesion promoter per Duplicolor website

https://duplicolor.com/product/adhesion-promoter

Yup,  formulated for use on automotive soft trim,  in particular,  those soft bumper covers, which were (and well could still be) made from polyurethane resin.

Art

[crazyjim]

O'Reilly Auto Parts does a 10% Veteran discount too.