Primer is a crucial step when it comes to painting a vehicle. It helps achieve a smooth, flawless look and ensures the paint doesn’t chip off. If you’re a DIYer, you might be wondering, ‘How long does primer take to dry?’.
In this article, we have put together a bunch of information that will help you in your car painting process. We have mentioned tips on drying primer quickly, factors that influence the drying process, and application tips for a smooth finish. Without wasting any more time, let’s get into it!
Understanding Primer
A primer is an undercoat that is used before putting on the actual paint. It is made up of synthetic resin, solvent, and additive agent. A primer is usually white, but sometimes it can be tinted.
Primers can be applied with a brush or spray gun to freshly sanded metal. The application process of a primer is the same as the painting of your car. It helps the paint stick to the car’s surface, gives a smooth finish, prevents the paint from peeling, and stops any rusting.
To ensure the good job is done, it’s good to know what type of primer you should be using. There are variations of primers that are used for different situations. Read further ahead and know the types of primers and when to use them.
5 Different Types of Primers
There are more than one type of primers that can be used for cars. Each primer for automobiles has different abilities and is used for different paint jobs. You may require a particular type of primer to fix a scratch on your car and a completely different one if you want to paint your ride in a new color. In simpler terms, there are primers for all kinds of jobs and you need to aware one them to ensure your car is safe.
This is the list of different primers and when you should be using them:
- Epoxy Primer: The epoxy primer is known for its good adhesion properties. It is generally used for bigger paint jobs on bare metal. It can help prevent corrosion too. Epoxy primers are also used as a topcoat.
- Urethane Primer: This primer is often used for imperfections on the vehicle. It’s relatively easier to sand too. It dries quicker than epoxy primer.
- Lacquer Primer: It is a quick-drying primer and easy to sand, but not as durable as the Epoxy and Urethane. That’s why it’s usually used for small paint jobs like a scratch situation.
- Etch Primer: Etch is another good primer, just as Epoxy. It offers good adhesion and is used on bare metal as it contains a strong bond that will help the paint stick. Etch primer is used for bigger paint jobs such as repainting the whole car.
- Polyester Primer: This primer is best used for working on smaller paint jobs. It can fill in small imperfections easily while creating a great bond for the paint to stick to. This primer is usually avoided for bigger paint jobs as it is prone to cracking.
How Long Does Primer Take To Dry Before Painting?
Just like every other DIY project, it’s best to give primers and paints to dry before moving on to the next step. Each primer has its own drying time. Some could take longer than others to dry. Patience is key when it comes to painting jobs or in general car DIY’s.
Since we’ve talked about the types of primers and when they should be used, it’s time we get into answering the question, ‘How long does it take primer to dry?’.
- Epoxy primers typically take 24 hours to fully dry. After its initial application, it will take 6–8 hours to cure and typically require a recoat after 10 or 12 hours from the first application.
- Urethane primer takes 18-24 hours to fully dry. You are allowed to wet sand it after a couple of hours. If you wish to dry sand it, then you should wait for 3-4 hours after the first coating. It can be ready for a recoat in 18 hours.
- Lacquer primer usually takes 20–60 minutes to dry. However, it is recommended to allow a couple of days to fully cure the primer before painting, as it shrinks while drying. Before recoating or applying paint, it is advised to run your car through a car wash.
- Etch primer can take up to 1 hour until it dries to touch. But it can take up to 24 hours to fully cure.
- Polyester primer is a quick-drying primer that usually takes 20–60 minutes to fully dry.
Factors Influencing Drying Time and How to Speed Up the Process
Just like any other substance, primer’s drying time can be affected by a number of factors. It is important to allow the primer to fully dry before you start painting; otherwise, you’re going to end up with a blotchy paint job or peeling paint.
Factors such as temperature and climate are usually the biggest reasons for a primer to be drying slowly. If you want to know what the factors are and how you can speed up the drying process, continue reading.
- Always use lighter coats and don’t be in a rush for second coats. Wait till your first coat has fully cured. A lot of the time, people make mistakes by layering the primer, which takes hours to dry.
- The type of primer you use can also affect how long it takes to dry. Some primers take an unusual amount of time to fully cure.
- The major factor for a primer to dry is temperature. Temperature plays a huge role in drying the primer. If you’re in a cold climate or your car is under cold conditions, this can slow down the drying process.
- In order to speed up the drying time, make sure your car is in a hot area. but avoid humidity.
- Air-drying the car can sometimes take days. You can apply heat by using a heat gun to dry the primer quickly.
- The size of the vehicle or the area to which you have applied your primer can matter when it comes to drying. Bigger vehicles, such as SUVs, can take a large amount of time to fully dry. Smaller cars, such as sedans, or if you work on a smaller area of the car, can cure faster.
Quick Tips For Easy Primer Application
For a perfect, smooth finished paint job, you need to make sure you’re doing the initial steps correctly. Before painting, it is crucial to put on primer and wait for the primer to fully cure. Factors influencing your primer’s drying time can also start from the application process.
Rushing your primer or applying it in ways that will end up wrecking your paint will just lead you to an unsuccessful project. But with the correct methods and tips, you can get your primer to dry quickly and allow your paint to present a nice smooth look.
- Before applying the primer, make sure the surface area you are working with is clean. There should be no dirt, dust, or grease. You can even sand the area for a stronger bond between the primer and the car.
- Choose the right type of primer for your job. If you are working on a small area of your car and you use primers such as epoxy that are used for larger paint jobs, you will end up having a very slow drying process. It’s best to know what type of primer you should be using for the surface area you’re painting.
- You can use a spray gun to apply the primer. This usually helps in covering all parts of the area and is easier to work with.
- Applying thin coats. When applying your primer, always apply thin coats. This will help the primer to dry quickly. If you are layering your primer one on top of the other, it’s just going to take days before it can fully dry.
Frequently Asked Questions On How Long Should Primer Dry Before Painting
Q1. How can I tell if my primer is fully dry?
Before checking if your primer is fully dry, wait until the recommended drying time has been over. If you feel as if it has been past its drying time, then you can simply check by slightly touching the area.
To know if it is fully dry, your finger should not have any residue or feel sticky. If you feel it does feel sticky on your finger, then wait a couple more hours or speed up the drying process by using heat.
Q2. How long should primer dry before painting?
Each primer has a specific drying time. Before you start painting, it’s important to know the type of primer you’ve used and how long it will take to dry completely. Apart from the primer type the drying time also depends on the number of coats you’ve applied.
Q3. What is the best primer for quick drying?
There isn’t any exact primer for the quickest drying, as they all take hours to be fully cured. But you can use etch primer and lacquer primer if you are working on a smaller paint job. These primers have a relatively far shorter drying time than epoxy and urethane primers.
Q4. How many coats of primer should I use?
Every primer requires recoats after the initial coating. It is best to recoat the primer 2-3 times before applying the actual paint. But again, this depends on how much surface area you are working with.
If you are doing a small paint job, then one or two coats should be enough. Before going in with recoats, always check to see if the previous coating has dried.
Q5. What primer should I use against rust?
While many primers can provide rust protection, it is best to use a moisture-cure urethane primer. This primer is known for excellent paint adhesion and rust protection.
This primer also cures pretty quickly as it is able to absorb moisture and cut down drying time in half from what the regular urethane primer would take.
Conclusion
To achieve the perfect car paint job, it is vital to know what type of primer you should use and how long does the primer take to dry before you can apply the paint. Waiting for the primer to fully cure is the most important step in your painting project. This will allow you to have a smooth finish without any paint fading or peeling off.
We hope this article covers your queries and is able to provide you with the information you require. Happy priming!
