Best Way to Prime Sprues?

[Jennifer]

Should I use a spray on primer or is the Reaper White Brush on primer as good?

[jp1885]

I use white automotive primer from a spray can - a lot cheaper than model primer and just as good!

[Jennifer]

I use white automotive primer from a spray can - a lot cheaper than model primer and just as good!

What brand do you use?  I am in the states -- can you recommend a good brand of white automotive spray primer?  Thanks!

[Duncan McDane]

I use grey automotive primer from a spray can - a lot cheaper than model primer and just as good!

 

Edit: Any will do. Just check beforehand on an old model or whatever how the consistency is, so you don't end up spraying too much on the model...

[jp1885]

What brand do you use?  I am in the states -- can you recommend a good brand of white automotive spray primer?  Thanks!

Well I'm in the UK, so probably not much use to you, but I use Halfords.

[Weezbeez37]

I'm in the states as well and I use Rustoleum spray paint. I find that it covers really well without ruining the details and it's easy to paint over.

Hopefully that will help
Weez

[Darkson71]

Out of interest, why do you want to prime sprues?

[Jennifer]

Out of interest, why do you want to prime sprues?

Do you not prime them?  Do you just brush acrylic paint right on the plastic?

To clarify, I was talking about priming an assembled figure, that was made from sprue plastic material.

I read one doesn't need to prime reaper bones minis for example. 

I was finding the paint was peeling very easily from the sprue plastic without primer.

[Roger]

I always make sure I wash my sprues, just luke warm soapy water.
just in case there is any mold release on them
you can just paint them after that but I use spray primer on most of them.
The pound shops have primer, it seems to cover well and its not quite as thick as the top end spray primers.
Roger

[CthulhuPunk]

Just to add, I also use cheap car paints - half the price of GW and Army Painter and just as good. I actually use Amazon, just search "spray primer plastic" and you'll the first ones up are Hycote brand - I use these & can recommend. Ones that say plastic in the title work well on all plastics and resin. Those without plastic in the title work well on metal. I actually have white, grey and black and use the appropriate one depending on the overall final colour, if I grab the wrong one, or if I'm running out of the other two colours. All work great :-)

[Darkson71]

To clarify, I was talking about priming an assembled figure, that was made from sprue plastic material.

Right, that makes more sense.  I thought you meant you were literally priming sprues. I had seen someone suggest this in the past, which made no sense, hence why I asked.

[Philhelm]

Right, that makes more sense.  I thought you meant you were literally priming sprues. I had seen someone suggest this in the past, which made no sense, hence why I asked.

I've done that for more complicated models in which I wanted to paint the pieces before assembling.

[ecurtz]

Sounds like you've got the right advice here, but just as a warning since I know they are popular with Frostgrave players - you shouldn't use the same primer on Reaper Bones, they have their own recommended primers (or apparently you can paint them straight, but I never have.)

[Darkson71]

I've done that for more complicated models in which I wanted to paint the pieces before assembling.

Doesn't that mean priming over contact (gluing) points, making them less likely to stick together?

If you say you mask those areas then hats off to you sir! Even after 20+ years in this hobby I hate putting models together, let alone painting them (hence my preference for small skirmish games ).

[ayak333]

Hey Jennifer, Im also in the states. I go to home depot/lowes for my primers. I prefer valspar primers over krylon, but I use both manufacturers. Reaper bones complicate the matter, the primer doesnt always adhere well to the bones material and can create a muddy effect.  For plastic and metal figures the valspar and krylon are great. I spray full plastic sprues all the time. I find it can be helpful in the painting process because the pieces can be painted from a vast array of angles.  Also a quick tip, when spraying your models try to avoid humid or overly hot weather, it'll cause the primer to create a granular/sanded effect on the models. If it does happen, put the models (plastic or metal) into simple green (a cleaning product) to remove the primer. Let the models sit for a day or two and then brush them with a toothbrush when you take them out. Good luck with your miniatures!