Top 5 Best Spray Paint Primers (2023 Review)

When Should You Use A Spray Paint Primer?

Let's address the golden question: When should you use a spray paint primer?

Well, the simple answer is...whenever you're going to spray paint something!

The more complicated answer is, when you want to ensure the best paint adhesion possible.

So let's unpack this a bit more, shall we?

Why Use A Primer?

You should always use a primer when you want to create a high-quality finish on your DIY project.

It can be easy to skip the priming step and just add another coat of paint on to make sure it has the overall color you're going for.

However, this causes more problems down the road, even if the paint looks nice!

This is because priming your surface creates a smooth surface for your chosen paint to adhere to.

Whether it's some nice outdoor furniture, a light fixture, or just some touch-up paint on a household item, priming it before painting is going to make your job much, much easier.

This is especially true when you're working with something that isn't wood.

For instance, if you wanted to give a new look to an old piece of furniture that happens to be made of metal, you could go for an "all-in-one spray paint" in the color of your choice and just leave it at that.

However, a few months later you might notice some chipping or flaking going on in the high-touch areas of that piece of furniture.

Often times you don't realize how important a primer is until it's too late and your beautiful coat of paint starts to wear down in a matter of weeks.

So, if you want results that last, do it right the first time and prime!

When Should You Apply Primer?

This one is a bit easier to answer: after you've prepped your surface well.

Prepping your surface means different things for different projects, though.

For instance, if you want to give a worn-down wooden bench a new look, you might want to sand off any old, faded paint first. Sanding is a super important step (though you might be tempted to skip it), especially if the surface paint is patchy and chipping.

Sand it down with some sandpaper - just enough to create a smooth surface and get rid of the old paint - and then wipe the wood down with a damp cloth to ensure there isn't any lingering dust.

THEN (and only then) it's time to sit down and prime the wood.

(And if you want to learn more about how to properly prime wood, head over to this other article I wrote on how many coats of primer to use on wood!)

What Are The Different Types of Spray Paint Primers?

Before you choose your spray paint primer your next DIY project, it's important to note that there are multiple types of primers to choose from.

While that may sound like a no-brainer, it's very important to have a firm grasp of the strengths and weaknesses of each type so you don't end up with a messy end-result.

The primer you choose is like the foundation for your paint job, so if you want to make sure that your DIY project lasts as long as possible and looks great, don't skimp on finding the best spray primer for the job!

Oil-Based Primers

The first type I want to go over is the oil-based primers.

These have been considered "industry standard" for decades, and for good reason.

These primers are super versatile and they work on almost every surface under the sun, plus they typically work for both interior and exterior applications.

Oil-based primers are an excellent choice for priming painted or unpainted wood, metal surfaces, and painting over an existing layer of paint. They're also incredible at sealing bare wood and preventing tannins that are released from the wood from bleeding into your coat of paint.

This means the oil-based primers will help you get a high-quality, longer-lasting coat of paint in the end.

So what's the downside?

They smell! They put out a lot of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are harmful to people and animals in high-concentrations.

And since we're talking about spray primers here, it's important to note that you need to be very careful when using an oil-based spray primer.

That means you can't skip the safety gear like a mask with a ventilator, goggles, and gloves. You do NOT want this stuff coming in contact with your skin or respiratory system.

This also means you need to give the paint job longer to dry in a well-ventilated area (ideally outside) so those VOCs have more time to off-gas before being placed in a less-ventilated area.

Water-Based Primers (a.k.a Latex Primers)

Water-based primers, also referred to as Latex Primers are versatile and useful in their own right.

They are much less brittle than oil-based primers which means they're more durable in the long run and have a smaller chance of chipping or peeling after a while.

Latex primers have their own wheelhouse of excellence though, and that happens to be priming soft or porous surfaces.

They take the cake when it comes to priming brick, drywall, concrete, galvanized metal surfaces, and softer woods like pine.

They're amazing at creating a smooth surface to work with even on rougher materials, plus they come in low or no-VOC formulas which means they won't cause the same level of toxicity and smell as an oil-based primer.

However, they aren't as good at blocking out stains as an oil-based spray primer would be.

Read More >> How Do You Fix Uneven Spray Paint?