Halfords Primer

[JR]

White spirit would only really clean up an enamel or oil based primer. Cellulose or acrylic wouldn’t be dissolved by it. I would expect the Halfords stuff to be acrylic these days, but could be wrong LOL. Most people seem to get on well with stynylres so I’d go with that if I were you.

Yes Tim it is acrylic.

[andy55]

Keeping on this thread as its still about Halfords primer.
Decided to AB some bits with the primer that I'd decanted from the rattle can. Maybe not quite like water, but very close, more watery than milk.
It sprayed lovely. Just wondering if maybe I'm not thinning paint enough.
I know give it a try, but not been modelling again long enough to have built up spare plastic to try it on.

[Tim Marlow]

Keeping on this thread as its still about Halfords primer.
Decided to AB some bits with the primer that I'd decanted from the rattle can. Maybe not quite like water, but very close, more watery than milk.
It sprayed lovely. Just wondering if maybe I'm not thinning paint enough.
I know give it a try, but not been modelling again long enough to have built up spare plastic to try it on.

Disposable cutlery makes a good substitute for practice in the absence of kit plastic Andy.

[andy55]

Disposable cutlery makes a good substitute for practice in the absence of kit plastic Andy.

Makes sense, it's plastic. Think we've got some somewhere.
Cheers

[Mr Bowcat]

I like to thin rattle can paints a bit (albeit Tamiya TS paints). However this is more to add some retarder to allow the paint to settle before dying, rather than a necessity to thin the paint. I usually thin around 20%.

[andy55]

I like to thin rattle can paints a bit (albeit Tamiya TS paints). However this is more to add some retarder to allow the paint to settle before dying, rather than a necessity to thin the paint. I usually thin around 20%.

lol, tell me about it, had a right job cleaning the AB when I'd finished. Though well pleased with the finish I got. The Ammo One Shot has arrived so going to give that a try. Cotton buds soaked in thinners at the ready...

[Jim R]

Slightly off topic but many years ago someone on the old MM forum had a theory about primers. He said that acrylic primers relied on a glue like adhesion to stick to the plastic etc whereas lacquer primers actually ate into the plastic surface and bonded that way. I don't know how true that is but it sort of makes sense.
Anyone shed light on the veracity of the theory?

[Scratchbuilder]

Just done the obvious, look on Halfords site, duh. It's acrylic base. So just need to perfect the decanting and jobs a good en. It does seem everyone has their go to primer. Had a look in the shop, and John say that the Stynylrez is discontinued.
Read a review on the Styn and they reckoned that the Mig One Shot was the same stuff...

I use some IPA (IsoPropylAlchohol) to take off the acrylic, just put some on some kitchen towel and rub off. Then wash your hands after.

[Scratchbuilder]

Makes sense, it's plastic. Think we've got some somewhere.
Cheers

You cannot beat the plastic picnic spoon, buy them at 100 a packet...

[Scratchbuilder]

Slightly off topic but many years ago someone on the old MM forum had a theory about primers. He said that acrylic primers relied on a glue like adhesion to stick to the plastic etc whereas lacquer primers actually ate into the plastic surface and bonded that way. I don't know how true that is but it sort of makes sense.
Anyone shed light on the veracity of the theory?

Jim, very true, lacquer (cellulose) is designed to eat into the surface. And Acrylic is designed to attache to the surface.

[Jim R]

Thanks Mike. I knew someone would know.

[Andy T]

I agree with Mike. In my day job we call them mechanical or chemical Adhesion.

Mechanical adhesion, where the coating just "sticks", can be helped immensely by sanding or otherwise roughening up the substrate, often referred to as "giving it a key".

Imagine looking very close up, the peaks & troughs caused by the sanding scratches increases the surface area many fold, giving more area for the coating to "stick" to.

[andy55]

I use some IPA (IsoPropylAlchohol) to take off the acrylic, just put some on some kitchen towel and rub off. Then wash your hands after.

Got some coming this afternoon. Just done a shed load of priming so having a break.

Slightly off topic but many years ago someone on the old MM forum had a theory about primers. He said that acrylic primers relied on a glue like adhesion to stick to the plastic etc whereas lacquer primers actually ate into the plastic surface and bonded that way. I don't know how true that is but it sort of makes sense.
Anyone shed light on the veracity of the theory?

Jim, very true, lacquer (cellulose) is designed to eat into the surface. And Acrylic is designed to attache to the surface.

After using the Halfords, there's certainly something 'extra' in there.

[Jim R]

In my day job we call them mechanical or chemical Adhesion.

I'll remember that. I glad it wasn't old age playing tricks with what's left of my grey matter.

[Scratchbuilder]

I'll remember that. I glad it wasn't old age playing tricks with what's left of my grey matter.

Like me keep sniffing the fumes, then you know you are alive and not comatose....:tears-of-joy: