What makes Zinsser Bulls Eye a great general purpose primer for sign painters? Advantages include excellent adhesion to the substrate, stain blocking and compatibility with a variety of paints.
By Jim Hingst @hingst_jim
Having used Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 for years, I have my reasons for preferring this product as my favorite primer for a variety of applications, including priming drywall, wood and High Density Urethane (HDU). Here are some of those reasons:
For years I had believed that you always used an oil-based primer, if you were painting with an oil-based finished coat. My opinion changed after an old Chicago sign painter introduced me to Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3, a water-based acrylic polymer primer.
The painter argued that over time oil-based primers become brittle and crack, exposing the substrate to moisture, which eventually lead to issues with the finish coat. Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3, on the other hand remains flexible throughout its life.
Having used Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 for years, I have my reasons for preferring this product as my favorite primer for a variety of applications, including priming drywall, wood and High Density Urethane (HDU). Here are some of those reasons:
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| Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer |
● Excellent opacity covers previously
painted colors.
● Sticks to a wide range of surfaces
without sanding.
● Seals stains, graffiti and tannin
bleed.
● Resists mold & mildew.
● Inhibits rust - great for new
metal.
Excellent Adhesion
Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 will stick to a wide range of
surfaces with minimal surface preparation. This does not mean that the primer
will stick to a contaminated surface. It probably won’t. You must properly prep
the surface according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Remember the old
saying: “proper prior prep prevents poor painting performance”.
While proper surface prep is essential, you may not need
to sand an unfinished surface to ensure good adhesion. Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3
will even adhere to some glossy surfaces. I will admit, though, that I have the
habit of roughing up a surface prior to painting to give it some tooth. I feel
that if you are repainting an older surface painted with a glossy enamel, this
is an advisable practice.
NOTE: Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 is not recommended for
painting over varnished or polyurethane surfaces. Instead, try Zinsser BIN for
these substrates.
Seals the Substrate.
Used on porous substrates, such as plywood, Zinsser Bulls
Eye 1-2-3 penetrates into the pores on the surface which contributes to its
excellent anchorage.
Stain Blocking.
When painting wood, Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 creates a
barrier that blocks tannins and stains from bleeding through.
Excellent Anchorage.
One of the primary functions of a primer is to anchor the
finish coat to the substrate. Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 exhibits good adhesion to
the substrate and provides a good foundation for the finish coat to anchor to.
Creates a Uniform Surface.
Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 has a very thick consistency.
Admittedly, some people don’t like this characteristic because they feel that
the primer is more difficult to brush out. This is true. However, its heavy
body is exactly why I like it. If I am priming a rougher surface, such as high
density urethane or plywood, Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 fills in the texture
providing a smooth, uniform surface for the finish coat. The result is a nicer
finished appearance because the primer hides surface imperfections, which otherwise
might be more noticeable.
Compatibility with Both Latex and Oil-Based Paints.
Whether you are painting with sign enamels or other
oil-based paints or latex paints, Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 serves as an
excellent base coat.
Versatility.
Whether your application is indoors or outdoors, Zinsser
Bulls Eye 1-2-3 will satisfy your needs. This primer is recommended for
painting unfinished drywall, plywood, pine, redwood, cedar, concrete, brick and
some metal surfaces.
Easy Clean Up.
After painting, cleaning your paint brushes is a simple
matter of washing with soap and warm water.
Conclusion.
As a general purpose primer, Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 is
an excellent choice whether you are painting plywood, drywall or HDU. To settle
a bet, I conducted a side by side test of the Zinsser primer with the
comparable Kilz product. By far, the
Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 is a much better primer. It’s thicker and a more opaque
coating so you get much better hiding power. In many cases you only need one
coat to get good coverage. Using the Kilz product, on the other hand, we were
not satisfied after two coats. Zinsser also dries faster. That saves time, which is important if you
are painting signs and trying to get jobs out the door. Also, if you are
painting a rough surface, such as high density urethane (HDU), Bulls Eye 1-2-3
fills in the texture for a much smoother and aesthetically finish.
The best way for you to choose the right primer for an
application, it to conduct your own test. If you have never used the Zinsser
product, do yourself a favor and give it a try. It will provide a good, durable
base coat for a beautiful paint job.
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Essential Solvents for Sign Painters
Paint Chemistry Terminology
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How Temperature and Humidity Affect Paint Drying
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The Practicality of Repainting an Old Acrylic Sign
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Essential Solvents for Sign Painters
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About Jim Hingst: After fourteen years as Business Development Manager at RTape, Jim Hingst retired. He was involved in many facets of the company’s business, including marketing, sales, product development and technical service.
Hingst began his career 42 years ago in the graphic arts field creating and producing advertising and promotional materials for a large test equipment manufacturer. Working for offset printers, large format screen printers, vinyl film manufacturers, and application tape companies, his experience included estimating, production planning, purchasing and production art, as well as sales and marketing. In his capacity as a salesman, Hingst was recognized with numerous sales achievement awards.
Drawing on his experience in production and as graphics installation subcontractor, Hingst provided the industry with practical advice, publishing more than 150 articles for publications, such as Signs Canada, SignCraft, Signs of the Times, Screen Printing, Sign and Digital Graphics and Sign Builder Illustrated. He also posted more than 450 stories on his blog (hingstssignpost.blogspot.com). In 2007 Hingst’s book, Vinyl Sign Techniques, was published. Vinyl Sign Techniques is available at sign supply distributors and at Amazon.
© 2018 Jim Hingst
I am really thankful to the admin for sharing such a lucrative and interesting blog with us.
ReplyDeleteMold Killing Prime
Concrete Sealer
Can this primer be used on an asphalt surface like roofing before you put a gaco paint roof coating
ReplyDeleteNice post. Thanks for sharing with us and please keep posting.
ReplyDeleteI am looking for a Good Primer to paint on wood to cover the knots to seal them so they will not bleed through into the top coat. Is Zinsser 1-2-3 the best primer I should be using ?
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