What primer to use

[Jordan Baker]

Myself and others have used the POR15 system and had great results from it. It is a lot of work but produces an extremely hard surface that will not allow rust to form. I've also heard a lot use epoxy primers. I never have so I can't answer anything to them. But those that have seem to be very happy with the results.

[rob love]

Having used all of the above, I am now a firm user of the POR-15. Quite frankly it costs less than the epoxy primers. There may be a downside or two, but the overall finish and protection is hard to beat. Not sure it is available overseas though.

[Jason Linders]

Thanks for the replies

Jason

[Jason Linders]

That POR 15 is not cheap stuff is it ...

[chris vickery]

Jason
All I ever use is epoxy primer. If you are a purist and are concerned about scratched paint revealing the primer sub coat, you can have the epoxy tinted to red oxide colour. Thats what I do.
Original primer was simple red oxide enamel.

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Jason,

In the process of stripping parts of my Ford CMP truck I have seen both red and grey primers used at various locations under the topcoats that were originally applied to the vehicle.

Everyone has their preferences and I fully understand. If you like something stick with it. I prefer single pack alkyd enamels for ease of application and cleanup. Over the years I have used red and grey industrial primers made in Australia by Jotun, Wattyl, and more recently Wagon Paints. They have been top coated with Khaki paint made by Wattyl and Croda.

I have not had any paint failures with those combinations and some of the items were painted 20 years ago.

A lot depends on the level of exposure to the elements of the vehicle. Mine is garaged so I am happy to use single pack primers. In more extreme conditions or locations it may call for more exotic primers. Even basic WW2 primers have held up well for 70 years on those dry outback finds we see in this forum.

Having said that, sometimes it is worth deviating from using only one type of primer depending on the situation. Having read the great testimonials for POR15 I can see where it would be great for inside the split rims to make tyre installation easier. I can also see it being a very good paint around the battery area where acid fumes and droplets can cause havoc to the steelwork.

I may just have to buy a small tin of that!

Cheers,

[chris vickery]

Jacques, agreed.
If regular alkyd enamel primer and paint lasted for the last 70 years they will do so once again...
I suppose today we do get caught up with trying to "re-invent the wheel or improve things", when afterall, original worked just fine.
Perhaps it is the work of going through it all that prompts us into a "might as well" sense of obligation.
One must remember that when these vehicles were made, longevity was the last thing in the manufacturers minds.
I probably have my figures wrong, but I recall reading somewhere for example that most MVs lifespans were quoted in days on the battlefield. Outside of the casualty rate for many MVs, the next estimate was in terms of miles.
I seem to think that Jeeps for example had a mortality rate of less than 2500 miles or one month.
Perhaps someone out there has the correct figures?
At any rate, a MV saved is a piece of history saved no matter what kind of paint you put on it.