Saw a big difference in paint adhesion after switching to epoxy primer on a job in Nashville

I used to just use standard urethane primer on everything, but after a repair last summer on a hood that kept chipping three months later, I tried an epoxy sealer for the bare metal. The finish held up way better through the heat and humidity here, no lifting or peeling at all. Has anyone else seen a similar change when they swapped to epoxy for their base coats?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_wesley17d ago

Epoxy primer definitely makes a difference but one thing people overlook is how the humidity in Nashville affects the cure time. I tried switching to epoxy on a truck bed last July and the paint actually blistered because I laid it on too thick in the middle of a 90 degree day. Had to sand it all back down and start over with thinner coats. The epoxy itself saved the job but the application window is way tighter than urethane. If you're spraying during summer, keep a hygrometer in the booth. That saved my next go around.

the_robin17d ago

You bet the humidity is the real beast here though. A lot of folks don't realize that epoxy stays tacky way longer when the air is heavy with moisture, so you get that blistering if you're not careful. Thinner coats and a good hygrometer are the ONLY way to beat that Nashville summer heat.

rileyprice15d ago

Ha honestly I'd rather wrestle a wet sponge than deal with that summer cure time mess again.