What is the difference between 2k Regular build and High build primer

Barry

Paint Fanatic
Staff member
For new painters.

Everyone thinks they need a high build primer but do you?

The low grade companies have destroyed the name calling their 30 dollar primer high build catering to the learning or do it yourself new painter.

Lets take a 69 Camaro as I see a lot of these in shops, the fenders need minor body work, usually a new skin is put on the door, do you need high build here? No!
Standard procedure may be, spray three coats of primer, block with 180 and re-prime to finish out getting ready for paint.

Could you do this with the high build? Yes but it will take more sandpaper and time to smooth out and unless you need the extra exercise, its a lot of wasted time.

What about the quarter that you had to wipe the whole panel with filler to save, that is where you need high build.

3 coats of high build = 4 coats of regular build, so if only one panel needs high build, why not just do 4 coats of regular build and with proper flash times, you will be in fine shape and save a little money.

Most questions like this come from newer painters doing work at home, so we spend a lot of time trying to explain this and since I was just slaughtered on another forum because James brought this up to a newer guy to save him $40, I thought I would post.

Regular build means, "industry standard" In other words, if you buy the majors good grade 2k primer and spray with the same gun, fill will be very close.

There is a need for both primers and it all depends what you are working on.
 
great info! question sir:
3 coats of high build = 4 coats of regular build

=? coats of unreduced epoxy?
 
Form, Just remember if you're spraying primer like Turbo unreduced that it needs to go on wet so use a gun with a tip size large enough. Urethane primer needs to go on wet for both adhesion and film strength.
 
ive been able to shoot epoxy unreduced through my lph 80 with a 1.0 tip like glass it just has to be warm and the psi turned up a bit, and i am not shooting anything larger than a motorcycle tank . i am curious how thick a coat of unreduced epoxy is compared to a coat of regular 2k...
 
I think that may have been me you are talking about saving $40 and working from home. I ordered some clear, epoxy and brought up the question of 2K Regular Build vs. High Build. He told me the ratio of Regular build coats vs. High build coats and it made perfect sense to me so I ordered the 2K Regular. Perfect for what I am doing and I appreciated the heads up and savings.
 
Max;5627 said:
I think that may have been me you are talking about saving $40 and working from home. I ordered some clear, epoxy and brought up the question of 2K Regular Build vs. High Build. He told me the ratio of Regular build coats vs. High build coats and it made perfect sense to me so I ordered the 2K Regular. Perfect for what I am doing and I appreciated the heads up and savings.

Glad to see you made it over here from that other website. You won't get bad advice here, and the experts here are true experts, not internet experts.
 
Thanks, much appreciated. But I didn't post anything on another website regarding this. I only placed a phone order for supplies and brought up the question of the two primers so might be someone else regarding what was said on another forum. I did get a good explanation though and saved some money on my order! Might be a coincidence!
 
Max;5632 said:
Thanks, much appreciated. But I didn't post anything on another website regarding this. I only placed a phone order for supplies and brought up the question of the two primers so might be someone else regarding what was said on another forum. I did get a good explanation though and saved some money on my order! Might be a coincidence!
sorry to have thought you were the person posting the same basic question on another website .
 
i am still curious how thick a coat of unreduced epoxy is compared to a coat of regular 2k... :)
 
Form I want to say.. 2 coats of epoxy would equal 1 coat of 2k.. I cant remember as I dont use it for a surfacer except for on bumpers.. Then I hammer on 4 wet coats and let set in the sun for a few days before I touch em.. With proper flash time of course!!!
 
on hr.com. guy kept asking the same question over and over even after it was answered. sounded like a little kid doing the " mama why " thing. same guy wants a cheap gun yada yada yada. but he has the harbor freight lords there to help him.
 
bondo you are spot on sir as i talked to barry today and he said two coats of unreduced epoxy would have approximately the thickness of one coat of spi 2k.
 
It's like a time warp - I just had the same conversation with James today when I ordered some stuff. I'm a novice and I really appreciate the cost saving advice!
 
A coat of G2 should be the equivalent of 2 coats of High Build I think Form.. I have ask Barry this same stuff you are asking right now years ago, but its hard to remember everything he tells me.. Barry is like a computer of information... As he tells me stuff I do my best to retain it all, but after all the years I have known him and talked to him regularly about stuff, I simply cant keep up...
 
i learned to double coat back in the lacquer days. you need to stretch the flash time though. i write things down. too many closed head injuries . when i go into the booth i take a clipboard with me. it is my " dumb ass " list. has saved my ass more than once.
 
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