Primer color?

[Kraken]

So when you are going to re-paint part of a vehicle.. like say the rocket panels for rust.. just to give a real scenario. How do you determine the proper primer color?

I re-painted an F-150 tailgate a few years ago, exterior color was a dark metallic red. First section I did I used an off-white primer. After I shot that section with the top coat you could tell. Started over with a dark grey primer and found the sweet spot. This summer I've got the rocker panels on the Ram (Bright White), and the front hood lip on a 2018 Equinox (Blue Steel metallic). I'd rather get the primer choice right the first time

 

[CanuckRam1313]

Depending on the colour and clear you're going to shoot over afterward...

A darker end result; I'd use a dark grey primer
A lighter end result; I'd use a very light grey or off white primer

 

[Kraken]

So... I'm not sure how to take that. So, there's no real way unless you painted the original color yourself?

 

[CanuckRam1313]

So... I'm not sure how to take that. So, there's no real way unless you painted the original color yourself?

When one is doing ones own automotive "repaint", this is what I would personally do regarding primer colour selection.

If the original paint colour was a dark one; use a darker primer (dark grey is my recommendation), and then shoot your base colour & then the clear.

If the original paint colour was a light(er) one; use a lighter primer (light grey to off white primer is my recommendation), and then shoot your base colour & then clear.

 

[Kraken]

Gotcha.. thanks!