Oil-based primers are an excellent choice when it comes to preparing surfaces for painting. They are durable, provide excellent adhesion, and are great for sealing porous surfaces. Oil-based primers also work well to block stains and tannin bleeds.
This blog post will discuss the best oil-based primers available today.
Zinsser CoverStain is a high-quality oil-based primer suitable for interior and exterior surfaces. It can be applied directly over bare drywall or wood, providing excellent adhesion to porous and non-porous surfaces. It is my favorite for many reasons.
This product can also be used on previously painted surfaces thanks to its unique bonding formula that seals off old paint layers so they do not interfere with the new coat of paint applied over the top.
Why use an oil-based primer?
Although oil-based primers can be challenging to work with and require excellent ventilation and a respirator, they are almost guaranteed to do the job.
When a surface is prepped correctly, an OB primer will adhere to it, providing a bonding medium for your topcoat.
Whether you are painting metal, wood, laminate, or other hard-to-paint surfaces.
Good prep and a good OB primer will get you the desired results.
Is oil-based primer better?
If you are unsure whether you need an OB primer or a water-based primer, then there are a few things questions you should ask yourself first:
Are oil-based primer fumes harmful?
Ob primers have a volatile smell and can cause dizziness, nausea, headaches, skin irritation, and vomiting, to name a few symptoms.
Always make sure you are working in a well-ventilated area and are wearing the proper face mask that is made to filter fumes.
Do you really need an Oil Based Primer?
The majority of the time, a water-based primer will do the job. But for some surfaces, it’s inevitable to use Oil-based primers.
These surfaces include:
Bare wood
Metal
Wood that has tannin bleed
Knotty Pine
Knotty Wood
And surfaces that have oil paint on them
(a lot of homes before the ’80s have these)
What kind of paint can I use on oil-based primer?
You can use any water-based paint or OB paint.
There is really nothing you can’t use over OBP.
However, if the surface was previously painted with OB paint, then you CAN NOT use water-based products over it.
Can I put oil-based primer over latex primer?
You can paint OB primer over latex paint and primer. Just remember to clean the surface and lightly scuff it up first. Always!
Related article: Paint Water-Based Paint Over Oil-Based Primer
How long should I wait for oil-based primers to dry?
Although some primers, such as Sherwin Williams ProBlock, allow for a recoat time ranging from 4-6 hours under the right conditions (see product spec sheet), you should always wait 12-24 hours before applying your topcoat. That gives the primer enough time to release gasses that could potentially mess with the topcoat and cause cracking, chipping, or adhesion difficulties.
Related article: Best Oil-Based Primers For Wood And More
Follow These Rules!
ALWAYS prep your surface and test a small area before committing to the entire project.
Nothing is worse than priming everything and realizing that you did not properly prep the surface, and now it is failing.
You should always clean and de-grease your surface.
And always scuff your surface with a fine to medium grit pad or sandpaper to create a tooth that will create a mechanical bond between primer and surface.
If your primer is peeling and does not pass a fingernail scratch test, you either did not clean the surface correctly or did not scuff up the surface enough.
If you want to know the in-depth difference between shellac, water-based, and oil-based primers, read this article about the best paint primers.
Best 3 Oil-Based Primers For Your Project:
Zinsser CoverStain
Pros:
- Dries to a durable finish
- Sands easy
- Blocks stains easily
Cons:
- It doesn’t smell good for a day
Sherwin-Williams ProBlock
Pros:
- Dries in 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Re-coat possible after 2-4 hours
- High build (great for filling grainy wood)
- Hides well, therefore, needs fewer coats
Sands really easy
Cons:
- It dries too fast sometimes and gets heavy when brushing
(Needs to be thinned with Paint Thinner to spread easier) - Some Tannin Bleed needs a second coat
Kilz Original OB Primer
Pros:
- Blocks Stains
- Hides well
- Blocks odors
Cons:
- Smells really bad
- Sands poorly
Oil-based primers are an excellent choice for preparing surfaces for painting, and many people prefer them to latex-based primers. They provide excellent adhesion, are durable, and work well on various surfaces. Zinsser Cover Stain, Kilz Original, Rust-Oleum Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Plus, KILZ Adhesion, and Benjamin Moore Fresh Start are some of the best oil-based primers available on the market today. When selecting an oil-based primer for your next painting project, choose one designed for the surface you will be painting that meets your specific project needs.
In Conclusion
These products are, in my opinion, the top 3 best oil-based primers for your average painting projects before going into a more costly and high-end option such as Fine Paints Of Europe, For example.
However, to guarantee success, you absolutely must prep your surface correctly.
This includes cleaning it with a de-greaser and scuffing up the surface by lightly sanding it.
If you are painting kitchen cabinets, check out this article Best Primer For Kitchen Cabinets Without Sanding
This ultimate guide to painting kitchen cabinets has everything you need to know about the process, materials, and determining what type of cabinets you have!
