I applied primer around the new floor opening after sanding the cut area. The gray Dupli-Color primer was included in my materials for preparing that area for paint.
Primer around the cut opening beneath my passenger seat.
Why I bought it
The heater opening required more than removing metal. After making the cut and the mounting holes, I had a separate surface-preparation and coating stage.
Gray primer and Oxford White paint appeared together in my materials. The photographs preserve the transition from the sanded area to primer and then the white topcoat.
How I used it in my camper van
I sanded around the opening after cutting it with the drill, reciprocating saw and grinder. I applied two primer coats, letting them dry, before applying two paint coats.
This happened before I guided the heater’s connected pipes through the opening. The primer photograph shows the prepared area during that sequence rather than just the finished installation.
The white-painted area after the primer stage.
My review
The primer had a clear place in my process: after sanding and before the white paint. Recording the intermediate stage made it easier to keep the sequence visible in the diary.
The overall job included marking, cutting, drilling, finishing and coating. Having the coating supplies ready was part of moving from metal work to equipment fitting in the same session.
Primer was a distinct stage after sanding, with the white topcoat following it.
Alternative products
Two alternatives to compare
The Rust-Oleum sandable primer and filler primer are two gray aerosol preparation products. The sandable product emphasizes the preparation coat, while the filler product has a filling formulation. Both provide a spray-can format to compare with the gray Dupli-Color primer in my materials.
Rust-Oleum Gray Sandable Primer
This gray automotive primer is supplied in an aerosol can. Its sandable formulation provides a preparation coat for small refinishing jobs.
