Scratch-filler primer was one of the products I bought for paint preparation.
The featured Amazon option is Dupli-Color Gray Scratch Filler Primer.
Where it fits my build
I taped the boundaries and covered the areas that would not be painted with plastic sheeting. I then sanded the exposed areas with an orbital sander and 60-grit abrasive, blew away the dust with a compressor, and cleaned and degreased the surfaces.
I mixed clear bedliner with white tint and sprayed the van. After it dried, I removed the masking. The tape and sheeting stage alone took around eight hours, and the finished edges still needed some touch-up.
My van with masking around the exterior areas prepared for coating.The side of the van during the white-bedliner project.
My build notes
The most useful detail in my diary is the result, including the problems. Rust-Oleum pooled and dripped in places, and trying to repair one area with a paintbrush made it worse. I wrote that I would use a foam roller for touch-ups and preferred the more consistent finish I had obtained with RAPTOR.
Masking, preparation and application method each became a substantial part of the exterior-coating job.
Alternative products
Two alternatives to compare
Dupli-Color and the two Rust-Oleum options are aerosol primers. Filler and sandable-primer formats provide different starting points for the next stage of surface finishing.
Rust-Oleum Gray Filler Primer
This gray automotive filler primer comes in an aerosol can. Its filling formulation provides a different primer option for surface-preparation work.
