Which automotive primer to use?

I have been very happy with duplicolor sandable primer. It sprays on nice and flat and even though it’s a filling primer, I find it holds even the finest surface details and dries super fast. It comes in white, hot rod grey, black and red oxide in 12oz cans and I pay around $7 and it lasts a really long time with light coats. I have used white and black on my last 4 builds with both acrylic and laquer top coats.

I'll second WalMart's house brand, whatever it may be called at the moment-the label has changed a couple of times, but it seems to be the same paint.

I still use Tamiya's fine surface primer, because it is is just that-a fine surface primer.  It produces a finely-granulated surface for paint to adhere to.  The automotive primer is a tad rougher, as applied.  Of course, it can be buffed or sanded, too.  But I have occasion to use one over the other, so I have both in my paint cabinet.

Whatever primer you get in an auto parts store.

I say that because it is getting to be a bit harder to find good metal primers.  Seems to be that stores that have paints seem to be specializing more.  I find many hardware stores are selling paints that need no primer for wood or plastic.  Seems like the general public must not be painting metal items as much any more.  Most paints and primers that I find in auto parts stores are intended to paint metal.  But I see fewer and fewer of the old auto paint brands.

 

Wal Mart. White, Grey, black. $2.00 each big can. Tamiya white primer is better but more expensive.