I am a body shop manager, so my background is know here is my opinion, an every one has them. you can use same Acid primer between work, is can be left on for a week as most then feathered out and re primed with some stuff out of a gun, you can even go as so far to get some Slick sand or Rust fender, these are primers that fill out, mean the expand. Very good stuff for novice. Mike

It sounds to me like you need an epoxy primer. You could get 2 sprayable gallons of Kirker(lower end but still good stuff) for about $80 shipped. Another trick is if you have a cheap lacquer primer, mix in a little paint on your final primer coat. This will help to seal the primer as primer itself is not a moisture barrier. Epoxy is ideal. I have also had good luck using a metal conditioner such as the one offered by Dupont. It is essentially just phosphoric acid. It will provide some protection to the metal for a short period.
Grant

Do NOT use anything Lacquer... lacquer was removed from the auto industry years and years ago and the new paint ar in no way compatable... you will have some seriously bad issues if you do.

I going to go out on a lim and say that what the above advice is based on experiances from BEFORE Lacquer was phased out :?

i used a rattle can on the hood of my blazer

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Underhood is ok for that inmy book, I to am gulity for that but not on outside trim or panels.

How about something like...

http://www.picklex20.com/

ok heres my take. you can use spray can primers for and olny for a tep covering of bare metal, as long as you wash it off before you do the final priming

Yea, It will be quite a while before I have all the metal work done. I will be doing it a little here and a little there. I may just need to go really light using a good spray can and then when I'm ready, go back over and do it with a good quality spray gun.

Hmmmm... looks like PeterG knows his stuff! I spent 5 years in a streetrodder'* garage building cars so I spent alot of time around laqcuer. I tried to convince the guy(once I learned myself) that laqcuer was a far inferior paint and that he should be using a BC/CC urethane or at the very least a SS urethane and epoxy primer. I read where lowrider posted: Correct me if I am wrong but this paint is Duplicolor and is laqcuer. I know becuase the streetrodder I was working with used it. You can't find laqcuer paint in very many places(though you can still find it) but you can still buy laqcuer primer. My suggestion to him was that if he were to use the said laqcuer primer, he would have moisture problems unless he mixed a bit of paint into the last coat. And yes, you are absolutely correct about laqcuer having reactions with other paint. It will not lift a cured urethane but it will lift an enamel in a hurry. So, yes, laqcuer primer is still available OTC but no, you shouldn't use it. I do not want to be misunderstood in my advice so I will finish off by saying that I recommend you use an epoxy primer for your base, a 2k high build on top of that if you have bodywork, and a urethane topcoat(either SS or BC/CC).
Grant

EDIT: Yes, this is the best stuff available from what I've read. I have not personally used it but it is highly recommended. I use Dupont'* 5717S Metal Conditioner and combined with a scuff pad, it easily removes light surface rust and treats bare metal. If you decide to use either of these products you cannot use an etch primer on top of it so keep that in mind. I would use one of these products on the bare metal and follow it with an epoxy primer. I have had good results with this method. Good luck.

I did exactly what you are talking about. Fixed the car in my garage little by little. When I had done all that I could do, I took it to the body shop. & they finished it. Nothing wrong with spray can primer, anyways it will get sanded & covered with the good stuff. The important thing is that you do a good job, dont leave any rust under there & if you touch the bear metal with your hands clean it before you spray it. You dont want nothing coming out after you payed for painting. & remember the spray primer is only to protect the area you fixed while the car sits in your garage.