Do You Need Primer With Raptor Liner?

You're about to use Raptor Liner to help protect your truck bed. But you're wondering if you should use a primer with that product. We researched this concern for you and came up with the following answer.

You may choose not to apply primer before using Raptor Liner on your truck bed. The product usually adheres to compatible surfaces. Also, you don’t need to reapply primer unless you’re repainting the surface after sanding down to its bare material.

Take note that proper usage also plays a vital role in properly using primer and Raptor Liner. So continue reading as we talk about these solutions in greater detail.

What Primer To Use For Raptor Liner?

Choosing which primer to use with Raptor Liner often depends on your preferences and the project's requirements. But it's often ideal to use a primer from the same brand.

For instance, you may use the Raptor Anti-Corrosive Epoxy Primer if you use the Raptor Liner on a bare aluminum truck bed. Another option is to use the brand’s Acid Etch Primer, which you might find interesting to use for other materials like galvanized steel.

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How To Use Primer With Raptor Liner

Take note that the specific steps to follow may depend on the brand, model, and type of primer you’re about to use. Read the product’s instructions or consult the manufacturer before using it to prevent costly mistakes.

Here are some general guidelines to follow for a primer to adhere to the Raptor Liner:

Follow Safety Guidelines

Following proper safety, protocols can help reduce the risk of accidents and injuries while priming and painting a truck bed. Here are some preventive measures to keep in mind:

• Don’t smoke. Some ingredients mixed with paint and primer might be explosive.
• Wear a respirator. Continuous inhalation of paint and primer fumes for an extended period may irritate your nose, throat, and lungs.
• Place a canvas cloth on the floor of your workspace. Walking on this material can help you avoid slips and falls.
• Avoid plugging multiple devices into one outlet. If you're going to use different power tools, ensure that you plug them into dedicated outlets to avoid overloads and circuit breaker trips.
• Store or dispose of excess paint and primer properly. Don’t leave these products exposed to elements that might otherwise ruin them.

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Remove Rust

Priming over rust generally won’t remove the corrosion. Also, the oxidization may continue underneath the primer layer, resulting in continuous degradation of the material.

Follow these steps if you need help removing rust from your truck bed:

What You’ll Need

• Wheel chocks
• Painter’s tape
• Sandpaper
• Wire brush wheel
• Vacuum cleaner
• Cloth or rag
• Rust remover

Step-By-Step Guide

1. Turn off the truck’s engine and engage its hand, parking, or emergency brake. Chock the wheels if necessary.
2. Apply painter’s tape to areas that you don’t want the rust remover to affect.
3. Rub and wipe relatively light rust with sandpaper.
4. Remove heavy corrosion with a wire brush wheel.
5. Apply fine-grit sandpaper to sand down any leftover rust.
6. Rinse the dirt and debris from the surface.
7. Wipe the material dry, and use a vacuum cleaner to remove any leftover dirt or debris.
8. Apply your choice of rust remover to ensure the removal and prevention of rust on your truck bed.

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Note: You may need to apply automotive body filler on some heavily corroded areas. These locations might have gaps or holes caused by the significant rust buildup.

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Clean The Truck Bed

After the rust-removing solution dries and cures, you may need to clean the truck bed further. There are different ways to go about this task. Here’s a quick cleaning procedure to ensure your truck bed is spotless and ready for the primer:

What You’ll Need

• Push broom
• Garden hose
• High-pressure washer

Step-By-Step Guide

1. Use a push broom to remove loose dirt and debris from the truck bed.
2. Spray the surface with water from a garden hose to help remove leftover dirt and debris. You can use a high-pressure washer if you need it.
3. Leave the truck bed to dry, but ensure it’s not in a place where it can collect additional dirt and debris.

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Apply The Primer

Once you remove the imperfections on your truck bed, it’s time to apply the primer. Again, ensure that you follow the product’s instructions to avoid expensive repair jobs.

Check out this procedure for applying Raptor Epoxy Primer. It will give you an idea of how to prime your truck bed before using Raptor Liner:

What You’ll Need

• Painter’s tape
• Gravity-feed paint spray gun
• Raptor primer
• Sandpaper

Step-By-Step Guide

1. Apply painter’s tape on the parts of your truck and its bed that you don’t want to be painted.
2. Pour the primer into the paint container of a gravity-fed spray gun.
3. Spray primer on the truck bed’s surface.
4. Wait for at least four hours if you need to sand the primer before the Raptor Liner application.

You can also watch this video to gain additional insight into using this product:

What Paint Can I Mix With Raptor Liner?

Aside from using the appropriate primer, you can apply solvent-based paints with Raptor Liner. But Raptor advises paint mixers to avoid mixing binders to achieve the best possible pigment density.

It's also possible to overpaint with paint and Raptor Liner mixture. You can achieve this goal by following these steps:

Step-By-Step Guide

1. Paint with the paint and Raptor Liner mixture while following the manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Allow the mixture to dry for at least 24 hours.
3. Sand down the initial layer with fine-grit sandpaper.
4. Clean and degrease the first layer.
5. Apply the next coat of paint and Raptor Liner mixture.

What Thinner To Use With Raptor Liner?

You may use thinner from the same brand as Raptor Liner to help ensure proper compatibility between the products. But make sure not to thin more than 10% of the applied liner. Otherwise, the result of the lining may not provide optimal benefits for the truck.

Check out this truck bed lining kit with thinner on Amazon.

How Do I Apply Raptor Liner?

Be wary, as proper primer application might not provide optimal results without the correct application of Raptor Liner. Read this section to learn how to apply Raptor Liner properly:

What You’ll Need

• Raptor Liner kit

Step-By-Step Guide

1. Open the liner bottle and pour the hardener into the top of the container’s opening. Make sure not to overfill the hardener.
2. You may pour the mixture into a separate container and thin it to about 10% if preferred. If not, skip this step and continue to the next part of this process.
3. Close the liner bottle and shake the product for about two minutes.
4. Open the bottle again and attach the Raptor Liner applicator gun.
5. Adjust the pressure gauge on the applicator gun to the recommended settings.
6. Spray the mixed Raptor Liner solution onto your truck bed’s surface.
7. Wait for at least 60 minutes before applying the next coat.

Note: The steps above assume that you have finished the necessary preparations. Make sure to complete the initial arrangements before pursuing this task to reduce the risks of costly mishaps.

You can also watch the video below if you need a visual reference for this procedure. The video also shows alternate techniques for mixing the solutions in the Raptor Liner kit to fit your project’s demands.

Final Thoughts

Make sure to check your project's requirements if you need to use a primer with Raptor Liner. Take note that some instances may not require you to prime a truck bed before using Raptor Liner.

Still, you might continue to pursue applying primer if you want peace of mind, knowing that the lining solution adheres to the truck bed’s surface.

If you’re looking for answers to other vehicle-painting concerns, check out these posts:

Why Does My Paint Feel Rough After Waxing?

Do You Need Primer For Engine Enamel?