Maintaining Primed Paint?? (flat black)

[Twinkie]

Hey all, Ive tried searching but cant seem to find an answere...sorry if this was already covered...

Ive been thinking of doing body work on my car and priming it flat black myself before i take it to the paint shop. but i wouldnt be taking it to the paint shop anytime soon after i prime it. so.....

for you guys who have flat black prime, how do you deal with the annoying scratch marks ont he flat color (if scratch marks do ever appear)?? I would imagine since the primer is flat colored, a lot of marks would occur if things get rubbed up againts it like fingernails or your zipper on a sweater while your working under the hood (againts fenders and what not).
Also, will the prime be ruined in the rain/water during wintertime or the scortching hot sun in the summer time? Do you guys wash your car regularly with the black prime? if so, how do you wash it?

thanks guys.

[crioten]

um, just buy another can and re spray the messed up area, simple as that... just be careful and know how to spray paint... believe it or not everyone thinks they're a pro, but actually have no idea how to (reading the can helps too lol)

from what ive heard, you cant really wash primer like you would wash a reglar paint job, rather you have to use something like gasoline...

but im not 100% sure on that last part, anyone?

[The ROMAN]

I have a flat black car, well it's more like satin black but whatever. It's been like that for the better part of a year and it holds up pretty well. I've been washing it with normal soap and water, though I think it might be getting lighter. And it does get scratched pretty easily, most of mine are from cones though, just rubbing against it doesn't really scratch it. I couldn't really respray one area though, cause of the fading of the paint, but it's sooooo easy and cheap to do a good paint job with primer that I might just paint it again later in the year

[SirWarrior]

ok, primer is not a top coat.
its course to touch and is made for one purpose, to be the layer between the paint and metal.
it is pourous (sp) so it will allow water to get to metal and cause rust.
the color and clear are used to seal the metal.
it might not matter if your car is already painted, you can prime it again, it will be ok (won't rust)
but if you got a new piece of metal, got to paint it.

You should consider getting matte black paintjob if you want to go that route. Its easy and cheap, not as cheap as spray cans, but still cheap.