DTH

Yes in some cases it is the same as in gallon cans but you will not get the same thickness/protection and shine for sealing the metal that you get through a spay gun unless you put three hundred coats on you still wont get a proper shine. Rattle cans may be ok in a dry climate but up here in the north you'll have rust popping through in about six months.

Just call me Sean

iTrader: (1)

If you have rust in six months you didn't prep the surface right.

DTH

Exactly my point you wont get proper prep with rattle can primer.

Just call me Sean

iTrader: (1)

There are better primers than what you can get in a rattle can, but it still does the job.

DTH

Yea still does the jod but just barely. If you want to use a rattle can your vehicle it's your choice but i wouldn't be caught dead using one on mine. Nuf said.

Oh by the way I'm a journeyman in autobody repair and painting.

Just call me Sean

iTrader: (1)

Throw credentials at me all you want. I just do it freelance style. I know what works out of what I tried. Primer is just temporary protection until final color is on. Primer is porous, it sucks in water. You don't prime and leave it for months, it will rust.

DTH

Thin rattle can coats of paint don't seal primer very well, thats where the rust starts and believe it or not but I've been around this business for thirty plus years.

sdmartin65

I think rattle can works fine to paint a fender or a hood on a couple thousand dollar car. So look at what the OP is wanting to do, camo paint a twenty year old truck. Probably not a paint job you want to spend thousands on, rattle can would be fine.

Just call me Sean

iTrader: (1)

There's those credentials again. I don't just do one coat man, I did two then sanded and did it again. If I were to do a clearcoat that would be another layer. Bottom line, rattle can is the same stuff as gallon cans. It just sprays different. Here's my rattle can truck:



I just washed it, it still looks like that.



The purple is rattle can too.

packplantpath

Like hell you say. You clearly haven't been to my area. Primer only old cars outnumber the real deal!

For a old car like this darn right I'd use rattle can. Perfection is the enemy of good enough and this is a job begging for good enough!