The 7 Best SEM Aluminum primers (2023 reviews)
We consider a sem aluminum primer to be a worthy investment in the long run.
We are here to help you choose the right one for your purposes from all the best available products in market today.
Our review process:
Our Top Picks:
Best Overall: Buy: SEM etch Primer READ REVIEWBest For Steel wheel: Buy: SEM Bare Metal READ REVIEWBest For Bare Metal: Buy: SEM Best Primer READ REVIEWBest For vehicle: Buy: SEM Great Primer READ REVIEWBest For car: Buy: SEM self etching Primer READ REVIEWBest For plastic: Buy: SEM Aluminum Primer READ REVIEWBest For stainless Steel: Buy: SEM Aluminum Primer READ REVIEWBest Overall: SEM etch Primer
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If you want nothing but the best long-standing primer, then this is the one you should definitely consider, as it manages to bring a lot to the table. This is an amazing primer for bare metal. It is made for body work if you sand through to bare metal and don't have any epoxy primer, or to dust bare clean metal before primer surfacer. It has the harshest conditions, bonds to the metal well, and leaves a nice, durable, matte gray finish. This will ensure that the paint penetrates the aluminum surface.
This is to be applied over bare metal. It will tell you the temperature range. The primer works, but the spray pattern + consistency makes it much easier to use. It really does allow spray paint to adhere nicely.Why We Like This:
- Allows the topcoat to level and flow to bring out the gloss
- Really adheres well to the metal barrettes
- New and hot release
Best For Steel wheel: SEM Bare Metal
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The sem bare metal's material feels more premium than its price would suggest. This self-etching primer requires a top coat. It is great in combination with rust-oleum hammered finish spray paint. It is a first-step coating that provides excellent adhesion to bare substrates. It lays flat, sprays evenly and will make the top coat application a breeze.
The primer dries quickly (three thin coats five to ten minutes apart are recommended) and can have the color coats applied after only an hour or so. It's also a good sealer base to spray sandable filler primer under. The paint will dry faster at higher temperatures.Why We Like This:
- Self-etching in of no use on anything other than metal
- Clean flow, very good coverage, and made for perfect preparation for paint
- Goes on nice, looks good as a flat finish
Best For Bare Metal: SEM Best Primer
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Compared with other products by Sem, the sem best primer has a convenient design. The SEM 42013 High Build Primer Surfacer provides superior adhesion, film build and flexibility when priming automotive metal, aluminum, urethane, plastic and other similar substrates. It does build high and spray really nice. It will adhere to most anything that's a cleaned and sanded finish. This stuff is good to use before you put your color coat on.
The High-Build Primer Surfacer is a flexible acrylic coating for priming steel, aluminum, urethane, fiberglass and plastics. It is good as finished matte paint. There is a ton of solids in this one. This will work with the urethane base coat.Why We Like This:
- Great for auto body work when you need to do
- Works like a champ for filling scratches and creating transitions
- Will not peel/crack or react to any paint like other rattle can primers
Best For vehicle: SEM Great Primer
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If your looking for a build primer that’s white-this is as good as it gets. The High-build primer surfacer is an elastomeric acrylic coating for priming automotive metal, aluminum, urethane, and plastics. It is great for 3D printed parts, so much better than auto parts store brands.
This primer does very well and can be covered in 2 part base and clear with no neg reaction but it is a primer. The primer builds enough thickness to nicely fill in minor scratches / chips. It isn't necessarily a filler but the finish on it after sanding is great. It is a very close match to 2K primer without the fuss of a spray rig to apply. It’s definitely a high build primer and sounds easy and you’ll have to put a sealer over it.Why We Like This:
- Fast drying and sands out nice
- Great high build, easily sanded primer
- Dries fast and hard and sands great
Best For car: SEM self etching Primer
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The sem self etching primer's material feels more premium than its price would suggest. This is a self etching primer that goes on bare metal and not a filler primer. It is very thin as it is and is ready to spray right out of the can. If you attempt to apply with a brush outside in the sun, it almost dries as you stroke it on. This is the primer to use if you are painting cast aluminum.
This is ready to go out of the can and works perfectly for metal where you need a self etching primer. It works excellent on Aluminum. It is nicer to look at brown rust. This paint dries REALLY FAST.Why We Like This:
- Whips through corrosion and rust, preps bare steel for painting
- One of the new comers and featured product
Best For plastic: SEM Aluminum Primer
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We know from years of feedback from readers, customers and amazon sellers, what most people want in a convenient and appropriate primer. The product is exactly that - it's a simple product that hits all the right notes. Why We Like This:
- Works on automotive metal, aluminum, urethane and plastic
- One of the new comers and featured product
Best For stainless Steel: SEM Aluminum Primer
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The sem aluminum primer's superior materials makes sure that it ages well with use. Why We Like This:
- Adhesion to bare metal is excellent
- Good investment for long term
