You don't have to shake primer?

[leapinlew]

I was watching a HGTV show and one of their tips was:

To save time, don't bother shaking or stirring primer. Since there is no pigment and color you can pour it directly out of the paint can.

Is that true? I usually stir everything, but if I don't have to stir primer that would save me some time.

[whammoed]

I was watching a HGTV show and one of their tips was:

To save time, don't bother shaking or stirring primer. Since there is no pigment and color you can pour it directly out of the paint can.

Is that true? I usually stir everything, but if I don't have to stir primer that would save me some time.

Sounds like total BS to me.  Primer has suspended solids just like paint that tend to fall out after a while.  You need to stir it all back together occasionally.  Guess sometimes they hire those people for their personality more than their expertise.    Take a look at the directions on your primer can...mine says to stir before and during use.

[2600]

More importantly, How long are you shaking the primer that you are worried about saving that bit of time?

[leapinlew]

More importantly, How long are you shaking the primer that you are worried about saving that bit of time?

It all adds up... Whenever I can find a way to save some time while still getting the same results - I love it.

[whammoed]

I think the best way for me to save time is to stop checking boards like this so often.


bah, see ya in a few...

[TOK]

They also save time by having someone do 99% of the project, then they turn a screw. 
I always shake primers.

I learned the hard way not to get involved with any type of painting when I'm in a hurry. I tried to put on a second coat in a hurry while the first was tacky, and it ended up making me sand and start over from the roller marks in the lower coat.

[Blanka]

To save time, don't bother shaking or stirring primer. Since there is no pigment and color you can pour it directly out of the paint can.

I have my primers pre-coloured.

[Turnarcades]

All kinds of solvents, paints, sprays, treatments etc. should be stirred or shaken toredistribute the contents evenly. Particles of all kinds settle so for even consistency should be properly mixed back in.

[Droler]

Stir or shake, or do like I do, put the can upside down for a day or two before you use it when possible, but not agitating it in some fashion or other is bull****, and probably made the show as some sort of misguided "interesting statement."

This is especially true for darker primer (the dark gray or other colors for darker paint topcoats).

Here's an idea to save time - don't waste it watching DIY or HGTV! 

[rrcade]

If the can says stir, or shake then do it, dont listen to the so called experts on t.v.

[SavannahLion]

Since there is no pigment and color you can pour it directly out of the paint can.

I like how they say there's no pigment.

Apparently, they're using a different dictionary than the rest of us.

[Ed_McCarron]

I prefer mine shaken, not stirred.

[RayB]

If it's oil based, you'll have seperated oil floating on top...

[mscromer]

Just do what it says on the can. I'm sure the manufacturer would know whats best for their product.

[Namco]

Wait, wait, wait.... you mean I'm supposed to shake THE CAN? Wow, you know I kinda figured I was doing something wrong the last time I painted something when I shook the fillings out of my head and passed out   

[Droler]

I typically do the whole project and paint/prime it first then shake whatever it is that I am building (CP, cabinet, whatever).

[ChadTower]

Just do what it says on the can. I'm sure the manufacturer would know whats best for their product.

So I have to mix my primer while sitting on the toilet now?   

[shardian]

Primer is basically watered down base white paint. That statement on the show is pretty stupid. It takes like 1 minute to give the can a good shake. If you are worried about saving 1 minute in a paint job, you don't have time to paint anyways.

[Namco]

Primer is basically watered down base white paint. That statement on the show is pretty stupid. It takes like 1 minute to give the can a good shake. If you are worried about saving 1 minute in a paint job, you don't have time to paint anyways.

The best part of any project is the painting if you take your time. Lay out some drop cloths, shake vigorously, pour a tray of paint, and roll the day away. It's relaxing like a zen garden for me, coat after coat of stress-free painting. Am I weird?

[leapinlew]

Primer is basically watered down base white paint. That statement on the show is pretty stupid. It takes like 1 minute to give the can a good shake. If you are worried about saving 1 minute in a paint job, you don't have time to paint anyways.

How about you cut me some slack, huh? I was asking a question that seemed pretty far out there to see if anyone else could validate this claim. It seems pretty obvious now that the advice they gave was way off base. Nice way to pile on.

I actually shake the paint cans for a few minutes, and if I can save a few minutes here or there without taking a performance hit, I do it.

Besides, I don't know if I agree with

Primer is basically watered down base white paint.

Seems pretty thick to me, and I don't know what kind of stain and odor blocking qualities white paint has.

[u_rebelscum]

There are a lot of different primers; there might be one or two of special brands of primers that don't need to be mixed, even though generally they need to be mixed..  Without seeing the show, and assuming they were advertising a sponsor's special no-shake primer, it might be possible they were telling the truth that, taken out of context, is false. 

Something on the order of adding a few words to what leapinlew posted (added words in brackets):
 "[Brand X Primer....] To save time, don't bother shaking or stirring [this] primer. Since there is no pigment and color [in this primer] you can pour it directly out of the paint can."  Heck, the bracketed words could all be implied, which is why, out of context, the statement isn't true.  (And I don't think leapinlew directly quoted the show in the OP, so maybe the added words were already there?)
 

Of course they could just be full of it.

[Droler]

The best part of any project is the painting if you take your time. Lay out some drop cloths, shake vigorously, pour a tray of paint, and roll the day away. It's relaxing like a zen garden for me, coat after coat of stress-free painting. Am I weird?

Nope - after wrestling with clamps, screws, MDF, glue and sawhorses, painting is the only time you can relax and appreciate the job before it's complete.

[Ian]

I was watching a HGTV show and one of their tips was:

To save time, don't bother shaking or stirring primer. Since there is no pigment and color you can pour it directly out of the paint can.

Is that true? I usually stir everything, but if I don't have to stir primer that would save me some time.

There is no colorant in paint cans until they are mixed...they separate whether or not there is pigments in them.

[shardian]

How about you cut me some slack, huh? I was asking a question that seemed pretty far out there to see if anyone else could validate this claim. It seems pretty obvious now that the advice they gave was way off base. Nice way to pile on.

I actually shake the paint cans for a few minutes, and if I can save a few minutes here or there without taking a performance hit, I do it.

Besides, I don't know if I agree with

Primer is basically watered down base white paint.

Seems pretty thick to me, and I don't know what kind of stain and odor blocking qualities white paint has.

I wasn't meaning any of that towards you, and am sorry that it was interpreted that way. I was mainly venting at how silly the host of the show was. Honestly I don't think anyone in here is criticizing you - it seems it is all aimed at the idiocy of the host.

As to why I said that about primer, it is not literally true, but is the basic theory. Paint has chemicals in  it that aid in forming a durable finish, to resist UV damage, and of course - pigments. Primer has none of these. The main ingredients in primer are chemicals to aide in adhesion. Latex primers really don't have to do much work.

Technically on fresh gyp board, you could seal the gyp with an el-cheapo flat paint from big-lots. Any top coat will stick to flat paint just the same as primer. And to be quite honest, the 'stain blocking' capabilities of primer leave a bit to be desired and don't justify the price.