In a fabrication shop, primer that takes hours to dry holds up the whole line. Prestige Epoxy Primer is surface dry in about 4 minutes, so steel can be handled, turned and stacked sooner, and it arrives on site with the primer still intact.
Short answer: Fabricators and welding shops use Prestige Epoxy Primer because it speeds up the job and protects the steel through handling and transport. It is a 1-pack epoxy primer, so there is no mixing and no pot life. It bonds directly to properly prepared steel without a separate metal primer or wash coat, reaches surface dry in about 4 minutes and full cure in 24 hours, and its hard film has superior abrasion and impact resistance. That means less waiting between coats, fewer scratches from stacking and loading, and fewer touch-ups on site.
Why does primer slow down a fabrication shop?
Most fabrication shops run out of floor space before they run out of work. When freshly primed gates, frames, trusses or brackets have to sit for hours before anyone can touch them, the shop floor fills up, welders wait, and delivery dates slip. Three problems come up again and again:
- Long drying times. Slow primers stay tacky for hours, so items cannot be turned to prime the other side or moved out of the way.
- Damage during handling. Soft primer gets scraped by chains, slings, forklifts and other steel when items are stacked and loaded.
- Touch-ups on site. Every scratch from the yard and the truck becomes a rust point, and the customer calls the fabricator back to fix it.
What makes Prestige suit fabrication work?
| Shop need | What Prestige offers |
|---|---|
| Quick handling | Surface dry in about 4 minutes at normal ambient conditions |
| No mixing errors | 1-pack (1K) epoxy: no hardener, no pot life |
| Fewer products to stock | DM (Direct to Metal) Technology bonds straight to prepared steel, with no separate metal primer or wash coat |
| Survives the yard and the truck | Superior abrasion, impact and mechanical durability |
| Ready for the next coat the same day | Minimum 6 hours recoat interval |
| Back in service fast | Full cure in 24 hours |
| Shop and site exposure | Rated for interior and exterior use, with a corrosion guard built for humidity and coastal air |
| Colour choice | Grey and black |
Times are at normal ambient conditions. Low temperature, high humidity and heavy film build extend drying and recoat times.
Direct to Metal epoxy primer with superior abrasion and impact resistance. Surface dry in about 4 minutes, recoat after 6 hours, full cure in 24 hours.
Grey & Black · 500 ml to 20 LView Prestige →How should a fabrication shop prime steel with Prestige?
- Finish all welding and grinding first. Grind spatter and sharp edges smooth; paint pulls thin over sharp edges.
- Prepare the steel. Remove mill scale, rust and loose material by blasting, power tool cleaning, wire brushing or sanding. Mill scale and loose rust left under a primer will lift the whole system later.
- Degrease. Wipe off oil, cutting fluid and grease with a suitable solvent or degreaser.
- Stir and thin. Stir thoroughly. Thin 0 to 5% with the recommended thinner for brush or roller, or about 5% for spray. Use thinned material within 24 hours.
- Stripe coat the weak points. Brush an extra coat onto welds, edges, corners and bolt holes before each full coat.
- Apply the first full coat. Surface dry comes in about 4 minutes, so items can be handled carefully and turned to prime the other side.
- Build to two or three coats, at least 6 hours apart. Use three coats for steel going to coastal or industrial sites.
- Let it cure before heavy handling. Full cure takes 24 hours; plan loading for the next day where possible.
Work in a well-ventilated area. Epoxy primers are flammable, so keep the painting area away from welding, grinding sparks, heat and open flame.
How do you protect primed steel in the yard and in transport?
- Stack on timber bearers or spacers, never directly on other painted steel or on the ground.
- Use soft slings or padded chains on primed members where possible.
- Keep stacked steel off wet ground and cover it during rain, especially in the first 24 hours.
- Send a small tin to site. A 500 ml or 1 L pack lets the erection team touch up bolt connections, site welds and any transport damage straight away.
- Agree touch-up responsibility with the customer before delivery, so small chips are fixed before they become rust spots.
For the full process on structural work, see our steel paint guide for trusses and sheds, and for gates and grilles, our metal paint guide.
Which pack size suits a fabrication shop?
| Pack | Best for |
|---|---|
| 500 ml | Site touch-up kits, small brackets and repairs |
| 1 L | Single gates, grilles and small batches |
| 4 L | Daily shop use, staircases, frames and medium batches |
| 20 L | Structural steel, trusses and high-volume fabrication |
Prestige comes in grey and black. Grey makes missed spots easy to see and suits light topcoats; black suits dark finishes. See grey or black epoxy primer.
For lighter, budget-sensitive work where speed matters less, some shops also keep Pride, Turbolux’s budget epoxy primer for metal. Our Prestige vs Pride guide compares the two.
A budget-friendly epoxy primer for gates, grilles and fabricated steel. Covers 6 to 8 m² per litre on the first coat and dries to a hard, smooth gloss.
Grey & Black · Budget-friendlyView Pride →Frequently asked questions
How fast does Prestige Epoxy Primer dry?
Surface dry in about 4 minutes, ready to recoat after a minimum of 6 hours, and fully cured in 24 hours at normal ambient conditions. Cold, humid weather and thick coats take longer.
Do I need a separate metal primer under Prestige?
No. Prestige uses DM (Direct to Metal) Technology and bonds straight to properly prepared steel, with no separate metal primer or wash coat.
Can primed steel be stacked straight away?
Handle carefully once surface dry, but stack on spacers and avoid heavy loading until the primer has fully cured after 24 hours.
Can Prestige be sprayed in a fabrication shop?
Yes. Brush and roller are the primary methods, and it can be sprayed at about 5% dilution with the recommended thinner.
How many coats should fabricated steel get?
Two to three coats, at least 6 hours apart, with a brushed stripe coat on welds and edges. Use three coats for coastal and industrial sites.
Speed up your shop floor
Ask your nearest Turbolux dealer for Prestige Epoxy Primer in grey or black.
Find a Turbolux dealer →90728 26662 · [email protected] · Happy walls in just a stroke.
