Metal Primers provide long lasting protection by preventing rust and corrosion, ensuring your metal surfaces stay durable for years. Our premium Metal Primer stops rust before it starts and keeps steelwork looking factory fresh for years. Bringing you the best Metal Primers from brands with over 120 years of British innovation and manufacturing expertise. We’ve done the research so you don’t have to, every Metal Primer in this range is formulated and manufactured in the UK for the UK climate and proven in corrosion tests. Expect rapid cure, low VOC options alongside high build alkyds that grip bare or weathered metal and seal out moisture fast.
Our Rusty Metal Primer and Rust Converter neutralise light to medium corrosion on iron and steel, turning unstable oxides into a sound black film that’s ready for over coating in as little as eight hours. Need heavy duty, choose our high solids Zinc Primer, packed with zinc phosphate for long term, marine grade protection, or our water thinnable acrylic Steel Primer for quick turnaround indoors and in confined spaces. Freshly galvanised handrails or sheets, a one coat T-Wash Mordant Solution Primer etches shiny zinc in minutes, giving topcoats a rock solid key without sanding.
For colour change work, an oil based Metalcote Primer Undercoat blocks stains and levels out rough mill scale, ensuring machinery enamels and chassis paints flow out to a gloss that lasts. All products comply with requirements and are formulated for easy brush, roller or spray application, no specialist kit required.
Our mission is to stock the best UK metal primers, paints and coatings browseThe Best Metal Paintsmoney can buy.
Expert help since 2009, call, email or live chat for coverage figures and prep advice. With fresh UK stock, competitive pricing and next day tracked delivery from Fedex or Dx. Order now and give your metal the long term protection it deserves.
What is the best metal primer you can buy in the UK?
For all-round corrosion resistance on iron and steel, a high-solids Teamac Zinc Phosphate Primer is widely regarded as the best metal primer. It meets ISO 12944 durability classes and can be over-coated with most topcoats.
Can I apply Rust Converter straight onto flaky rust?
Loose rust should be wire-brushed off first. Rust Converter works on sound, firmly-attached corrosion, turning it navy-black within eight hours and ready for a Zinc Primer topcoat.
How do I treat shiny galvanised steel before painting?
Use a T-Wash Mordant Solution Primer. It reacts with fresh zinc within seven days of galvanising, turning the surface grey and giving excellent adhesion for subsequent steel primers and finishes.
Is there a water-based metal primer for indoor projects?
Yes, our acrylic Steel Primer is low-odour, non-flammable and touch-dry in one hour at 20 °C, making it ideal for workshops, schools and food-production areas.
What drying times should I expect with an alkyd Iron Primer?
Traditional oil-based Metalcote Primer Undercoat is surface-dry in two hours and ready to recoat after 12 hours (overnight) at standard UK temperatures.
Do I need a separate rust treatment before using Rusty Metal Primer?
No. Rusty Metal Primer contains active rust-treatment chemicals that convert and seal light corrosion, so you can prime and protect in a single step.
