When it comes to achieving a flawless paint job, the right primer can make all the difference. But with the cost of Zinsser Bin on the rise, I'm seeking cheaper alternatives without sacrificing quality! Both offer excellent stain-blocking properties and adhesion, but which one should you choose for your project? In this blog, I'll compare these two primers in detail to help you make an informed decision on which shellac primer is better.
Zinsser Bin Shellac
I have been using Zinsser Bin Shellac based white primer for years! But the cost really hurts my wallet and furniture profits at times. Just a few years ago this product cost roughly $48 for a gallon. Now, you'll find it marked up to $75-$80 depending on the hardware store. Quite an increase. BUT I've been paying it because I know it WORKS!
It has amazing stain & smell blocking capabilities.
It dries fast. To touch 20 mins, recoat 45 minutes!
It also sprays through my sprayer beautifully!
It sands easily to a smooth finish.
It has amazing bonding properties, adhering to glossy or slick surfaces.
Cuts down on coats for light colors.
CONS
Stinky
Clean up is time consuming
Price is outrageous
Doesn't clean off skin well
Clumps easily, has to be stirred for a long time before use
But I'm a little tired of paying the price so I sought out to find a comparable alternative!
CUE SHERWIN WILLIAMS SHELLAC BASED WHITE PRIMER
I went to my local Sherwin Williams store to purchase some paint for my next furniture project and while they were mixing it up, I took a gander at the other supplies they offered. I saw this can of shellac primer on the shelf and decided to ask the guy at the counter if it was comparable to Zinsser Bin. He proceeded to tell me that he has had multiple people switch over to theirs from Zinsser and that he has received great feedback on it. Me, still being skeptical, said I wasn't sure I wanted to pay the price to find out I don't like it. He offered me a FREE gallon to try! That right there is another reason I've been enjoying going to Sherwin Williams for supplies, over Home Depot, the personal customer service. AND they know who you are!
I finally got a chance to use this over the weekend so here's how, I feel, it compares to Zinsser Bin Shellac.
Keep in mind, I spray with a paint sprayer so my results are based off that application process only. Get my sprayer here WAGNER CONTROL SPRAY MAX *Affiliate link
Sprays BEAUTIFULLY, I liked how smooth it came out of the spray gun VS Zinsser can sometimes come out sputtering & leave clumps splattered on my pieces that I have to spend time sanding down.
Drys fast. Drys to the touch in 15 mins. Zinsser dries to the touch in 20 minutes.
Recoat time is 45 mins same as Zinsser.
Adhered better to my piece than Zinsser!! I used this on a big armoire, there were so many places I had to hand sand and the surface was very slick. I didn't feel my hand sanding was doing the best job, but decided to spray this anyway to see how it preformed. After it dried (45 mins), I scratched with my finger nail, all the places I hand sanded to see if it would come off easily. IT DIDN'T BUDGE!
Sanded Smooth. Zinsser also sands very easily and to a smooth finish. With Zinsser, It sands almost back to bare wood with just hand sanding it smooth though. I used my sander with 220 grit sandpaper to sand the Sherwin Williams primer smooth and I couldn't believe it didn't come off!
Even the paint didn't budge after my first coat! Once my first coat of paint dried I immediately scratched with my finger nail and the paint adhered to the primer so well, it didn't budge either! I've had my paint scratch off of Zinsser Bin every now and then, but not every time.
Blocked stains with one coat. Now, I only used this on one piece so far and it was oak veneer. There were grease stains where the ball bearing sliders were and I was afraid it wouldn't adhere there or that the grease would pop through, but it didn't!
I also noticed that it washes off my hands WAY easier than Zinsser. I just used soap and water and most of it came off immediately. I washed my hands probably 30 mins after. With Zinsser it takes some heavy duty scraping to remove from your skin and nails.
PRICE is WAY better, but you have to have a PRO account with Sherwin Williams to get the deal year round. To create a PRO account, it is free, just give them your business name. You can also use a friends PRO account as well if you don't want to make one. OR Sherwin Williams runs Sales constantly during the summer and you can get it 30-40% off if you want to wait for a sale instead of creating a PRO account.
Gallon Pricing:
Regular Price: $81.99
Sale Price: $49.20-$57.39 (40%-30% off)
Pro Price: $52.89 VS Zinsser: $74.98
Now for the CONS, because it can't all be good right?
The smell I felt was a little stinkier than Zinsser. It hung around in the air longer. Although they both have the same VOC content, which is HIGH. So please use proper PPE and ventilation when using either product.
Once I sprayed it, it was pretty coarse feeling on my piece. Whereas Zinsser is pretty smooth after spraying with a few rough spots here and there. But that was easily taken care of with my sander. SO not a deal breaker by any means.
Clean up. Both require Ammonia or Denatured Alcohol to clean it. Pretty annoying lol but neither one is easier to clean than the other.
Not widely available. Only can be purchased at a Sherwin Williams Store. Zinsser Bin can be found at most hardware stores.
Clumps in the can. Stirring before use is required, just like Zinsser.
Conclusion
I'm 100% sure I found a great alternative to Zinsser Bin Shellac based primer!! It preforms the same with a few more PROS than Zinsser. The price being the main PRO! I like to save money where I can and I love helping you all save money as well! Ultimately, it could come down to personal preference, specific project needs, and availability when making your choice. If you have a Sherwin Williams near you, consider giving their Shellac primer a try!
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