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I'm getting back into 40k after about 3 years without even looking at it. Bought a can of Skull White and when I sprayed some minis, it came out just pure powder. I'd shaken the can quite a bit, but it was like Dr Rockso's personal fantasy came true all over my minis.

Think I'm done with Citadel sprays. Couple of questions:

1. Should I just strip the primer and try again? If I do paint it, will the paint take away the sandpapery texture?

2. Any suggestions on a replacement primer?

1) No informed answer.
2) I really like P3 spray primer. The Army Painter for colors other than black, white, or gray. For affordable primer that I like: Krylon. I did not like Armory or Duplicolor. (I've been tempted to try Valspar b/c I like their sprays for other projects. Lastly, I keep Reaper brush-on white and black around and love them.

For informed reasoning, the sprays I didn't like were too thick/clumpy/weren't smooth.

 InverseMatrix wrote:
I'm getting back into 40k after about 3 years without even looking at it. Bought a can of Skull White and when I sprayed some minis, it came out just pure powder. I'd shaken the can quite a bit, but it was like Dr Rockso's personal fantasy came true all over my minis.

Think I'm done with Citadel sprays. Couple of questions:

1. Should I just strip the primer and try again? If I do paint it, will the paint take away the sandpapery texture?

2. Any suggestions on a replacement primer?

1. Yes. Strip it and start from scratch. Painting over it will not get rid of the texture. How close were you holding the can when you sprayed? If you hold it too close it can appear to give a powdery coating. Do me a favour and test it at two different distances; see if the consistency changes.

2. No informed decision Skull White has always worked for me, except on very hot days (40+ C) when the paint dries before it hits the mini, or when I have accidently strayed too close with the can.

Good luck!

 M4cr0Dutch wrote:

 InverseMatrix wrote:
I'm getting back into 40k after about 3 years without even looking at it. Bought a can of Skull White and when I sprayed some minis, it came out just pure powder. I'd shaken the can quite a bit, but it was like Dr Rockso's personal fantasy came true all over my minis.

Think I'm done with Citadel sprays. Couple of questions:

1. Should I just strip the primer and try again? If I do paint it, will the paint take away the sandpapery texture?

2. Any suggestions on a replacement primer?

1. Yes. Strip it and start from scratch. Painting over it will not get rid of the texture. How close were you holding the can when you sprayed? If you hold it too close it can appear to give a powdery coating. Do me a favour and test it at two different distances; see if the consistency changes.

2. No informed decision Skull White has always worked for me, except on very hot days (40+ C) when the paint dries before it hits the mini, or when I have accidently strayed too close with the can.

Good luck!

And straight into the green with these dudes, haha. I was about 10 inches away from the minis. It was only about 70 F, but it's very dry where I live. It wasn't powdery, it was straight up powder. It was dry right when it came out and there's powder all over the can. Super weird.

Thanks for the advice!

Skull white is quite often bubbly or powdery. It ruined my ork army! I switched to army painter spray after that and it works a treat

always shake can for 30 seconds
i use Halfords spray black/white/grey never GW crap!

Another +1 to the Halfords stuff - I have been using it for a year or so and it is excellent stuff and well priced. Have had bad experiences with Army Painter sprays clogging so gave up using them.

Army painter sprays all the way for me, they don't clog up if you spray them upside down for a few seconds prior to putting them away.

Ok I've got a can of Citadel Skull waiting to prep my first army, is it notorious for this problem to happen all the time?

I use Rustoleum flat black spray. It's a plastic primer as well. Works a charm. I'm sure they have a flat white too.

 InverseMatrix wrote:


And straight into the green with these dudes, haha. I was about 10 inches away from the minis. It was only about 70 F, but it's very dry where I live. It wasn't powdery, it was straight up powder. It was dry right when it came out and there's powder all over the can. Super weird.

Thanks for the advice!

Ahhhh well, at least it is an easy fix

You're right, 10 inches should be fine. The whole situation is very weird.

To be honest, I only use white primer for my Deathwing Terminators, so I have only ever had to buy two cans. They may have been the only two good cans in existence Good luck finding a replacement.

Cheers!

My last can of Chaos Black had some nozzle issues that resulted in a lot of wasted paint but the "on mini" results were perfect. That's been my experience with the Skull White spray as well (minus the nozzle issues). I used to use Armory primers almost exclusively but the more recent formulation doesn't leave a smooth finish. I used the Army Painter stuff when I could get it but my LGS only stocks the GW stuff. Other than the price I'm very happy with it though.