The Weekend Home Warrior
Bulls Eye!  Repainting Soiled Surfaces

If you ever tried to tackle a painting project where the surface was knotty or soiled, you've probably comes across Bulls Eye -- Zinsser's line of products for priming, sealing, etc.

No?  Then here's a quick run-down:

• Bulls Eye 1-2-3®  is what Zinsser calls 'The Whole House Primer'.  It's a fast-drying, water-thinnable, white-pigmented acrylic latex meant for the undercoat.  It can be used on all types of exterior and interior surfaces, including previously painted or new work.  We used it this summer on some T-111 siding, as well as the interior studs and framing of a sun porch.  It went on easily, and covered even most gummed-up knots in the ceiling/underlayment ply.
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• There's also a Bulls Eye® Wood Sealer, Zinsser's 'Quick Drying Universal Sealer'.  Like the 1-2-3 product, this one is also for use on all types on interior or exterior wood surfaces, and works well as a sealer coat for a smoother finish, or as a pre-stain sealer. It also fills and seals wood pores.
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• Bulls Eye® also makes a Shellac Sealer and Finish.  The product is an alcohol solution of natural resin shellac. It comes in both "Clear" (formerly called "White") and "Amber" (formerly called "Orange"). Both of them dry to transparent films -- the Clear, to an almost colorless state, and the Amber to what its name implies.

Naturally, you'll want your surafces reasonably clean before you begin.  But, if you've never used the 1-2-3, you'll be amazed at what it can seal up and pigment for a final coat or two.

For the techies among you, Zinsser provides some spec sheets on each of the products:

• Bulls Eye 1-2-3® Product Information and Specifications
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• Bulls Eye® Wood Sealer Information Sheet, and
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• Bulls Eye® Shellac product Information Sheet
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Another useful page is Zinsser's  Bulls Eye Bulletin -- a collection of new and archived press releases that contain some useful info ...

A sampling ...

• Tips for Repairing Damaged Drywall
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• Cleaning Dirt and Mildew from Siding
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• Three Easy Steps for Removing Old Wallpaper
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• Tips for Repainting Kitchen Cabinets, and
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• Tips for Painting Paneling.

If that's not enough, you can even find a tip on using Primer to Solve Pet Odor Problems.

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Lou Colasanti, Editor & Laura Wisniewski, Associate Editor
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