Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 is a water-based all surface, all-purpose primer, sealer & stainkiller. It is also particularly effective as an adhesion promoting primer for hard-to-stick surfaces even without sanding.
Interior and exterior
Available in 3,000+ colours, inc. RAL, RAL Design, BS, NCS & the new NCS 2050 colours
Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 is an all-surface, all-purpose, water-based primer for maintenance and decoration projects that require a stain-blocker and mould-resistant coating in one. Get great adhesion to glossy surfaces, ferrous metal substrates, glass, and previously varnished woods without the need to sand or de-gloss previous coatings. And, Bulls Eye 1-2-3 is recoatable after just one hour – making it ideal for most workplace maintenance and repair tasks.
Every maintenance and project manager should have Bulls Eye 1-2-3 to hand to; cover ink and water stains quickly; hide offensive graffiti and marker pens on walls with one coating; get rid of nicotine, smoke stains and smoke damage, whilst also covering nasty, stagnant odours; bind chalky exterior surfaces, like aluminium, vinyl, or previously painted and decorated siding or trims; protection of surfaces from blistering, peeling, cracking or chipping, and keeping the topcoat looking great for years ahead; sealing porous surfaces and delivering a rust-inhibitive coating to iron railings, steel doors, metal panels, piping, and galvanised guttering.
Adheres to glossy surfaces without pre-sanding or deglossing
Rust inhibitive coating
Resists mould and mildew on primer film
High pH resistance (up to 12.5)
Seals common graffiti stains
Excellent enamel undercoat
Compatible with oil or latex topcoats
Clean up with soapy water
Product Specification
Technical Data
Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3
Volume Solids:
34.0%
Density:
1.8kg / litre
Gloss:
@ 60° / 3-day cure 23% (satin)
Enamel Holdout:
1.0% gloss change
Viscosity Range:
100 – 110 KU
Theoretical Coverage Rate:
10m² per litre. Coverage may vary with surface porosity
Flame Spread:
(ASTM-84-97A) 5, Class 1
Smoke Contribution:
(ASTM-84-97A) 0, Class 1
VOC:
Less than 30g / litre
Flash Point:
82°C
Limitations:
Not intended for blocking heavy water stains or for application to floors, decks, roof surfaces or any surface subject to immersion or prolonged contact with water.
Shelf Life:
2 years in unopened containers
Recommended Uses
Apply to interior and exterior – walls, ceilings, doors, trim, fascia, soffits, foundations, railings, and related paintable surfaces.
Bulls Eye 1-2-3® bonds to wood, plaster, concrete, gloss enamels, hardboard, glass and tile. Provides a rust inhibitive coating on iron railings, steel frames, piping, etc
Resists the growth of mould and mildew on primer film in damp, humid environments
Resistant to high pH surfaces (up to 12.5) including plaster, poured concrete, concrete block, stucco and ‘hot’ joint / texture compounds
Seals porous surfaces and traps most stains in the primer film – graffiti, grease, rust, cedar and redwood tannin, creosote, and asphalt stains. Some stains may require a second coat
Interior Substrates– New or previously painted drywall, cured plaster, cement, poured concrete, concrete block, stucco, wood (pine, fir, birch, oak and plywood), aluminium, iron, steel and galvanised metal, PVC, glossy laminates and other interior surfaces
Exterior Substrates
Recommended for all types of wood
New or previously painted pine, fir, cedar, redwood, plywood, T-111, and pressure treated wood
Hardboard
Metal (aluminium, steel, iron, and galvanised metal),
PVC
Fibreglass
Masonry (stucco, concrete block, poured concrete and brick)
Rust inhibitive– Dries to a tight, water resistant film that inhibits development and spread of rust on meta
Mould and Mildew Resistance
Resists the growth of mould and mildew on the primer film. High pH Resistance – Can be applied to high pH surfaces (up to 12.5) without bubbling, lifting, or degrading due to high alkalinity making it an ideal primer for concrete, stucco, plaster, and fast setting joint / texture compounds
Glossy Surfaces
Adheres to glossy enamel paints and clear finishes, Formica®, Masonite®, PVC, fibreglass, vinyl – even ceramic tile – without pre-sanding or surface deglossing.
Cedar and Redwood Bleed
Traps tannins in the primer film to prevent them from ‘bleeding’ into the finish coat. For best results, allow to dry overnight before applying topcoat. Very porous woods may require two coats before topcoat
Chalky Siding
Contains chalk-binding resins for use on moderately chalked aluminium or previously painted siding and trim
Drying Times
Drying Time (24°C / 50% RH)
Dry to Touch
Dry to Recoat
Stain Sealing
Full Scrape Cure
35 Minutes
1 Hour
2 Hours / Tannin 24 Hours
7 Days
At normal temperatures Bulls Eye® 1-2-3 will dry to touch in 30 minutes and can be recoated after one hour
Topcoat within 30 days
Lower temperatures, higher humidity, and the addition of tint will prolong dry and cure time of the product
Full adhesion and hardness develop in 7 days
Surface Preparation
Surfaces should be clean, dry, sound, and free of dust, dirt, excessive chalky material, grime, grease, oil, wax, mould, wallpaper adhesive or any contamination that may interfere with adhesion. If unsure, always wash surface with a household cleaner, appropriate cleaning solution, or solvent
Clean new galvanised with methylated spirit
Remove any unsoundly adhered coatings
Sand any remaining paint film edges smooth with the surface
New plaster which is polished or dusty should be sealed with Zinsser Gardz®.
Lightly sand exposed exterior wood with 80 to 100 grit sandpaper to remove loose or weathered wood fibres
When priming over stained areas, first attempt to remove as much of the stain as possible by washing, sanding, scraping, etc.
Wire brush rusty areas. Spot prime knots and sap streaks with Zinsser B-I-N® Primer-Sealer
Warning: If you scrape, sand, or remove old paint, you may release lead dust
Special precautions should be taken during the surface preparation of pre 1960’s paint surfaces over wood and metal as they may contain harmful lead. When dry sanding avoid dust inhalation by wearing a suitable protective face mask.
Application Methods
Product Information
General:
Shake or stir before using.
Application:
Synthetic bristle brush, roller, or pad
Thinning:
If thinning is required add no more than 78ml clean water per litre and apply a second coat of primer.
Tinting:
Bulls Eye® 1-2-3 can be tinted with up to 16ml of universal tinter per litre. Tinting the primer toward the colour of the topcoat helps it hide in one coat. For mid-tone to deep colours use Bulls Eye® 1-2-3 Deep Tint.
Application Temperature:
10°– 32°C
Relative Humidity:
10% - 85%
Substrate Moisture:
12% max moisture content
Application: Ready to use - no dilution necessary. In most cases only one coat is necessary. Porous surfaces may require two coats to properly seal. Prime entire surface for best results
Thinning: If thinning is necessary add no more than 10 % clean water and stir thoroughly. Note that thinning the primer may affect its stain blocking properties
Clean up: Clean application tools with warm water and liquid detergent or household cleaner. Work solution into bristles/nap and rinse well. If Bulls Eye® 1-2-3 dries, use Zinsser BIN Brush Cleaner to remove dried paint on brushes
Disposal: Dispose of unused or unwanted product in accordance with local laws regulating water-based coatings
Health & Safety
Refer to the safety data sheet in the attachments section above for further details
Customer agrees that before placing an Order, Customer has read and understood the most up to date Product Data Sheet for the Product. Where we have access to the Product Data Sheet from the manufacturer, we will either provide a copy on request, or include a link to the Product Data Sheet available on the manufacturer’s website. Customer further agrees that we have no liability for any errors or omissions contained within the Product Data Sheets. For more information, please see our Terms & Conditions of Sale.
Is this any good for powder coated up and over garage doors, the doors are galvanised under the powder coating? The manufacturer recommends 2 pack primer?
Answer from Rawlins’ Technical Team:
Assuming the doors are polyester powder coated, they are clean, dry, sound and prepared as detailed in the technical data sheet this could be used as primer below a single pack topcoat such as Zinsser Allcoat Exterior Water Based.
This topcoat can be mixed to many RAL, NCS or BS colours in a matt, satin or gloss option.
Felicity on 2021-12-01 13:14:54
Question:
I have already bought this bullseye 123 and want to use it to prime a UPVC front door. Is this sufficient or do I need 123 Plus? Thanks
Answer from Rawlins’ Technical Team:
Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 can be used to prime a prepared upvc surface before application of a suitable topcoat.
Britt on 2021-07-10 16:12:10
Question:
I want to paint my polished stone mantle and glazed ceramic hearth. I am looking for a primer that I could use that would be suitable that doesn’t need a specific paint over top.
Answer from Rawlins’ Technical Team:
Thank you for the enquiry, unfortunately we do not have a product to recommend for this application.
Shahid gouri on 2021-07-05 14:38:06
Question:
Hi,i m shahd i wanted to know if ur product is suitable for glass bangles spraying. In short we want to spray it on glass bangles mixing it with fluroscent colours...and if ur product is available in india..thank you
Answer from Rawlins’ Technical Team:
No, unfortunately we do not have a product to recommend for this application and currently we do not ship to India.
dave barron on 2021-04-18 19:23:46
Question:
can you please confirm if this product be applied direct to external lead work look forward to hearing from you
Answer from Rawlins’ Technical Team:
Assuming the external lead work is clean, dry, sound and prepared as detailed in the Technical Data sheet it can be applied to lead.
Robert on 2019-11-17 18:14:20
Question:
Can you tell me how to clean brushes after use please
Answer from Rawlins’ Technical Team:
Clean application tools with warm water and liquid detergent or household cleaner. Work solution into bristles/nap and rinse well. If Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 dries, use Zinsser Brush Cleaner & Restorer to remove dried paint on brushes.
Alex Overy on 2019-10-14 12:58:15
Question:
Im looking at painting some garden fences and decking grey. They are currently dark brown would the grey cover the previous colour?
I need to paint over some high gloss cream paint on wood furniture with a brilliant white dulux satinwood (water based) Will Zinsser 123 be suitable as an undercoat? I am trying to avoid having to sand all the furniture.
Answer from Rawlins’ Technical Team:
Zinsser B-I-N would have better adhesion, clean the surfaces to paint with Zinsser Universal Degreaser & Cleaner followed by a wipe over with a damp cloth to remove any residue of the cleaner then apply a coat of Zinsser B-I-N.
Sally Tyler on 2018-08-10 06:24:47
Question:
I have an old stone house that has been neglected for 5 years and rainwater has seeped under the floor to be sucked up by thick interior walls. The ingress of water has been stopped but time is needed for the walls to dry out completely. Even months of >30 deg days has not completely dried the walls.(this is in south of France) I have removed the ancient damp wallpaper to reveal awful dark mish mash of blacks and grey paint on the smooth finished stone surface. I want to paint over it while it dries, before repapering. Can I use acrylic emulsion? Would that allow the water in the wall to eventually evaporate?
Answer from Rawlins’ Technical Team:
There is no simple solution for this job. Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 would not be suitable. Something like Zinsser Watertite can be applied to a damp surfaces however this will seal in residual moisture, it will not allow the wall to dry out, but you can wallpaper over the Watertite at a later date. Zinsser Grade 1 is a breathable stain block primer and finish all in one. If the moisture content of the walls is 12% or less Grade 1 will hold back stains and allow the walls to breathe. It can be mixed to a wide range of pastel to medium shade colours and therefore can be left as the final finish coat or you can wallpaper over the product if required.
David on 2017-02-24 21:34:50
Question: I need a paint that can seal new plastered wall around an inset stove. The wall heats up to about 70C.
I want to paint cherry wood kitchen doors. Do I rub down doors before I apply Zinnser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Plus? I was going to use Chalk paint in an ivory cream colour on top of this so should I purchase your white colour as a base?
Answer from Rawlins’ Technical Team:
Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Plus does not require surfaces to be sanded prior to application only for them to be clean and dry, but if you wish to lightly sand the surfaces this would only help adhesion. Yes, white would be a good choice as a base for your chalk paint.
Angela on 2015-06-25 14:30:43
Question:
Hello. We have a classic gloss finished mahogany fireplace surround which we would like to paint but are very apprehensive about it. Is Zinser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 ideal for this or do you recommend something better?
Answer from Rawlins’ Technical Team:
Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 is excellent at adhering to smooth, glossy surfaces prior to painting so it would make an ideal primer for you to apply you're own finish over. Just ensure the surfaces you are painting around the fire don't get too hot (above 60-70°C).
Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 is only available with the shipping and delivery timescales listed below - please do not contact our Customer Support Team with enquiries about alternative or earlier shipping and delivery times.
Saturdays and Sundays, as well as Bank Holidays, are not classed as working days.
Orders placed after the cut-off for this product will not be processed for earliest dispatch until 9am the next working day.
All delivery costs below are excluding VAT
*All estimates are based on theoretical consumption rates for a single coat and do not take into account any substrate deviations or wastage
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