INSL-X Stix · Waterborne bonding primer
Paint the surfaces
paint won't stick to.
Cabinets, laminate, tile, PVC, vinyl, glass and galvanized metal. Stix grips slick, glossy surfaces with little or no sanding, then takes almost any topcoat, from latex to lacquer.
INSL-X Stix Waterborne Bonding Primer
Couldn't load pickup availability
INSL-X Stix Waterborne Bonding Primer
INSL-X Stix is a waterborne acrylic urethane bonding primer that sticks to the surfaces other primers can't: PVC, vinyl, plastic, glass, ceramic tile, laminate, glossy paint, fiberglass and galvanized metal. It levels smooth, cures as low as 1.7 °C (35 °F) and can be topcoated with almost any paint, from latex to oil, urethane, epoxy and lacquer.
Key Features
- Bonds to glossy, slick surfaces without heavy sanding.
- Cures in the cold, down to 1.7 °C (35 °F).
- Takes almost any topcoat: alkyd, acrylic latex, urethane, epoxy and lacquer.
- Excellent enamel holdout for a smooth, even topcoat.
- Interior and exterior.
- Soap-and-water clean-up and recoat in 3–4 hours.
Where to Use It
Kitchen and bathroom cabinets, laminate and Formica, ceramic tile, PVC trim, vinyl siding, fiberglass doors, galvanized and aluminum metal, glass, plus drywall, plaster, wood and masonry. Not for immersion or continuous water contact, below-grade surfaces, polyethylene or polypropylene plastics, or Kynar-coated finishes. Not a whole-house exterior primer over wood or decks, and it must be topcoated outdoors.
Colour and Sizes
White, in 946 mL, 3.79 L and 18.9 L. It can be lightly tinted toward your topcoat colour. Ask us when you order.
Stix or an All-Purpose Primer?
Choose Stix when the surface is slick or hard to coat. For bare drywall, wood and stain blocking on ordinary surfaces, Fresh Start High-Hiding All Purpose Primer is the better value. For cedar, redwood and other woods that bleed tannin, use Prime Lock Plus.
Specs & Coverage
- 946 mL: about 75–100 sq ft
- 3.79 L: 300–400 sq ft
- 18.9 L: 1,500–2,000 sq ft
| Type | Waterborne acrylic urethane primer/sealer |
| Finish | Flat |
| Film thickness | 4.0–5.3 mils wet, 1.6–2.1 mils dry |
| Volume solids | 40% ± 2 |
| VOC | Under 100 g/L |
| Dry time (25 °C, 50% RH) | Touch: 30 min. Recoat: 3–4 hours. Full adhesion: 3–4 days |
| Application temperature | 1.7–32 °C (35–90 °F) |
| Application | Nylon brush, ¼"–½" synthetic roller, airless spray (2,200–2,500 psi, 0.013–0.017 tip) |
| Thinning | Do not thin |
| Tinting | Up to 2 oz per 3.79 L |
| Clean-up | Warm soapy water. Final rinse of spray equipment with mineral spirits |
Application Guide
- Clean. Scrub off dirt, grease, wax and mildew with warm soapy water, rinse and let dry. Cabinets often need a degreaser.
- Degloss. Sand glossy paint, laminate and ceramic tile lightly. Stix doesn't strictly need it, but it improves adhesion.
- Repair. Remove loose or peeling paint and loose rust, and fill damaged areas.
- Apply one coat by brush, roller or airless spray, out of direct sun. Don't thin. Keep it dry for the first 24 hours.
- Topcoat after 3–4 hours with latex or oil. Wait 24 hours before two-part epoxies or urethanes.
- Let it cure 3–4 days before heavy use, when it reaches full scrape resistance.
FAQ
1Is Stix good for painting kitchen cabinets?
Yes. It bonds to glossy finished cabinets and laminate and gives excellent enamel holdout. Clean and degrease well, scuff sand, prime with Stix and wait 3–4 days before heavy use.
2Do I need to sand before using Stix?
Stix is made to bond without sanding, but Benjamin Moore still recommends deglossing Formica, ceramic tile and glossy paint for the best adhesion. A light scuff is enough.
3Can I prime ceramic tile or glass with Stix?
Yes, on walls and backsplashes. It's not for floors, showers or anything under continuous water.
4How much primer do I need?
One coat at 300–400 sq ft per 3.79 L. Most kitchen cabinet jobs need about one 3.79 L. The 946 mL suits a vanity or a few doors.
5Can I use Stix outside?
Yes, on vinyl, PVC, fiberglass, galvanized metal and similar surfaces, but it must be topcoated. It isn't meant as a whole-house primer over exterior wood or decks.
6What topcoat can I use over Stix?
Almost anything: acrylic latex, alkyd, urethane, epoxy or lacquer. Wait 3–4 hours for latex or oil, and 24 hours for two-part epoxies and urethanes.
7Can I apply Stix in cold weather?
Yes. Air, surface and product just need to be above 1.7 °C (35 °F). Avoid rain and high humidity for the first 24 hours.
Canada Shipping
- Enjoy free shipping in Canada on orders over $249. Yukon, NWT, Nunavut not included.
Winter Shipping:
- From December to April, shipping outside of Ontario and Quebec is limited.
- Returns accepted within 35 days from the date of delivery.
- Custom tinted paints are classified as Final Sale items and are not eligible for return or store credit.
Surface finder
Will Stix stick to it?
Tap what you're painting. We'll tell you if Stix is right, what prep it needs, or which primer to use instead.
Primer calculator
How much do I need?
One coat of Stix is enough. We use 300 sq ft per 3.79 L, the low end of Benjamin Moore's coverage, so you don't run short.
Cabinet doors are counted front and back at about 8 sq ft each, plus a share of the boxes and frames. Drawer fronts count as 3 sq ft.
Compare primers
Stix or another primer?
Stix is the specialist for slick surfaces. For ordinary walls and wood, an all-purpose primer does the job for less.
Stix
- Best for
- Cabinets, laminate, tile, PVC, vinyl, glass, galvanized metal.
- Base
- Waterborne acrylic urethane
- From
Aqua Lock Plus
- Best for
- Drywall, wood and masonry, inside or out. Comes in black for dark topcoats.
- Base
- Acrylic latex
- From
Prime Lock Plus
- Best for
- Cedar, redwood and woods that bleed tannin, plus water and smoke stains.
- Base
- Alkyd (oil)
- From
Fresh Start
- Best for
- New drywall, bare wood and colour changes under Benjamin Moore paint.
- Base
- 100% acrylic
- From
Specs
The details.
| Type | Waterborne acrylic urethane primer/sealer |
|---|---|
| Finish | Flat, white |
| Coverage | 300–400 sq ft per 3.79 L. 75–100 per 946 mL, 1,500–2,000 per 18.9 L |
| Dry time | Touch 30 min. Topcoat 3–4 h (24 h under 2-part epoxy or urethane). Full adhesion 3–4 days |
| Apply at | 1.7–32 °C (35–90 °F) |
| Apply with | Nylon brush, ¼"–½" synthetic roller, or airless spray at 2,200–2,500 psi with a 0.013–0.017 tip |
| Thinning | Do not thin |
| Tinting | Up to 2 oz per 3.79 L. Ask us to tint toward your topcoat |
| VOC | Under 100 g/L |
| Clean-up | Warm soapy water. Final mineral spirits rinse for spray equipment |
How to apply
Get it to grip.
- Clean. Wash off grease, wax and grime and let it dry. Kitchen cabinets almost always need a degreaser.
- Scuff. A light sand on glossy paint, laminate and tile isn't strictly needed, but it gives the best bond.
- Repair. Remove loose paint and rust, and fill dings.
- One coat, by brush, roller or sprayer, out of direct sun. Don't thin. Keep it dry for 24 hours.
- Topcoat after 3–4 hours with latex or oil, or after 24 hours with 2-part epoxy or urethane.
- Give it 3–4 days to reach full adhesion before heavy use.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Is Stix good for painting kitchen cabinets?
Yes. It bonds to glossy finished cabinets and laminate and gives excellent enamel holdout. Clean and degrease well, scuff sand, prime with Stix and wait 3–4 days before heavy use.
Do I need to sand before using Stix?
Stix is made to bond without sanding, but Benjamin Moore still recommends deglossing Formica, ceramic tile and glossy paint for the best adhesion. A light scuff is enough.
Can I prime ceramic tile or glass with Stix?
Yes, on walls and backsplashes. It's not for floors, showers or anything under continuous water.
How much primer do I need?
One coat at 300–400 sq ft per 3.79 L. Most kitchen cabinet jobs need about one 3.79 L. The 946 mL suits a vanity or a few doors. Use the primer calculator above.
Can I use Stix outside?
Yes, on vinyl, PVC, fiberglass, galvanized metal and similar surfaces, but it must be topcoated. It isn't meant as a whole-house primer over exterior wood or decks.
What topcoat can I use over Stix?
Almost anything: acrylic latex, alkyd, urethane, epoxy or lacquer. Wait 3–4 hours for latex or oil, and 24 hours for two-part epoxies and urethanes.
Can I apply Stix in cold weather?
Yes. Air, surface and product just need to be above 1.7 °C (35 °F). Avoid rain and high humidity for the first 24 hours.
Do you ship, or can I pick up?
We ship across Canada, free on most orders over $249. Pick-up is free at our Rockwood Village store, 1292 Eglinton Ave. E, Mississauga, and most orders are ready within 4 hours.
Ready to prime?
Painting cabinets? Pair Stix with Cabinet Coat or Benjamin Moore Advance, or ask our team what to use on your surface.