Customer Reviews for Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 2 Gal. White Water-Based Interior/Exterior Primer and Sealer

Bathroom ceiling paint began peeling a couple of years after remodel. Purchased Bulls Eye 123 and treated the peeling surface exactly as instructed and applied primer. Painted again using good quality ceiling paint. The ceiling began peeling within a month of application.

This was recommended to me by various painters. I just put 2 coats on white walls that I tested some other “new” white color options on and you can still see them all. The whole gallon on 2 walls. Now I get to go buy the kilz primer that I normally use and redo it all over again. Don’t waste your money on this junk

I really don't know why all the "pro's" recommend this. I've tried it on various surfaces and it doesn't cover a thing. Nor does it adhere to the surface. Complete waste of my time and money. I'm going back to Kilz.

We bought this primer to go over our cupboard doors that had a mild shellac. It appeared like it was going to adhere because it didn’t bubble. When dried it scratches off like a lottery ticket. Horrible. Why say it sticks to any surface and then not stick at all? Makes a much bigger mess and cost.

Laid down real smooth

Amazing paint first timer but pro recommendation

I have used the Zinser shellac primer before, and that works well. Was looking for a lower odor option, so I gave this one a try. Unfortunately, a very different experience. I has primed a shelf using this product, and after it dried for over a month, had to drill some holes for shelf pins. I used blue painters tape to mark the spot and make for a cleaner hole. When removing the tape, it basically made the primer bubble up and came off in entire sheets. I would not recommend this product.

The white was used on pressure treated wood and it took three coats before it looked good.

Quality primer, been using this brand for over 30 years, it’s never let us down, as with everything, price is getting higher, but, the quality is still there.

I used this product on new drywall. A few weeks after I had primed and painted I had to do some rework due to minor drywall damage. As I was working the area the paint and primer started to peel off the area that was joint compound. It sticks fine to the paper part of the drywall but what good is it if it doesn't stick to joint compound. I will never use this product again.

This did not cover in one coat, and will peel if the surface being primed is not cleaned and sanded prior to applying the primer.

We design and create Liquid Marble/Epoxy countertops and use this product as a bonding primer on top of non-porous surfaces prior to designing. Excellent product!!!!!!!!!!

Great product to prime your wood items. Love how the coverage.

I needed to paint bee boxes.

Seems to defeat purpose of primer. Very hard to get primer to cover evenly. Even second coat had problem sticking. Home Depot recommended this brand but I think I wasted time and money with this.

I have never had paint go on like this. It went on both thick and thin somehow, and would pick back up on the roller if I dared go over the same spot in quick succession. I ignored it at first, but then noticed the primer looked like it was melting off the wall in places. I tried applying thick and thin coats to not avail. I am now trying to scrape off all the paint I can, and will have to sand the whole room. These walls were scrubbed clean and thoroughly dried before painting.

Like the coverage and low smell

Bought this so I could apply paint to "oil-finished wood" rocking chairs. Seems to bind well on top of the oil stain, and seems to accept the paint on top. Time will only tell how the paint finish stays on without cracking, etc. This primer went on easily, but it's not as easy as paint to wash off of your skin.

do not use. I used this on my bare wood cabinets. used two coats and can still see the stains. PLEASE use the good primer - zinesser

Love the Primer!!!!!!! I did my kitchen cabinets and it covered a lot the first time rolling. I highly recommend and would definitely bug it again. Great product and price!!!!

Very thin primer. Drips easily…. No smell!

Well to start off it's got the coolest name ever! Zinsser is exciting enough with the Z and mysterious origins but, couple that with "Bulls Eye" how can you miss? (get it ...miss...Bulls Eye) anyway 1-2-3 is just bonus. The stuff works great and dries fast (even in Florida humidity). It is neither tacky nor chalky. It is just a good primer doing it's thing. I've only ever used it on new wood and previously painted and sanded wood. I have no clue about other surfaces. I would trust what thos wacky Zinsserites have written on the can.

See pics. This primer does not cover, even with two coats. Very uneven coverage in any case. A waste of time and money.

I've been doing contract work for 18 years and have never had any issues with a paint or primer. It was my first time using this primer but I will never use it again. I was very disappoint when, after hours of prep-work, I applied a first coat of Bulls Eye primer over some oak wood only to have the tannin show through, even though it says it's able to cover it. I hoped a second coat would fix this, but it didn't. Not only that, but both coats dried with an odd texture as seen in the photos; like I had too much paint or not enough paint on the roller. I don't usually review products but this one is costing me so much time/money that I felt it should be mentioned. Super frustrating to have to sand all this off and start over with something else.

I bought this to paint our bathroom laminate countertop. It covered with one coat. Then I used another paint on top of this product. It does what it’s supposed to, be a primer.

I painted my kitchen cabinets with 123 and didn’t have to sand. I also used behr cabinet and trim paint after I applied the primer. It has been about a year and a half now and the cabinets are still looking great!! Easy to clean. I used white as my color.

I am a pro with over 35 years working in the commercial painting industry. This particular job required a primer (tinted) that would stick to formica fixtures. I usually use Gripper but choose Zinsser this time. All fixtures were prepped, primed and painted. End product looks good and seems to stick well. Time will tell.

After a few coats of this I waited a day to paint over it. The paint is still in place on the kitchen cabinets. So far good quality.

Did not cover a old hardwood door that I have in my home, but I will continue to put on more coats. I wish I could have found something to cover these blotches in one coat or two coats. Probably OK for very light stains that need minimal cover.

This primer was great.... primed a cement backyard wall with one coat, which was dirty and I needed to paint it...one coat of the 1 2 3 primer before the main paint...wall looks great... would recommend it ... nice product