Smith’s Epoxy FW38 — Primer / Sealer

Smith’s Epoxy FW38 is a 2-component, low-odor, waterborne epoxy primer and sealer — the bond coat that goes down first to lock your floor system to the slab. At 38% solids, it penetrates well into porous concrete (and bonds to wood too), setting a solid foundation for the coats that follow. Fast-curing with a low-VOC, soap-and-water-cleanup formula, it’s an easy, versatile primer for a wide range of floor systems.

Call for pricing and availability, or request a quote — you’ll talk to a real surface-prep expert, not a call center — fast answers and real recommendations.

Key Features

• Solid colors available with Smith’s WSC Color Packs (sold separately)
• Waterborne epoxy primer and sealer — low odor, low VOC, available in all regions
• 38% solids, 2-component
• Penetrates porous substrates — bonds tenaciously to concrete (concrete fails before the bond does)
• Bonds to concrete and wood — a versatile primer across substrates
• Fast cure — typically ~3 hours at 72°F; recoat in a few hours
• Inert to high pH levels
• Soap-and-water cleanup while wet

What It’s For

• FW38 is the priming/sealing step — the first coat in a floor system:
• Priming concrete before a coating or resinous floor system
• Priming wood (APA exterior or marine rated) before coating
• Sealing porous substrates so subsequent coats bond and perform
• Bonds to concrete, CMU, and lightweight concrete

Why Prime First?

A primer is what ties your whole floor system to the slab. FW38 penetrates into porous concrete and creates a tenacious bond (in testing, the concrete fails before the primer’s bond does) — so the body coats and topcoats you apply over it have a solid, well-anchored foundation. Skip the primer and you risk the whole system letting go; prime with FW38 and you build on something that holds.

Part of the Smith’s System

FW38 is the first coat in a Smith’s floor system:

1. Prime — Smith’s Epoxy FW38 (this product)
2. Build — a body coat like Epoxy MPP3 or a broadcast/overlay system
3. Topcoat — Hi-Wear 90S, CRU ’86, or Polyaspartic 5000LO

Not sure how to build your system? Call us and we’ll spec it out.

Specifications

• Type: 2-component waterborne epoxy, 1A:4B by volume
• Solids: 38% (clear)
• Color: Clear (solid colors via WSC Color Packs — White, Boulder, Black, Glacier Gray)
• Pot life: ~60 minutes at 72°F
• Recoat: 3–24 hours; foot traffic: ~10 hours; heavy traffic: 24–36 hours
• VOC: 49 g/L
• Kit sizes: 1.25-gallon and 5-gallon kits
• Coverage: ~160–229 sq ft per gallon depending on film thickness
• Shelf life: 1 year unopened

Important to Know

• Not UV stable — clear material isn’t for exterior/sunlit use (will chalk/discolor); use under a UV-stable topcoat
• Requires mechanical prep — CSP 2–6 (diamond grinding, shot blasting, or scarifying)
• Moisture and pH testing highly recommended before priming
• A professional coating product — call us and we’ll help you plan the system

WSC SAFETY DATA SHEETS (CLICK BELOW FOR PDF)

WSC-5500 WHITE

WSC-5510 BOULDER

WSC-5570 GLACIER GRAY

WSC5-5600 BLACK

Frequently Asked Questions

What is it? A 2-component waterborne epoxy primer and sealer for concrete and wood.

Why waterborne? Low odor, low VOC, and soap-and-water cleanup — easier to work with than solvent-based primers.

What does it prime? Concrete, CMU, lightweight concrete, and properly prepared wood.

Does it need a topcoat? Yes — it’s a primer/base; build your system and finish with a topcoat.

Order Smith’s Epoxy FW38 Today

Call (815) 941-4800 x 1 or fill out our contact form. See our industrial coatings, Smith Paints, and Epoxy MPP3.

Item #’s:

• 1.25 Gallon Kit – SCS-EFW38-160kit