Painting laminate cupboards: is primer the same as under coat?

[IrisScentedCandle]

I've been watching some clips on you tube and they've helped, but I'm not sure if undercoat and primer are the same thing. And then, if you put that on can you paint any paint over it? is undercoat 'oil based' ? one of the you tube clips said to use an oil based paint.

Primers and undercoats are different.
Not sure you'd need a primer if your painting laminate??? Its normally used to blocks out stains, provides a good base for a topcoat and ensure maximum adhesion to the surface.

Undercoat helps even out the surface - both in terms of colour and texture.

Whatever the first coat you put on, you need to make sure it will adhere to the laminate - which if its glossy could be difficult.

Some companies do combined primer and undercoat - but not sure if they are suitable for your application.

I always thought primer was for bare wood to prime it really for undercoat but not sure. And that undercoat was just to give a smoother surface for the gloss paint.