Grille restoration, I need your opinions

The easiest and cheapest way to nearly duplicate the original argent finishes with their somewhat "dry textured" finish is this......(and I've used it on several top shelf restorations).....

Buy a can of self etching primer (it's a dull greenish color)........use it for your base coat over the bare metal surface (the best brand we've found for "canned" spray is dupli-color, available at your local discount shop).

When it's dry, color coat with a hue of silver (darker or lighter, depending on your application), and apply it in LIGHT coats, not even attempting to leave a well colored surface.......Light coats, alternating your pattern direction, until you get full coverage.........

In our experience, if you've chosen the correct materials, you can duplicate argent finishes this way.

When these color coats are applied directly over the self etch (which, by the way, is NOT sanded before color application), you end up with a very nice slightly dry-textured finish like the argents.......MUCH less expensive, and dead ringers if you carefully choose your colors. For an even dryer look to the finish, spray your coats farther away from the surface with even sweeping motion.....you can actually build an increasingly sandy feel when using this "dry-spray" method (actually, it's been used for decades with primers for finish sanding....dark color over light to expose sand scratches)....it's the same principle, but applied to color coats for special purposes such as yours.

Even a gloss black paint will be dulled to an eggshell and given a mildly sandy texture if applied correctly over fresh self-etching primer.

Experiment a little on some scrap aluminum or steel.....it doesn't take much paint to test your patterns and coverage on a small piece.

The 2 cans (primer and color) should only set you back about 12 bucks or so. (and you can do 3 or more grilles with that little bit if you know what you're doing). :read2: :toothy10: