Painting Damaged Speaker Grills - does Clear Coat make the paint more durable i.e. scuff proof.

[Submariner1]

The custom rear speakers have metal mesh grills On the wifes A Class.

On a girls night out, the rear occupants trampled on 3 of the 4 grills. Over time they rusted.
just bashed them into shape, and repaintained.
They now look Ok.
My Question should I put 2 coats of clearcoat on them? I.e. if it makes paint more durable?

The negative is its easy to overdo the spray and clog the mesh gauze type grills.
They dont photograph well, here they look patchy and awful . But in reality they look quite good.
Note just used Halfords Acrylic primer, and Gloss Black and have some spare Acrylic Clear Coat.

 

[joderest]

clear coat is not really any harder than paint, it can chip as well.
If it were me, i would just but three decent coats on ion the black, and see how it goes.

 

[rorywquin]

^^^^ what he says or find a more durable black.

 

[Hotspur]

This might be the most stupidest suggestion ever - but having had my car ceramic coated recently and knowing that whilst its not impenetrable it does add a layer of strength, is that an option? putting a layer of ceramic coating on...wouldn't take much of a bottle to do your speakers at all, and wonder if it makes the paint a bit more durable / protected?

 

[Submariner1]

This might be the most stupidest suggestion ever - but having had my car ceramic coated recently and knowing that whilst its not impenetrable it does add a layer of strength, is that an option? putting a layer of ceramic coating on...wouldn't take much of a bottle to do your speakers at all, and wonder if it makes the paint a bit more durable / protected?

Probavly would have been the best idea. Retrospectively I should have found someone who did this and prepped the grills and said when you are next doing a black car how £ much to flash over these!

But I was using what I had lying around. Because they are circa 1998 vintage. So money might be better spent on a new pair of HD DLS components, more punch, clarity and would only need one set for the rears.

 

[Hotspur]

Probavly would have been the best idea. Retrospectively I should have found someone who did this and prepped the grills and said when you are next doing a black car how £ much to flash over these!

But I was using what I had lying around. Because they are circa 1998 vintage. So money might be better spent on a new pair of HD DLS components, more punch, clarity and would only need one set for the rears.

The coating isnt colour specific, just a liquid form applied with a sponge type applicator (provided) and a once over the grill - it then takes about 12 hours to cure and harden - can be done at any time, spraying them black then coating at a later date is fine, aslong as they dont get damaged in the interim.

 

[rorywquin]

The coating isnt colour specific, just a liquid form applied with a sponge type applicator (provided) and a once over the grill - it then takes about 12 hours to cure and harden - can be done at any time, spraying them black then coating at a later date is fine, aslong as they dont get damaged in the interim.

Coating is only as good as the substrate.......

 

[s5tuart]

Proper Preparation Prevents P....Poor Performance

 

[Hotspur]

Coating is only as good as the substrate.......

Had to look that one up. Agree with your comment and whilst not coating them immediately, I doubt if painted properly that speakers in a car can regularly get that much untoward damage if not coated immediately.

 

[Submariner1]

Had to look that one up. Agree with your comment and whilst not coating them immediately, I doubt if painted properly that speakers in a car can regularly get that much untoward damage if not coated immediately.

Yep, nobody will go in the back of her car for a few weeks.

 

[mioba]

Proper Preparation Prevents P....Poor Performance

I thought it was leads too,

 

[s5tuart]

I thought it was leads too,

If that begins with a "P"

 

[Submariner1]

clear coat is not really any harder than paint, it can chip as well.
If it were me, i would just but three decent coats on ion the black, and see how it goes.

Well I had some spare black paint and so put on another fairly thick coat.
partially decided by the wife walking in the back french doors and dropping 10 small metal tins of mini cigars on the partially dry grills.
yep you read it right!
I decided best not to say anything.
One got 3 small scuff - chips through to the primer! I was a bit surprised these marked so easily.
They now look fine. And still have enough paint to zap one, if or should I say when she or her friends mark another one …
So sorted.