32 grill painted insert

I have a 32 ford grill insert{stainless steel} that I can not keep the paint from chipping. What are you guy's painting them with or should I have it powder coated? Can stainless steel be powder coated?

 

Mine was not stainless (original steel), dissassembled it, bead blasted the bars and painted with paint for wheels including the clear I got from Oreilleys. Has held up well.

 

My sedan has a original insert that I had power coated to match the wheels. HRP

 

I used a urethane on my pickup grill,,I have a few chips here and there but the truck has been on the road since 2007. HRP

 

powder coat that sucker

 

I'm tempted to spray some rattle can light gray lacquer primer on my stainless 32 grill bars.....just a light coat. It should end up looking like "dove gray". If it starts looking bad, wouldn't lacquer thinner wipe it off? Then it could be resprayed again to renew it's appearance.

 

Maybe tape off the outside trim with duct tape and lightly glassbead or sandblast bars to give paint some " bite" .

 

I've had about 10 powder coated over the years. Just taped off the outer stainless an lightly dusted the stainless bars then applied semi gloss powder coat to the bars and it has held up well.

 

Yep, powder coat works on mine

 

scuff the stainless with red scotch brite then spray can ecth primer then paint .done

 

Mine looks like a Kaleidoscope when it chips..... It's been many colors over the years.

Ace Premium rattle can is about as good as a touch up gets around here. Good stuff.

 

My insert was chromed when I got it and I just masked off the surround , etch primed the center and then sprayed it with rattle can satin black. Seems to be holding up fine, have done 7000 country miles with no probs.

 

If you want French Grey bars, just do this but skip the paint. The blasted stainless should be a close color match, and the same matte finish. And no chipping!

 

I was always proud of my chips. That verifies that it is not a trailer queen. Perfect hotrods don't get driven.

 

I wasn't sure if I wanted the black insert or not on my grill so I used a can of plasti-dip I had laying around. If you've never used it, it's like a rubberized paint and can easily be peeled of but some how manages to be pretty durable and can withstand being sprayed with a pressure washer. doesn't look bad either.

 

I powder coated mine...cost me $100. But, if you figure the time and prep, it was money well spent.

 

I'm confused, if you have stainless insert what paint is chipping? the surround?

 

It's stainless that's then been painted over.

 

Thanks for the info everyone. I think I will do the powder coat. Now finding someone in Louisville KY. to a nice job.

 

I have a few chips here and there but the truck has been on the road since 2007