Matching an Existing Grille. Advice?

[Prophecy99]

I have a project on a custom grille and I will need to paint it. I want to match the existing finishes as best as possible as this is most attractive IMO.

What do you think I could use to match this dusty/dark chrome?
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa83/Prophecy1991/IMGP0030-154.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa83/Prophecy1991/DSCF178822.jpg
^^^ same exact grille in both pictures, just different lighting.... !
IMO a plain chrome spray would be way off! I was thinking maybe a darker silver color from any #s of cars that are close to that.
Thanks for any ideas... :cool:

[Prophecy99]

not much traffic...at this forum... i guess...:confused:

[chriss68]

sometimes its slow here, but alot of good information also. now this is just my opinion: have have you ever thought about painting the grill the same color as the body of the car and leaving the nissan emblem chrome. i personally like the look of a grill that has the same color as the body. it will really make the emblem stand out and shine.

[Dupli-Color-Specialist]

not much traffic...at this forum... i guess...:confused:

Sorry about the delay Prophecy. The team here at DC is on the road for about 6 days attending trade shows and doing more work with the folks over at Truck U. Anyways it looks like the grill on your Nissan might match our Smoke Metal Cast paint. However the Smoke Metal Cast has to be applied over a true chrome to get that appearance. Nissan may have used a specific paint for their grill. I hope this helps. Our Smoke Metal Cast is on our website under the product section.

[Prophecy99]

painting the grill the same color as the body of the car and leaving the nissan emblem chrome. i personally like the look of a grill that has the same color as the body. it will really make the emblem stand out and shine.
Funny you say that... I am removing the nissan emblem and as A few others have done this grille they did indeed paint it to match body color. I want to go in a different direction.. by painting it to match existing colors. I have chrome accents around the car that would make this idea even more perfect.

it looks like the grill on your Nissan might match our Smoke Metal Cast paint. However the Smoke Metal Cast has to be applied over a true chrome to get that appearance. Nissan may have used a specific paint for their grill. I hope this helps. Our Smoke Metal Cast is on our website under the product section.

Thank you Specialist Much appreciated. I am ambitious in Looking at getting Metal Cast (Smoke) closest spray I have seen yet. From the product picture (the cap) it looks pretty good...just a tad bit darker.


With that being said... in theroy if chrome paint must be sprayed as the base coat(s) then... I could lay off with not so much Smoke Cast ? Could I be interpriting that right?

heres another picture of the same grille to show you how bright the "off" chrome can get. I would think that the nissan emblem is as close as chrome spray could get so if you can imagine I DO NOT want it that "chrome"
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa83/Prophecy1991/102_11682.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa83/Prophecy1991/DSCF17825.jpg

[Dupli-Color-Specialist]

Correct. The more coats of the Smoke Metal Cast you lay down, the darker the chrome gets. Paint up some test panels first before you start on your own Truck.

[Prophecy99]

I would like to bump this thread in preperation of painting this project very soon. I have waited a very long time for my grille to be finished. This time last year I had the grille ready for primer and what do you know a Hairline crack appears right through the final coat. So i had to revamp the whole thing and put heavier plastic repair beyond. Simply put its alot stronger now and I shouldnt have any cracks.

I will be sure to post pics.:D I hope the test panels dont waste too much paint as I only have one can of smoke cast and one of chrome.

Thanks again for all the help.

[Prophecy99]

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa83/Prophecy1991/Mods/0807091156.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa83/Prophecy1991/Mods/0816091010a.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa83/Prophecy1991/Mods/0816091034.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa83/Prophecy1991/Mods/0816091259.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa83/Prophecy1991/Mods/0816091325.jpg
...cell phone pics ftl, real pics to show finishes to come and install.

Thanks duplicolor and this forum for helping me get the best possible match as possible.

one question if anyone is reading.
The duplicolor clear coat says use a mild rubbing compound 48 hours later. Can i just use my typical rubbing compond very lightly?

[chriss68]

looks very nice!! good job.
some polishing compounds are more coarse than others. the less coarse will give you a better shine.

[Prophecy99]

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa83/Prophecy1991/Mods/102_0677.jpg

More pics to come after install.

[Dupli-Color-Specialist]

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa83/Prophecy1991/Mods/0807091156.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa83/Prophecy1991/Mods/0816091010a.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa83/Prophecy1991/Mods/0816091034.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa83/Prophecy1991/Mods/0816091259.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa83/Prophecy1991/Mods/0816091325.jpg
...cell phone pics ftl, real pics to show finishes to come and install.

Thanks duplicolor and this forum for helping me get the best possible match as possible.

one question if anyone is reading.
The duplicolor clear coat says use a mild rubbing compound 48 hours later. Can i just use my typical rubbing compond very lightly?

The rubbing compound is ONLY to blend and eliminate any overspray if you are using the paint as touch up when blending color on a body panel. You are using this to paint an entire substrate. Do not use any rubbing compound or it will scratch it. I will suggest using the color then several coats of clear. Let it dry for several days and wet sand with 2000 grit paper and rub out only if needed. You might be able to get away with using a very light compound to bring out the shine. I hope this helps. Nice work.

[Prophecy99]

before-
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa83/Prophecy1991/DSCF2075.jpg
after-
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa83/Prophecy1991/Oct%2009/102_0694.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa83/Prophecy1991/Oct%2009/102_0698.jpg

Thanks again everyone. I am very very happy with the results.

[Prophecy99]

i took my cherished grille off for the rough NE winters, and put it back on for warmer weather...and just one month later in the warm season.. i have a huge chip down to the primer right in the middle of the slat....:(
i know there is allways time for another paint job, but dang this thing is like no other to paint.....

would tons and tons of clear coat help from chipping so deeply? Is there a downside to too many coats of primer?

[Dupli-Color-Specialist]

i took my cherished grille off for the rough NE winters, and put it back on for warmer weather...and just one month later in the warm season.. i have a huge chip down to the primer right in the middle of the slat....:(
i know there is allways time for another paint job, but dang this thing is like no other to paint.....

would tons and tons of clear coat help from chipping so deeply? Is there a downside to too many coats of primer?

Sorry to hear about that. Well more clear would help but you can only achieve so much durability out of a one part system. Even a 2 part urethane doesn't hold up flying stones. Look what stones do to windshields. Unfortunately its just one of those things. You paint your car and hope it doesn't get damaged.