Painting metal grates..!!!!

[Dave3166]

Hi all.
I painted these grates a long time ago, so now want to make them smart again.
Are they worth spending the time to paint/spray them, or should I just by new black plastic ones instead.
I would imagine that the paint will come off again due to cars going over them daily.

Is there a special paint or something that will stand the test of time.

I done them before because they were starting to look the worst for wear.

Any help/ advice greatly appreciated.

Dave.

[Dave3166]

Dave3166 said:

Hi all.
I painted these grates a long time ago, so now want to make them smart again.
Are they worth spending the time to paint/spray them, or should I just by new black plastic ones instead.
I would imagine that the paint will come off again due to cars going over them daily.

Is there a special paint or something that will stand the test of time.

I done them before because they were starting to look the worst for wear.

Any help/ advice greatly appreciated.

Dave.

[Dave3166]

Another picture here.

[Oilchange]

I suppose Hammerite would work, get a good 'key' and keep them warm while the paint sets and you'll likely never have to touch them again.

[Dave3166]

Cheers, did think about hammerite.

Perhaps some red oxide on first though as a good base/key.

[sutoka]

They look zinc coated underneath so would definitely go with the Galvanised Hammerite.

I've been using this Maston spray paint I picked up in The Range recently. I thought it was my spraying technique but the finish is fantastic compared with Hammerite and Rustoleum and only a fiver a can.

[4Q]

As they’re galvanised couldn’t you jet wash the existing paint off and leave them silver finish? It would save having to paint them again. Failing that you will need a galv specific primer or paint to go over the zinc or it will peel again.

[mart 63]

You can buy Aco drain covers for £6 a metre, i would just buy new covers.

[wolfracesonic]

mart 63 said:

You can buy Aco drain covers for £6 a metre, i would just buy new covers.

This I’d say, Aco do a black plastic cover if that’s the make of the channels you have, just make sure to get the right pattern grate for the channels you have and that they’re not subject to heavy traffic; they do a cover in anthracite grey too I think! If you want to paint the existing grates Google ‘mordant solution’ but by the time you’ve bought specialist paints, new grills would be probably cheaper.

[cologne2792]

Buzzweld do some excellent automotive / industrial primers that would be suitable.

I primed the rear diff cover on my truck and drove it for a year without topcoating. It's still completely intact, hasn't chipped or peeled.

Hammerite used to be a brilliant product about 30 years ago but is now more like thick gloss paint that just doesn't last.

[Dave3166]

Great replies there chaps.
I am tempted to go with new covers to be honest, black plastic ones.
Not sure if painting them with a suitable covering would last with cars going over them daily, in & out of driveway.

Thanks again.