Powder Coat Or Paint?

[Blick05SS]

Ok so i have a 5 piece billet grill now but i've had some people saying powder coat them and i have others saying you should paint them. I know quite a few guys on here have done both. My question is which is better and what have you guys had luck with?? I will be having a body shop paint the grill if i decide to go that way so it will be cleared.

[Guest jasonhensley22]

It's really personal preference, if you get them painted you can go with a glossier look.

[2001silverado364]

Paint, because it looks so much better, IMO.

[Cramer]

PC it!

 

Powder coat if done right can look as good if not better than paint. You can also have the PC cleared with a clear powder for more depth. You can wet sand and polish the powder coating as you would with paint also. Not to mention that it will have alot higher resistance to stone chips that with paint will chip and need to be fixed. Especially since the area on the grill is narrow and has some what of a sharp edge. So one little stone on the edge of the paint, it will most likely chip. The PC on the other hand has a far better resistance to chipping. Also for a body shop to make the grill look good inside and out they will have alot of prep and wet sanding work. It will prob be much cheaper now and in the long run to have it pc'd.

[JF-03-SS]

I'll with sinr.....I P/C my bowtie and 5 grills over 4 years ago and they still look brand new.

[shakesvho]

auto paint and 3 coats clear, did mine over 5 years ago, still looks nice

[T-Bag]

Powdercoat here, it's really personal preference but if you get it painted make sure it's done professionally using auto paint. The spray cans don't hold up, it will chip. Powdercoat to me is best because it electrostatically adheres to metal and it's known to be tougher than paint. P.coat also gets into the crevices and adheres where sandpaper cannot reach before paint so that surface might also chip too in the crevices when painted.

pained grille shell w p.coated inserts and bowtie

Edited August 27, 2011 by Bad Ass Silvy (see edit history)

[desrtrat]

body shop painted mine..so far so good. just need to clean up the brake ducts..

 

[bruiser04]

my top two r painted with like 5 coats and still chip real bad my bottom three r PC'd and still look like they did when i put em on do it once and be done PC gets my vote

[shakesvho]

if you do go auto paint, PPG Ceramiclear DC4125 is the clear you want to use, this stuff is TUFF, I also have the total front of the truck coated and mirrors

 

 

-tommy

[Blick05SS]

Thanks for all the info guys seems like guys have had good and bad luck with both so guess the choice is up to me

[shakesvho]

here is a pic of the front of the truck with the Ceramiclear

 

[Blick05SS]

here is a pic of the front of the truck with the Ceramiclear

 

 

 

That looks awesome man hope mine comes out that clean looking