Painting in-wall speaker grills - advice?

[scubadiver]

I'd like to change the color of my theater room....   darken it up quite a bit.  

At the moment, my in-wall speakers are white - as they came out of the boxes.   I'd like to paint them the same color as whatever paint I choose for the walls, but really have no idea how to properly paint the metal grills.  

I'm sure the only way is to spray them, but can't even imagine what I'd need to do it....  the holes on my grills are so small I just can't see how I wouldn't clog them with paint -especially latex paint.

Anybody here ever paint metal speaker grills before?   Advice?   Lessons learned?

[novisnick]

Nov 14, 2016 23:21:24 GMT -5 scubadiver said:

I'd like to change the color of my theater room....   darken it up quite a bit.  

At the moment, my in-wall speakers are white - as they came out of the boxes.   I'd like to paint them the same color as whatever paint I choose for the walls, but really have no idea how to properly paint the metal grills.  

I'm sure the only way is to spray them, but can't even imagine what I'd need to do it....  the holes on my grills are so small I just can't see how I wouldn't clog them with paint -especially latex paint.

Anybody here ever paint metal speaker grills before?   Advice?   Lessons learned?

I would suggest that after doing whatever prep you need for the grills that you give them multiple light coats of pait allowing them to dry between coats.

Some people may suggest a super fine rub to take any gloss off the grills so the new paint will adhere.

Ive never done grills before but have painted many many other things.

More suggestions to come from others Im sure. Take them all with a grain of salt, unless theres a repeat offender  painter!
Good luck, please let us see before and after pics.

[vneal]

Spray em--use Krylon metal paint in the color you like. Three  light coats. Enjoy

[jlafrenz]

Go to your local paint store and have them put your paint color in a spray can. Pull the cloth from behind the speaker grill and give the grills light coats until equally and completely covered. It may take a few coats, but don't rush it as you don't want to fill the holes with paint.

[ctau]

I always use a Preval sprayer when I need to paint speaker grills.  It comes with a glass bottle where you can mix your paint with water.  If you go that route you will want to dilute the paint with 50% water or more.  Take it slow when painting and plan to do several coats to avoid clogging the holes of the grill.

Also, if you notice that the holes are getting overly clogged just wash off the grill and start over with a thinner mixture after the grill has dried.

[405x5]

Nov 14, 2016 23:21:24 GMT -5 scubadiver said:

I'd like to change the color of my theater room....   darken it up quite a bit.  

At the moment, my in-wall speakers are white - as they came out of the boxes.   I'd like to paint them the same color as whatever paint I choose for the walls, but really have no idea how to properly paint the metal grills.  

I'm sure the only way is to spray them, but can't even imagine what I'd need to do it....  the holes on my grills are so small I just can't see how I wouldn't clog them with paint -especially latex paint.

Anybody here ever paint metal speaker grills before?   Advice?   Lessons learned?

Have you checked with the speaker manufacturer.......maybe they have unpainted grills or a different color available.....long shot I know. I would also be wary of clogging the holes/altering the sound in any way.

Bill

[kse]

I have 8pr of in-wall/in-ceiling speakers in my house. I have painted many a grill. Both spraying and rolling works equally as well if using the proper technique. I've had excellent success with both options.

As mentioned, if spraying, do multiple lights coats. If rolling, use a small disposable foam roller, applying very light pressure. No grill prep is necessary, assuming they are clean.

You want to be careful not to paint the portion of the grill that turns down and slides into the slot of the speaker housing.

Good luck.

[scubadiver]

Nov 15, 2016 11:00:35 GMT -5 ctau said:

I always use a Preval sprayer when I need to paint speaker grills.  It comes with a glass bottle where you can mix your paint with water.  If you go that route you will want to dilute the paint with 50% water or more.  Take it slow when painting and plan to do several coats to avoid clogging the holes of the grill.

Also, if you notice that the holes are getting overly clogged just wash off the grill and start over with a thinner mixture after the grill has dried.

Very cool.... Never knew those even existed! And cheap, too! Definitely worth experimenting with....

Thank you very much!

[scubadiver]

Didn't even know this was possible....  I do have a "pro" paintshop in town.  I will ask if they offer such a product.

Nov 15, 2016 8:27:41 GMT -5 jlafrenz said:

Go to your local paint store and have them put your paint color in a spray can. Pull the cloth from behind the speaker grill and give the grills light coats until equally and completely covered. It may take a few coats, but don't rush it as you don't want to fill the holes with paint.

[scubadiver]

Nov 15, 2016 11:31:17 GMT -5 405x5 said:

Have you checked with the speaker manufacturer.......maybe they have unpainted grills or a different color available.....long shot I know. I would also be wary of clogging the holes/altering the sound in any way.

BillI would guess they don't.....  (Klipsch)    My grills are pre-primed and designed to be painted....

[jlafrenz]

Nov 15, 2016 12:17:43 GMT -5 scubadiver said:

Didn't even know this was possible....  I do have a "pro" paintshop in town.  I will ask if they offer such a product.

Nov 15, 2016 8:27:41 GMT -5 jlafrenz said:

Go to your local paint store and have them put your paint color in a spray can. Pull the cloth from behind the speaker grill and give the grills light coats until equally and completely covered. It may take a few coats, but don't rush it as you don't want to fill the holes with paint.

Some of the paint shops offer a DIY solution where you put your paint in an aerosol type spray bottle. This is NOT what you want. The paint shop should be able to put it in a rattle can for you. It will cost more, but the results will also be much better.

[vcautokid]

Prep is a big deal in any paint job. Lightly scuff the white paint surface to create a key for the black paint to adhere too. I like using some alcohol for wiping off any oils or other contaminants off the surface. If there is cloth behind the grilles, remove them as the earlier posts recommend. Next use the appropriate paint for the job. Thin, light coats. Take your time! Yes you do not want to clog the grille hole openings. Allow to fully dry before handling. Once completely dry, install, and enjoy. P.S. Be careful not to use too much paint, as it could also make installation to the frame difficult as a result of the paint causing a dimensional change.

[Boomzilla]

Krylon = NO in my experience - bubbles, runs, etc.

Valspar costs a little more but is a LOT better.

To avoid clogging holes, put a paper towel behind the grill being painted. It'll usually absorb any paint & prevent the holes from plugging up. You may need to wipe the back of the grill lightly while the paint's still wet to get out the stubborn plugs.

[kse]

Nov 15, 2016 22:43:41 GMT -5 Boomzilla said:

Krylon = NO in my experience - bubbles, runs, etc.

Valspar costs a little more but is a LOT better.

To avoid clogging holes, put a paper towel behind the grill being painted. It'll usually absorb any paint & prevent the holes from plugging up. You may need to wipe the back of the grill lightly while the paint's still wet to get out the stubborn plugs.

No. Definitely no paper towel behind the grille. You want the air and paint from your very light coats to freely pass through the grille. Putting a paper towel behind the grill will counter this. Bad idea.

This is an easy job. Unless these grilles are dirty, greasy, etc. (not sure why they would be?) no prep is necessary. They come from the factory ready to be painted. And no wiping of any paint is necessary. You want to create a completely botched job? Then wipe the wet paint.

Lay them down flat, light even coats from a distance of about 12", allow to dry, repeat 3-4x, don't paint the down-edges. Done.

Here are a couple different grilles I did. The Sonance has very tiny square mesh, the Bostons are round. These were both lightly rolled with multiple coats with a disposable foam roller. Came out beautiful.

[Boomzilla]

Hi kse -

You're perfectly correct that it can be done your way, but the trick is to not paint too heavily. Many (most?) try to paint in one coat & be done. That leads to clogging. So there's an art to it.

I stand by my Valspar recommendation. I don't like Krylon.

[kse]

Nov 16, 2016 10:03:11 GMT -5 Boomzilla said:

Hi kse -

You're perfectly correct that it can be done your way, but the trick is to not paint too heavily. Many (most?) try to paint in one coat & be done. That leads to clogging. So there's an art to it.

I stand by my Valspar recommendation. I don't like Krylon.

Valspar over Krylon is one thing..... Putting a paper towel behind the grille, wiping wet paint, negative. Sorry. That would turn into a royal cluster you-know-what.

How would one handle a wet grille to wipe the wet paint anyway? (Not really looking for an answer.)

This is a very simple process, no need to over complicate things.

[KeithL]

I'm inclined to avoid the "mix your paint with water and use a custom sprayer" route.

"Spray paint" that comes in a can is usually some sort of lacquer - or modern equivalent - and is thin and intended to be used thin.
This is more likely to deliver consistent good results than overly thinning paint that isn't intended to be used that way.
Heavily thinned latex room paint often doesn't work well at all......