I know that there are several threads on this subject, but people don't clarify much with mesh choice and details. I'm planning to do the DIY grill in the next couple weeks so I stopped by Home Depot today to see what they had...

Here's the $3/roll aluminum stuff...




Same brand, but plastic...


Galvanized steel... better quality and much more fine. About $10/roll


Quick photoshop of what the cheap aluminum stuff would look like if I painted it over in black. Take note, plastic stuff has a different pattern than this.

Yeah I know I didn't take out bottom parts of the slats, that would take too long and would be pointless. Sorry for the quality of the images, they're all from my phone.

So... I'm going for the fine look, but I could settle for the aluminum stuff as well (first two pics and last pic), the pattern isn't too spread out (although the photoshop isn't perfectly to scale). From your experiences, which is going to be easier to cure paint to? I'm gonna paint it black. It seems that it's recommended to apply some sort of preperation solution to the galvanized steel so that the paint will properly stick, but I guess it'll stick easily to aluminum? What kinda paint did you guys use. Also, how much does the backing of the grills press against the body? If I were to put a temporary adhesive on, would the pressure between the plastic of the grill and the car keep the mesh in place or do I have to use a permanent adhesive? I was thinking I could start with the cheaper stuff and if I don't like it, I can take it off and upgrade. What do you guys think?

 

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I chose the galvanized steel for my last set of grilles... and it wasn't a bad thing at first, but then each time a stone (or some sand) would hit my grilles, the paint would chip off and the metal would show off. I'm currently making my own grilles from the stocks frames, just like you are... and I decided to go with the plactic mesh this time, so I don't have anything to paint and the small rocks and sand won't make the grilles look bad in the weeks after I intalled them.

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i bought the stuff that APC makes and it comes in Silver, Blue or red and is easy to cut, i just didn't paint it, it looks half decent and it came in a piece sized at 48" long by 8" width, and cost $20.

 

I used an old pair of my mom's pantyhose. They are big enough to cover the whole front end of the car. Don't use the tan/brown color. It looks pretty funny on your car, and then people will honk at you and wave and yell "Hey, you have pantyhose stuck on the front of your car". Be sure to use black pantyhose for that "sleeper" look, and then people will think you have a slammin' custom ride.

EVOlutionary

 

Pantyhose, that's a new one for me. Heard that it could be used in emergency use for a fan belt too? It's the new duct tape...

 

I did the galvanized steel option but I left it silver so i wouldn't have the painting problem.

Might try and paint it during spring break

 

Panty hose