Painting speaker grilles - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Martin Bush · 22nd Apr 2015, 8:21 pm

Hello all

I have a batch of Roberts radios - Ramblers and similar. Some of the grilles need touching up or more extensive painting. None are so bad that it would be quicker or more effective to run them down first - the best have very minor spots that I can retouch with a small brush and the worst have patches where the paint loss is in areas no bigger than a 10p.

I have some black satin spray paint and the right width masking tape, but I was wondering if I needed to prime the exposed metal I am repainting. I'm hoping that the answer to this is no, but I would sooner find out now rather than when the nice new paint fails to stick.

Has anyone any experience of this kind of repair?

Martin

music-centre · 22nd Apr 2015, 9:34 pm

Hello Martin,
I wouldn't bother to prime the areas, just make sure its clean and put a couple of light coats on after you have masked it.I did re-spray the lines on a Roberts once and it came out quite well, I just wiped the area over with methylated spirit or similar first.
You can get masking tape with a finer edge meant for these sort of small jobs if you find the edge of the area you have sprayed isn't sharp enough.
I have also seen these grilles just touched up with one of those black marker pens and a ruler and it has come out quite well.
Steve.

Martin Bush · 23rd Apr 2015, 12:04 am

Thanks Steve. I will give it a go now I have some guidance. I had visions of a tiny touch up becoming a bit of a Father Ted job (the episode where he tries to knock a tiny dent out of a borrowed car)...

By the way, the Ekco is also 'on the bench' as we speak.

Nickthedentist · 23rd Apr 2015, 9:22 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mdwAkWvWMw

Martin Bush · 23rd Apr 2015, 9:32 am

I'm sure I won't get it absolutely right...

22nd Apr 2015, 8:21 pm	#1
Martin Bush Octode Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 1,911	Painting speaker grilles Hello all I have a batch of Roberts radios - Ramblers and similar. Some of the grilles need touching up or more extensive painting. None are so bad that it would be quicker or more effective to run them down first - the best have very minor spots that I can retouch with a small brush and the worst have patches where the paint loss is in areas no bigger than a 10p. I have some black satin spray paint and the right width masking tape, but I was wondering if I needed to prime the exposed metal I am repainting. I'm hoping that the answer to this is no, but I would sooner find out now rather than when the nice new paint fails to stick. Has anyone any experience of this kind of repair? Martin

22nd Apr 2015, 9:34 pm	#2
music-centre Heptode Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK. Posts: 687	Re: Painting speaker grilles Hello Martin, I wouldn't bother to prime the areas, just make sure its clean and put a couple of light coats on after you have masked it.I did re-spray the lines on a Roberts once and it came out quite well, I just wiped the area over with methylated spirit or similar first. You can get masking tape with a finer edge meant for these sort of small jobs if you find the edge of the area you have sprayed isn't sharp enough. I have also seen these grilles just touched up with one of those black marker pens and a ruler and it has come out quite well. Steve.

23rd Apr 2015, 12:04 am	#3
Martin Bush Octode Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 1,911	Re: Painting speaker grilles Thanks Steve. I will give it a go now I have some guidance. I had visions of a tiny touch up becoming a bit of a Father Ted job (the episode where he tries to knock a tiny dent out of a borrowed car)... By the way, the Ekco is also 'on the bench' as we speak.

23rd Apr 2015, 9:22 am	#4
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,866	Re: Painting speaker grilles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mdwAkWvWMw

23rd Apr 2015, 9:32 am	#5
Martin Bush Octode Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 1,911	Re: Painting speaker grilles I'm sure I won't get it absolutely right...