ESL 57: painting front grill: easy ?

[Fabien Lefebvre]

Hello,
I have an ESL 57 the grill of which would need to be re-painted: I have
warmed it too much with a heat gun to straighten it. Which altered its
colour locally.
Has some-one already tried to paint it ?
Which colours are acceptable ?
Thank you.

[Fabien Lefebvre]

One remark/question: what is altered is maybe not paint but clear varnish ?
In that case it should be not very difficult to apply a layer of very diluted varnish on top ?

[oshifis]

I have a pair of ESL with black front grille. But I have seen also bronze colour front grille. You can use black automotive spray, but best to take it to a car spray paint centre and have it painted black.

The internal dust covers had some grey paint on it. I have replaced the dust covers and I can live without the paint.

[Fabien Lefebvre]

Does someone have a reference for the bronze colour ?
The RAL number (or any international colour standard) would be great.

For example, copper brown could be close to original "bronze" colour: RAL 8004.
http://www.ralcolor.com/
Hard to see it on a computer screen though.

[Fabien Lefebvre]

Then there is things like that: Stops Rust 6-Pack 12 oz. Copper Hammered Stops Rust Spray - 182780 at The Home Depot

[oshifis]

Well, the guys at a good car spray centre (not the backyard one) are skilled enough to find/mix the matching colour, if you show them the original...

Problem is, if you try to do it yourself, the paint might block the grille gaps.

[Fabien Lefebvre]

Originally Posted by oshifis

Well, the guys at a good car spray centre (not the backyard one) are skilled enough to find/mix the matching colour, if you show them the original...

Problem is, if you try to do it yourself, the paint might block the grille gaps.

This is indeed a good solution.
I have my own (serious) equipment for car painting. The paint itself should be
quite dilluted to avoid what you mention.
But I need a reference for the colour.

[RHCD]

Originally Posted by Fabien Lefebvre

Does someone have a reference for the bronze colour ?
The RAL number (or any international colour standard) would be great.

For example, copper brown could be close to original "bronze" colour: RAL 8004.
www.RALcolor.com | RAL Color Chart
Hard to see it on a computer screen though.

Fabien, it isn't paint on the ESL-57 grilles. They are anodised aluminium. If you do a search for anodising companies you will find many commercial operations who can do a range of colours. They won't be able to match an old speaker, you'd have to have both grilles done at the same time, but you could have black or purple or whatever....

I wouldn't recommend painting them because of the risk of clogging the grille.

Robert

[oshifis]

The grille on my ESLs is steel, at least it attracts magnets...