Originally Posted by
syfi
One process worth mentioning is treating stainless steel with IVD - ion vapour deposition - to give an aluminium coating. You can then anodise it in the same way as aluminium. This process has basically replaced cad plating of SS and can be applied in greater thicknesses (up to several mils thick), which would surely help the thin mesh of these grilles. IVD also provides galvanic protection for these alloys allowing dissimilar metal usage. Only downside would probably be cost of application.
Quote from Dow Automotive:
The company where my wife works has a plating dept. I understand what they are saying. In the case of the grilles, they are very well done as far as the welds and forming. I just didn't spend enough time cleaning or prepping the metal for paint. When you weld or tack things together you should clean those areas or at least scuff them to get some adherence. I didn't take the time to do that. I will pay for that in the end. But touching them up is not a big deal either. They may cure just fine and harden. I think if the powder coater isn't too expensive, I might get them done. If not, the paint isn't all that expensive, and I can just touch them up when needed. It is what it is. Not a big deal. I am sure zunsport has a method for cleaning and prep, and the use of polymers for adherence is a good idea. But I wasn't sure what colors I would use on both cars, so I got them raw so to speak.