Many car owners put on their cars not only expensive, but also non-standard radiator grilles, although a radiator grill with their own hands will cost several times cheaper, especially since car enthusiasts who do not miss the moment to contribute to their favorite car will not be difficult. It takes only a little free time, patience and your desire.
We present to your attention a kind of mini instruction - how to make a radiator grill yourself on Lada Kalina.
For the manufacture of a radiator grill, it is not necessary to have any special tools. Everything can be made from improvised tools and devices. It is immediately worth noting that the do - it- yourself radiator grill is a laborious work that requires attention, time and patience.
For work you will need:
- varnish, primer and paint;
- putty;
- some kind of board or container where you can mix the necessary ingredients;
- a piece of any canvas;
- file;
- sandpaper.
First you need to cut all the ribs in a standard radiator grill, but if you saw everything in a row, then an already fragile structure can even fall apart, and it will be almost impossible to restore it. So that you do not have such a problem, you need to strengthen your future grate after filing each part with putty.
Do-it-yourself radiator grill is painstaking work, and it is worth approaching it responsibly, because with the smallest oversight all the work can go down the drain. Next, align your structure with putty. Place the radiator grill on a flat surface and align the edges of the frame with little effort.
Then, in order to make your frame stronger and stronger, it is necessary to completely coat it with putty, after which your entire structure should be passed through (sanded) with sandpaper. To damage the putty was more gentle, it is better to use water. However, if minor damage or depressions appear on the putty layer, you can correct the situation by re-applying a thin layer and again sanding the product.
At the next stage, when the part is already ready for painting, it is necessary to thoroughly degrease the putty surface with any solution you have containing alcohol. Both acetone and ordinary cologne can be suitable here. Now you can apply the first coat of primer to your part. It should be applied carefully so that no leaks form, then leave it to reapply for about 6 hours. After this, it is necessary to apply the primer again and leave the frame to dry for a day in a well-ventilated and heated room.
A day later, after the primer is completely dry, you can start painting. Apply a layer of black paint and again leave the part for a day until it is completely dry. Then apply a coat of paint again, but leave it to dry for several hours in order to fix it with a finish coat and leave your part for another day in a well-prepared (ventilated and warm) room.
Now the product is almost ready, and you can proceed to the application of a protective layer of varnish. After this, the grate must again be left alone for 24 hours. To complete your work, you will also need a grid in the radiator grill, which can be obtained from the old used KamAZ filter, cutting it to the required size and degreasing it. After preparing the mesh for painting, you can apply a layer of powder paint on it so that it does not fly off over time. Leave to dry. And the very next day you can apply the final coat of varnish. After the varnish has completely dried, fasten the grid to the back slats of your frame, and that’s it! Do-it-yourself radiator grill! Now you can install the part on the car.