Spray paint the grid, buy an additional bundle and store in the ceiling.

any particular kind of paint....$1 stuff or $4 rustolium...?

any benefit to the fiberglass tile?

The grid is painted with oil base, so its oil based or prime and water based.
The fiberglass are lighter and store easier.

The cellulose are by far the easier to cut and shape when you have inconsistent irregularities.

Armstrong 922 has been made fro 30 plus years and all companies make one that is virtually identical and the availability is not going to change and I agree oil paint and and extra case of tile regardless.

so just clean the grid and paint with oil based paint....is canned rustolium oil based?

yes it is

Ahhh! The wife says the stuff stinks and she will return to work mid week. If I go waterbased route, am I using an oil based primer or water based primer? I have a wtaerbased kilz and waterbased white paint at home...assume I'd use a roller....

If I need an oil based primer..I am back to the smell issue....?

The original oil based KILZ does have some residual odor as well as viscosity and a significant dry time.

A little more expensive, but shorter dry time and less odor is the BIN.

Anything other than high gloss in a water based, is a dirt magnet.

Open the doors and windows with a good fan, no lasting odors..

I used rustolium. It was quick and looks good..no smell after the windows open for the night...allbeit at the expense of making a big mess. After cleanup all is well. I should have covered everything. I did not think the spray would permiate allover as it did.