Nickle Platting a Steel Frame....
06-27-06, 06:04 PM
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Nickle Platting a Steel Frame....
So this guy I know said he'll nickle plate my frame for a case of beer; 1) Is Nickle Platting it a good idea. and 2) Is it even worth a case of beer?
06-27-06, 06:05 PM
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It'll sure look cool, though it'll probably add a few ounces of weight to the frame. It will probably have a soft, matte-ish sheen to it.
06-27-06, 06:20 PM
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i have no idea whether it's a good idea or not. to me it'd be worth a case of beer just to see how it turns out. obviously, it depends on the frame, but unless it's a sweet custom or something i'd go for it.
if you do, please post pics.
if you do, please post pics.
06-27-06, 07:00 PM
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decorative chrome plating is really nickel plating with a thin lyer of chromium on top of the nickel. chromium hsa a bluish tint to it, so without the chrome, polished nickel does look like a semi-yellow chrome, and it's shine is not as durable. matte nickel however, looks awesome in my opinion.
06-27-06, 07:11 PM
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I had two motorcycles with nickel plated frames. I think I still have photos.
They look nice but are not totally rust resistant, you need to take care of them. I would say go for it anyway. It does have a nice look.
They look nice but are not totally rust resistant, you need to take care of them. I would say go for it anyway. It does have a nice look.
06-27-06, 09:34 PM
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Considering the EMP I've had done costs well over 200 a bucks a frame, I can't imagine what a 'case of beers' worth might be like.
Probably similar to how American beer tastes.
Probably similar to how American beer tastes.
06-27-06, 09:58 PM
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It's gonna get done next week!
Thanks for the feedback....I'll be sure to post pic when it's done. Oh it's an 80s Schwinn Le Tour Frame...gotta remove the braze on and file them down. I did get to see how it looked like on a piece of metal they were platting...flippin sweet! Might as well go for it since it's so cheap. Updates in a week or two.
06-28-06, 08:26 AM
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There was a nickel-plated Bridgstone RB-1 on eBay a couple of years ago. It looked cool, although I didn't quite see the point. I've got the pictures saved somewhere.
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06-28-06, 08:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Thylacine
Considering the EMP I've had done costs well over 200 a bucks a frame,
07-05-06, 07:34 PM
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Update! Just got my Bike Back from the Platting Shop...
I got my bike back today, dropped it off in the morning and picked it up in the afternoon. All the parts put back on with the exception of the Drop bars that I replaced with the Flat Bars. All the Braze on where grind down and flatten smooth. The Derailure hanger was chopped off. It's nice, considering It cost me Three 12pk of Heinikens...$35 Bucks. (Sorry if the Photos are too large) DIAL-UP be warned!!!
Before
After
Before
After
07-05-06, 07:39 PM
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Ooh! You may want to consider getting a clearcoat or clear powdercoat over that. Just to be on the safe side. I loves it...
07-05-06, 08:21 PM
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Damned nice!
07-05-06, 09:16 PM
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I'm all sorts of jealous. Nice work. Where do I send my frame and case of beer?
07-05-06, 09:47 PM
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Very impressive! Good job!
Is there a slight tint of gold or is it the light?
Is there a slight tint of gold or is it the light?
07-05-06, 10:05 PM
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wow, thats nice, and much nicer then that primer black paint you had before.
07-05-06, 11:21 PM
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A while back I visited the UBI bike school in Ashand, Oregon.
One of the instructors there had made a steel-lugged track/fixie with Dura-Ace components and a nickel finish.
It looked beautiful.
As for the color of nickel, look at a five cent piece.
Soft, lustrous silver-grey.
Pure nickel plating does not hold up well to physical damage.
Hard chrome takes a beating well.
What they call Triple-plated Hard Chrome plating typically has a layer of copper plating, with a thin layer of nickel, and then a thick layer of chrome.
The above represents the less expensive way of doing it.
The better and more expensive hard chrome finish has a thick layer of nickel and then chrome, without the copper base.
One of the instructors there had made a steel-lugged track/fixie with Dura-Ace components and a nickel finish.
It looked beautiful.
As for the color of nickel, look at a five cent piece.
Soft, lustrous silver-grey.
Pure nickel plating does not hold up well to physical damage.
Hard chrome takes a beating well.
What they call Triple-plated Hard Chrome plating typically has a layer of copper plating, with a thin layer of nickel, and then a thick layer of chrome.
The above represents the less expensive way of doing it.
The better and more expensive hard chrome finish has a thick layer of nickel and then chrome, without the copper base.
07-06-06, 12:27 AM
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uhhh....why don't these types of deals fall in my lap?! tell your "santa claus" that i'll give him 2 cases of beer for a matte black iro jamie roy.
07-06-06, 02:27 AM
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I think hard chrome is more for industrial-type use. ? Just to add some longevity to parts. All decorative chrome plating done right is copper/nickel/chromium. The chromium is like -not even there- thin. I'm not even sure if the thickness is measurable.
$35 is sweet, dude. Nice-lookin bike. Got some simichrome?
$35 is sweet, dude. Nice-lookin bike. Got some simichrome?
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07-06-06, 06:46 AM
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Triple plating is rare these days. Most people just do nickel, with super thin chromium over it for decorative stuff.
Hard chrome plating gives a dull, not attractive finish that is very durable.
Hard chrome plating gives a dull, not attractive finish that is very durable.
07-06-06, 07:32 AM
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Thats purty, for a case of beer? Good trade!