This is really interesting to me. I'm kicking around the idea of gun-bluing the main tubes on one of my bikes and having the lugs copper-plated. I think I'd have to blue the whole frame, and I really don't want to go to the trouble of a traditional rust-blueing. There is a process called 'fume-bluing' where the part is placed in a cabinet along with separate, open containers of hydrochloric and nitric acid. Apparently when they combine on the steel it can give a very deep, lustrous blue. Phil Pilkington, the inventor of this process, claims it can be painted and plated over with no ill effects; and I'm thinking that if i do a phosphoric acid wash before bluing it will provide some greater measure of rust protection. Of course, so would a good coat of carnauba wax and not riding it except on the sunniest of days.

Now that the bike shop season's in full swing and we've got the financial rubberbanding straightened out, I can afford to spend some money on stuff other than the bare necessities. Hopefully I can get back to y'all with some pics of how it turns out.