From what I understand, better chrome plating services will electroplate with copper and polish as part of the process. The copper is primarily used as a filler to smooth out flaws before top plating with chrome or nickel. So if ones not interested in the complete chrome process, the electroplate copper should be lower cost? Once electroplated the layer will quickly oxidize so would have to protect it with a clear.

My 1960 Puch Bergmeister was finished with red tinted clear coat over copper plating and it was beautiful. It was an extra cost option. It was pretty fragile, though. They didn't have the tough urethane clear coats that they have now. A gold or copper base coat yields a deeper, richer candy apple red than silver. Built a lot of model cars when I was a kid, so I have some experience with candy (or Kandy) colors.

Bump to share a few rather poor pictures of the custom frame I just picked up from the powder coater yesterday.

This is a Columbus SL road bike frame made to fit 26 x 2.3 tires.




It's a two stage powder coat; first chrome, then transparent copper. Since it's chrome powder coat, rather than chrome plate, the effect is not quite the same as real chromovelato.

Has anyone seen box lining on a chromovelato finish?

I occasionally need to alter the tint in lacquer for wood applications and I add a VERY small amount of UTC (universal tinting compound) to clear lac...it does not alter the transparency of the lac. The pigments I like are German-made Mixol brand (very concentrated) but the old stand-by is Tintsall.

Did that many times when I used to paint custom motorcycles, commonly referred to as "choppers".

As for the three steps in chrome plating - copper base, nickel color and then chrome over top of it. Chrome is actually orange, as I recall, but goes on so thin that the orange can't been seen. Also, copper plating, left as is, will tarnish over night. Perhaps a coat of clear paint will prevent that, but so too, will the top coat of chrome and the chrome will be much more durable.

The big issue, for me, is adherence to the base or metal tubing. which caused me to take notice of...

...something to look into as I prepare. If I go this route, and I hope I do, I will let you all know how it works out.

This is exactly what I am looking for, except I don't like powder coating and probably because there is no capable powder coater, that I would trust, in the Thunder Bay area...

Bump, very interesting thread. Are there pics of the lugs showing how thick the powdercoat layer is? If you already have chromed lugs and stays, how do they mask off, if possible to allow the original chrome to show?