I just finished stripping the paint off of an old Raleigh track frame that I'm building up and thought of using a two part paint that creates instant rust. The base coat is black and has small particles of iron in it, the second part is an activator that instatly rusts the iron in the first part. https://www.modernoptions.com/ I saw a sample done on plastic at the art store the other day and it looked very convincing. Thought it might be cool to do a whole bike with it and it might be a good anti theft trick.

I, too, had wondered about this, but did not know how to achieve the effect. Thanks!

You could get a book on gunsmithing and do "Browning" which is controled rusting that was used before blueing.The book i read gave how to do it--all I remember was rub the metal with a salt compound let set over night then oil.

I was thinking about the same thing actually.. it seems pretty easy to do.

Nice. This might be a good alternative to my usual "****e spraypaint job" that I use to send bike thieves running away screaming.

.....or, you can buy a good lock!

I would just thrown my frame in the harbor for a little while, then take it out and let it dry.

A kid in SF had done this to his pista...my only word of advice from talking to him is that if you're going to do it, apply it ALL over the bike. He'd tried to streak his and found out that the stuff's a bit tough to control. It turned out rather cool if a bit splotchy. Actually looks bronzed or something from a distance. I say go for it.

i've had tons of steel bikes and i've always managed to get a perfectly good rust effect without special paint

Tell ya what: test that theory with the best d-lock you can find, combined with the best cable lock, combined with the best chain. Bike thieves can defeat any of those locks in a matter of minutes, if not seconds. If you're locking your bike up outside on a regular basis, you're risking it not being there when you come back. A "good lock" really means nothing unless the bike next to your's isn't locked up at all.

If my ugly ass bike is locked up next to your blinged out bike, which do you think the thief is going to get more money for at the bike / pawn shop and go after?

I'm not saying only own ugly bikes - that's ridiculous. I'm talking about bikes that are locked up on the street on a regular basis.

- eyefloater

I would hate for my thighs to rub up against a rusty bike while dismounting — it could shred my pants or scrape my skin and that wouldn't feel nice at all. I'd rather just lock my bike better.

pros:
-less likely to be stolen (maybe)

cons:
-ugly ass bike (subjective, of course)
-time and money spent

its not like the bike will be instantly theif-proof. the wheels, gears, and chain will at least still be recognizeable as in tip top shape. it might stop a bike thief from considering stealing it if he was like 20 yards away, but if he gets close he'll see its just a really good bike with a paint job. a crappy bike doesn't look completely rusted out. in fact, most crappy bikes only have a few paint flaws, and rusted out drive trains. you will still have to lock it just like you would a nicer bike, so its up to you to judge how much of a deterrant it will really be. in my area, i don't see bike theft as being a very large concern, so i would never consider doing this to my bike. i would only do it if bikes are stolen left and right around you and you truely think it will stop someone from doing it.