[Curb Hucker]

So my team and I are currently looking at what we want to do in terms of painting our race rigs for this season. Being the true pimps we all are I have come across the idea of copper plating our frames. I know that you can copper plate AL, and if we had a good strong Powdercoat clearcoat applied ontop of it is there any reason that copper plating a DH rig wouldnt work?

 

[GumbaFish]

All I know is it would look sweet as heck.

 

[zmtber]

yeah but the copper would reflect the light from the photographers flash, destroying any pictures he would have of you and your team. its quantum physics with a little calc, its a fact.

 

[Potroast88]

It wouldn't reflect any more than chrome.

 

[CrabJoe StretchPants]

that would add alot of useless weight to your bikes...........not that im a weight weenie or anything

 

[Brian HCM#1]

It would definatly need to be clear coated otherwise it will darken and look like sh*t.

 

[Potroast88]

Copper turns green unless you constantly polish it.

 

[buildyourown]

Alum can't be easily plated. Nothing sticks to alum when it comes to plating.
That, and copper plating is fricken pricey.
And your bike would look like a big penny

 

[maxyedor]

Why not go to a good painter and get a partial or full coat of copper leaf, in a cool patteren, similar look WAY less undue weight

 

[manziman]

Didn't you just turn your Cannfield into a Cannondale?

 

[blue]

Didn't you just turn your Cannfield into a Cannondale?

I thought Canfields were God's gift to man?

 

[scottmeister]

Bah copper plating. How about Nickel plating? Looks teh leet. Dunno who does it in the US, but check out www.electromold.com.au

I custom painted a frame of mine a few months back, a purple-gold-blue chameleon. Looked very unique. Otherwise stick to powdercoating or maybe anodizing if you value your savings account.

I could probably post some pics of my old chameleon bike up if people are interested.

 

[Andy_B]

Otherwise stick to powdercoating or maybe anodizing if you value your savings account.

Curb Hucker value his savings? The kid bought a welder because he liked the color of it.

 

[hooples3]

try aluminum foil first

 

[narlus]

i'd go w/ osmium. it would give you a bit oomph when going into rock gardens.

 

[johnbryanpeters]

Copper turns green unless you constantly polish it.

Not any more. It turns a dark brown - the changed the manufacturing process quite a few years back and it no longer naturally oxidizes to green.

Bah copper plating. How about Nickel plating? Looks teh leet. Dunno who does it in the US, but check out www.electromold.com.au

I custom painted a frame of mine a few months back, a purple-gold-blue chameleon. Looked very unique. Otherwise stick to powdercoating or maybe anodizing if you value your savings account.

I could probably post some pics of my old chameleon bike up if people are interested.

Nickel has the longevity of spoiled cabbage.

 

[Curb Hucker]

Curb Hucker value his savings? The kid bought a welder because he liked the color of it.

Awww is someone a jealous prick :mumble:

 

[Greyhound]

Slide by your local powdercoaters and get them to do a copper color on your frame. They can do it.

 

[Andy_B]

Awww is someone a jealous prick :mumble:

Almost.

 

[RD3]

I also have considered copper plating a frame. Steel is probably a better material to plate than aluminum. To protect the copper you will not want to use a powder coat, use a clear urethane auto paint. The temperatures at which the clear powder coat is applied will cause the copper to discolor. The plating will also add a few ounces of weight. You are probably looking at a few hundred $ per frame for this. Like mentioned above a copper colored powder coat or copper ano is probably the best solution.

 

[Angus]

chrome plating and copper plating also put undue stress on the welds during the plating process, that could cause the frames to fail prematurely

 

[wingman24]

I thought Canfields were God's gift to man?

It's true, they are.

 

[binary visions]

Why wouldn't you just copper anodize it? So you can say, "My frame is copper plated even though it looks almost exactly the same as a copper anodized frame, except heavier, more expensive, and if I ding up the clearcoat it'll oxidize"?

Is there a good reason for the plating?

 

[Reactor]

I've seen a seen some good looking copper powder coats.

 

[Nick]

 

[narlus]

Is there a good reason for the plating?

the platers were all out of platinum.

 

[stinkyboy]

Why wouldn't you just copper anodize it? So you can say, "My frame is copper plated even though it looks almost exactly the same as a copper anodized frame, except heavier, more expensive, and if I ding up the clearcoat it'll oxidize"?

Is there a good reason for the plating?

 

[binary visions]

the platers were all out of platinum.

 

[scottmeister]

Nickel has the longevity of spoiled cabbage.

Care to expand?

Electroless Nickel plating is quite hard and wear/corrosion resistant. Has a hardness of up to 70 Rockwell C- more than hard anodizing. Hmm, what does FTW use on the rear end of R9s again?

 

[Changleen]

Too much vanity, not enough riding.