Nickel plating

[sinnett177]

In 1993 alpinestars nickel plated their steel frames. I was wondering if anybody has nickel plated a frame and how easy it is to do. Also could you plate a frame that has a dent in it i.e. fill the dent and plate over it?

 

[The Ken]

I've had a frame chrome plated (in 1990) it was fairly straight forward - get the frame bead blasted as I did (with a very fine bead) or chemically stripped and then take to the platers (I used Rosyth Dockyard as my dad was in the Navy then) cost about 100quid in total.

I doubt the plateing would take to the any filler as it is a electrical reaction that creates the finish.

 

[Andy R]

As far as the dent goes, it would have to be filled with brass or silver solder (even better as the tube wouldn't have to be heated to such a high temperature), and afterwards filed/polished back to a smooth surface.

This could then be plated.

 

[sinnett177]

Thanks gents this is possible then. Think it looks awesome so might be the way to go for a future build.

 

[The Ken]

you could just buy polished titanium it looks just as nice and might last longer

 

[FairfaxPat]

Remember that any frame you plate must be polished first, before plating, or it will show any marks right through the nickel or chrome. If you bead blast it you will get a more satin like finish.

 

[The Ken]

good advice but with my chrome one the plate was quite thick so looked totally smooth.

I then over painted the front with a translucent paint so it looked like a faded anodised finish with lettering to match. Looked good, but I can't remember what I did with it after I got the xizang :roll: ...probably gave it to a mate.