Has anybody got this gear and how good does it work. I'm thinking of buying a kit basically to play around with on variuos parts of my bike. The things I'd like to do are Nickel plate my brembos " " various nuts bolts fittings Anodise my upper fork tubes black (as opposed to powdercoating) " the brake and clutch resovoir covers black. " any other bits. I realise that brush plating is not as hard wearing as hard plating (dipping) but can I not make a container to dip things in. Plus I will be able to use it on my other bikes and every one elses in the WORLD. Thoughts please good or bad appreciated.
Depending on how much and how often you're going to do it, it may be cheaper to pay someone else to do it for you. A bucket of nuts and bolts would cost you about a tenner if you took it to a professional unit! If you're going to be restoring multiple bikes or want to offer a service then fill ya boots, otherwise it's a big outlay to do just one bike or a few bits.
Thinking of doing it as a sideline for a few pennies to make the bike parts needed cost free ish. There is so much I'd like to try,one being the 999 side stand anodised black , i'm not into multi coloured anodised stuff.
To do it properly is very expensive . I know as one of my close friends does it and I've watched him go through it all from playing about to doing bigger stuff. The pigment dyes ( good ones ) are really expensive . Some metals and things like Ducati footrests and bits do not take too well even with top notch dye... And he is dam good !!!!! Depends on metals . He has developed processes that where thought impossible. Also it's all down to getting the pigment in deep. A lot of stuff on eBay you see that's anodised is not far into the surface structure . So a lot of blacks with fade to a goldy tinge in time ..... Not far in and cheap dye. To get a good black it needs to permeate in deep and a good dye must be used. He spends hours perfecting ways of doing stuff. Some commercial anodisers only 80 % or less of stuff is ok.... Small run items are expensive to produce. So people then say oh but I can buy those levers or something off eBay for..... Yes you can but it will be crap half the time you get what you pay for!!!! If one day I can find some nice adjustable forks for my monster I will be having him anodise them black. He was hoping to set up shop doing it but in reality he's finding it an expensive hobby... And he's bloody good!!!! Il see if I can upload a picture of some wheels he did not long ago. I was sitting having a cuppa while they bubbled away. Power packs often conk out as well...and any fluctuation can upset things so if you needed to do two runs and say the second one had a temp fluctuation it wouldn't be quite the same as the first batch!! Hence why large batch stuff needs large tanks. The batch needs to be identical . To play with fine... To make money with No .... Because you need to run large batches really to cover dye costs and stuff... Or your have people coming back with blacks gone gold or red gone pink!!! His bright Red is blood red!
Some stunning custom wheels black and blue anodising ( 2 colour) and black anodised cast alloy swing arm. Dead good!
Quote "I need to get a good black and it needs to permeate in deep" Quote Ooo er Mrs ! They look good Mel, does he take work on from fellow bikers and where is he located ?
Il post up details tomorrow I'm currently busy and don't have details to hand But will tomorrow night when I'm home
Thanks for the insightful info, it's definatley something I'm keen on doing, I wouldn't mind some helpful pointers from your man Mel. Pete.
PM me and il give details ..... I am not sure if you are allowed to post up what may be considered advertising on here even though it is not me! Peter James yes have a chat with him he is a great guy !! Very clever .
