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Frame Color Question

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01 / Original postFrame Color QuestionNimbusnut · 24 Feb 2008 02 / This pagePosts 1–12Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #12colin340 · 25 Feb 2008

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rec.sport.unicycling
Published
24 February 2008
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25 February 2008
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Nimbusnut
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  1. Original post
    Nimbusnut
    Archived post
    #1

    This is kind of directed towards UDC and Nimbus frames but it could
    apply to any manufacturer: Chrome is a really tough finish, there's no
    question about that, but I've been wanting to switch out the chrome on
    my Muni to a powder coated olive drab. It would be a big production to
    have the chrome removed and sending it out to be painted would be a
    pretty big production so I am wondering if there are enough other
    people that would think that an olive drab frame would look good along
    with the knobby tires and black seat post, etc. Maybe if this would be
    a popular color, frame manufacturers would consider offering this color
    option. Ya, I bet if I called UDC it wouldn't be much of a trick to get
    an bare Muni frame or have it custom powder coated but it seems like it
    may be a good finish option for them to offer for other frames too.
    Thank you.

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  2. $unidude$chad$:)
    Archived post
    #2

    sounds cool, and that would be a huge project to get all the chrome off
    to bare metal

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  3. Nimbusnut
    Archived post
    #3

    And pretty expensive too if it had to be done by sending it to a plating
    company to strip the chrome off of it. I'm going to call on Monday to
    see if it's possible to get a bare frame or if they can get it powder
    coated in another color. Forest green would be cool too. Thank you.

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  4. $unidude$chad$:)
    Archived post
    #4

    yea plating would cost alot for a uni frame ...good luck

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  5. Nimbusnut
    Archived post
    #5

    Or "unplating" to be able to paint.. How about this: because people have
    different tastes. A manufacturer pulls a certain percentage of frames
    of the line before painting or plating. Then hooks up with a good paint
    shop, and offers their standard finishes, but also a line of custom
    colors with a wide range of different color schemes. A good paint shop
    does small powder coating jobs. Maybe the majority of people are
    satisfied with what colors are currently available on different
    frames.

    No biggy, if there isn't much a response to this idea, that's cool. I'm
    just thinking if people want to see more choices, and if there's enough
    interest maybe some of the companies building unis may want to try
    offering either unpainted bare frames or go as far as hooking up with a
    paint shop and offing more variety. Thank you.

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  6. tistom
    Archived post
    #6

    If you knew what you here doing you could 'reverse plate' it. But you
    would have to know the correct chemicals to do it.

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  7. Brian O.
    Archived post
    #7

    Couldnt you just powdercoat over the chrome? I'm pretty sure I've been
    told thats what Bedford does.

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  8. Nimbusnut
    Archived post
    #8

    yes yes, reverse plating sounds a lot better than "unplating". The
    chemicals used are pretty scary but there are a bunch of plating
    companies out there that do stuff.. It would be worth it to check
    around. The only experience I had with powder coating over chrome was
    when I shortened the springs on my chooper/rat bike to slam it and then
    powder coated them black. The powder coating is ok, but it scratches
    off way too easily. The nice thing is that maybe it's possible to buy
    frames from different companies that are unfinished, and that would
    make things easier. I'm crossing my fingers that UDC will say I can buy
    some raw frames so I can send them to the pant shop and do a bunch at
    once. Maybe some Nimbus trials frames to start with.

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  9. Nimbusnut
    Archived post
    #9

    Well, Buying unfinished frames isn't an option, but I found good
    instructions for prepping chrome for painting:

    1) Rough it up by lightly sandblasting. Fine grit emery cloth would
    probably work.
    2) Follow that with a two part zinc phosphate primer such as Dupont
    #615 and
    #616.
    3) Follow that with a urethane primer, followed by the finish
    painting.

    Chrome can be stripped chemically but that isn't a safe option for
    non-professionals.

    Portions of the chrome could be left intact to make interesting
    patterns.. Shades of the old Husqvarna gas tanks.

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  10. johnfoss
    Archived post
    #10

    I'm pretty sure those frames are manufactured in Taiwan or somewhere in
    Asia. That means large batches and probably no chance for custom orders
    unless they're in large numbers as well, which pretty much
    un-customizes them.

    For products being made in smaller numbers and/or by people you can get
    in direct contact with, it should be much easier to arrange for custom
    jobs.

    --
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  11. Nimbusnut
    Archived post
    #11

    Yup, you're right. They ship the Nimbus frames by the case from those
    far away lands, and there isn't really any way to pick them up any
    other way than finished one at a time. Since it never hurts to "chase
    windmills" once in a while, plan B is to track down the actual
    manufacturer of Nimbus frames. I like them because it's easy to see
    that the quality of fabrication is top notch and they are relatively
    inexpensive. It's conceivable that the actual factory is contracted by
    other firms to build frames and I'm hoping that it would be possible to
    buy these styles of frames unpainted or sans chrome by the case
    through a broker. maybe it's a dumb idea, but it wouldn't be the first
    time. I figger since I already have product liability insurance, a
    registered business etc, along with a friend that's a great wheel
    builder and fabricator that wants to build a paint room in his
    maintenance garage, there's a slim chance we could buy components at
    wholesale and offer small numbers of custom unis. Never hurts to try.

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  12. colin340
    Archived post
    #12

    i'ev been look into heat shrinking mine or geting it rubberized both
    would be much easyer and tougher than powder

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