Show me your GOLD! (experiments)

[Ride 'em High]

I've been trying to reproduce gold. Though I've yet to finish the bike, here are some examples. I'd love to see your experiments whether or not your surely high expectations were met. Of course this should be on a bike, (sorry I can't do the same yet), but I'd appreciate images of your process as well. I'm hoping to learn from your experience. I started at the bottom with translucent spray paint [detailed here] since I haven't the setup for higher end applications as yet. The fender is my work.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

@Captain Awesome did one, I think it was metalcast, thing was a bling wagon

 

[Captain Awesome]

Metalcast over silver metallic base

 

[LACABikeGuy.55]

Check out this 1955 Schwinn Headbadge. I had it dipped in real gold. My Chrome guy is a Schwinn Collector and does insane work with Gold. He will do S-2 wheels and every piece is gold.

 

[LACABikeGuy.55]

I will sell the badge….

 

[Ride 'em High]

Metalcast over silver metallic base

Thats some smooth painting @Captain Awesome . Is that silver metallic base also Duplicolor? With all the available spray paint options these days I'm a little surprised at how common this brand is with bike builders.

 

[Ride 'em High]

Check out this 1955 Schwinn Headbadge. I had it dipped in real gold. My Chrome guy is a Schwinn Collector and does insane work with Gold. He will do S-2 wheels and every piece is gold.

Nice. I'm guessing 24k from the dark tone. Is that right? How does dipping differ from plating results? Looks like you got a chunkier finish with a bit of build up around the edges of the letters. Was this a two layer application of silver or some other metal before the gold is applied? Did/can you use a protective finish? Was it costlier than plating?

 

[Pestcontrol02]

These were done with krylon canary yellow stained glass paint, multiple coats until it’s the desired shade.

 

[Ride 'em High]

These were done with krylon canary yellow stained glass paint, multiple coats until it’s the desired shade.

I was wondering when Krylon would show up. Did it withstand wear or chip off? Being familiar with the older kry/rusto brands I've watched their quality waver over the years so I'm always wary, but they often offer extended colors over auto brands like Dupli. I'm looking at MTN94's translucent, for instance, but also concerned about adhesion and compatible top layers once I stray away from products designed for use on metal.

 

[Pestcontrol02]

I was wondering when Krylon would show up. Did it withstand wear or chip off? Being familiar with the older kry/rusto brands I've watched their quality waver over the years so I'm always wary.

It was fine for these bolts on the seat tube, don’t know if it could hold up on cranks or rims or some other high use part, it didn’t hold up well at all on my car fog lights.

 

[Ulu]

I was wondering when Krylon would show up. Did it withstand wear or chip off? Being familiar with the older kry/rusto brands I've watched their quality waver over the years so I'm always wary, but they often offer extended colors over auto brands like Dupli. I'm looking at MTN94's translucent, for instance, but also concerned about adhesion and compatible top layers once I stray away from products designed for use on metal.

If I etch the metal with phosphoric acid and alcohol solution before painting, I never have a problem with adhesion to steel.

When I worked at an extrusion, painting & anodizing plant, we always etched the aluminum with a hot solution of lye. We were shooting something called Kynar 500 for Architectural work.

They would also boil the aluminum parts in hot water to seal up the pores and make the skin of the aluminum tougher.

 

[Captain Awesome]

Thats some smooth painting @Captain Awesome . Is that silver metallic base also Duplicolor? With all the available spray paint options these days I'm a little surprised at how common this brand is with bike builders.

It was not duplicolor. It was Rust-Oleum I think

These were done with krylon canary yellow stained glass paint, multiple coats until it’s the desired shade.

View attachment 224006
View attachment 224007

I've used it with mixed results. Definitely applies differently than the duplicolor

 

[LACABikeGuy.55]

Nice. I'm guessing 24k from the dark tone. Is that right? How does dipping differ from plating results? Looks like you got a chunkier finish with a bit of build up around the edges of the letters. Was this a two layer application of silver or some other metal before the gold is applied? Did/can you use a protective finish? Was it costlier than plating?

I’m going to respond after my Chrome guy/JD let’s me know what his process is.

 

[LACABikeGuy.55]

I’m going to respond after my Chrome guy/JD let’s me know what his process is.

He said that he does the item in chrome first and then dips it in 24K gold. He charges $100 for a Schwinn badge. I’ll add pictures of his work once I get them. He does old rear wheels and hubs on a Schwinn Stingray in gold.