New Build thread

[mark]

Looks more like 205.62mm to me not 206!!

Good work

I was gonna try heat rather than brute force when i corrected my distortion but im impatient so went with the latter!

[K4KEV]

Gonna buy you a dicky comb

[K4KEV]

Well....been away from the build for a few months trying to master the art of electroplating (see separate thread on Nickel plating) but because of the plating op turned out so well it has given me a boost so I have been back into the garage and re established the build.....so far in the last couple of days I have made up the rear tub 1" bracing since I am going to use the glass tub and today I got stuck into cutting the trans tunnel sections so will be constructing that tomorrow.....
just a couple of piccies

[Bonzo]

Looks like you are making some good proress there

Tis strange how easy it is to get stuck in the mindeset of " I must finish this part before I move on "

Been thinking about having another crack at electro plating at some point .... Got as far as basic copper plating, then got hacked off trying to find the chemicals to take things further ( Had wanted to do some chrome plating )

Well done on your progress to date

[K4KEV]

Cheers Ronnie....did consider chrome, but too many nasty chemicals involved to get it spot on.... nickel baths you can even put your hand in (dropped a tube in once had to fish it out) as long as you wash it straight away. Gateros plating and caswell do the best kits but as I discovered the most important ability is to be able to control the dc volts and current.

[K4KEV]

Bin a while now since my last update....(too cold for the shed) Anyways since becoming pretty good at nickel plating....I sensed it was time to put it to full use on me bones dem bones dem bones dem dry.... sorry couldn't help that.
I had made a start on them before but not with the object of completing them, so a week ago I set about finishing them off......not finished yet but here is a sneak preview....I have to confess to getting totally carried away as you can see.....final picture is of a totally completed front upper wishbone nickel plated ends only sprayed traffic red (bodywork colour) clear lacquered and polybushed up, mega satisfied with the result and now working my way through the other 7

so this is what the bones looked like at the start


now a bit of welding..grinding..welding..grinding etc etc



extremities now nickel plated (2hrs per each session)


painted, lacquered and bushed up and soon to be wrapped in cotton wool

[HandyAndy]

WOW Kev......that looks stunning

Cotton wool needed indeed, the bones will look great on your Roadster , nice work mate

cheers
andy

[minicountryman1961]

Do you have a favorite resource on the Interwebs for technical advice on nickel plating?

I have a classic old bicycle that I would love to plate the headtube on. The owner of our local plating shop went to prison for environmental crimes related to the dumping of nasty chemicals., so I have been at a loss as to where to get it done.

Thanks

Originally Posted by K4KEV

Cheers Ronnie....did consider chrome, but too many nasty chemicals involved to get it spot on.... nickel baths you can even put your hand in (dropped a tube in once had to fish it out) as long as you wash it straight away. Gateros plating and caswell do the best kits but as I discovered the most important ability is to be able to control the dc volts and current.

[K4KEV]

Hi Mcm Check out my other thread on nickel plating.
I found that Gateros plating on Ebay to be a very good source for the required chemicals and their kits are reasonably priced, another is caswell plating.
The most important thing as far as I was concerned was the ability to "dial in"
the voltage and current by using a "lab supply" or rectifier, it took a lot of trial and error and in retrospect wish I had gone for the "plating kit"
hope this helps you.
K4