keeping it shiny

[chunkolini]

I have a customer interested in a fish similar to this.


This one is mild steel and has since been allowed to rust.

is there a clear coating that can be used?
We have talked about galvanising it but it would go dull over time. Also I have spoken to th galvinisers and they say it would warp and buckle in the vat. I wonder if he was just being disinterested as I have spoken to this guy before and does not seem to want any new business.

I have messed about lacquering smaller pieces in the past but they go a bit grotty after a year or so. I know Curtis used to clear lacquer their BMX bikes a while ago. Any idea what they used and is something that I can apply myself.

Stainless? the problem would be bending the head, no slip rolls and I am sure the head would distort horribly, also the lines on the fins are applied with a Mig welder, in mild steel it is easy to double side them, would this work in stainless?

In anticipation of you help, I am off for a pint.

Chunko'.

 

[mike os]

cant see any problem doing it in stainless that you would not face in ms.

head has to be shaped either way, so it is only the additional stiffness of ST/ST?

go down a guage or two perhaps? or get someone to roll it with you?

cant comment on galv as I have never had any sheet work done, & we know what clear coating is going to be like

 

[chunkolini]

One concern with SS is when I come to weld the other side of the fins, when I applied detail like this before the underside of the weld comes over very lumpy and black, would welding over this be a problem?

I suppose I have to have a go and see, that is the best way of seeing what happens. Also I dont fancy pickle pasting the whole thing. Blech. The again it is paste the welds and then scotchbrite the whole thing, blech. But maybe a bit less blech.

Chunko'.

 

[W4yne]

I wonder what type of coating they use on alloy wheels? it's a kind of plasticoat.

 

[BeeJay99]

7:26pm In anticipation of you help, I am off for a pint.

7:46pm One concern with SS is when I come to weld the other side of the fins, when I applied detail like this before the underside of the weld comes over very lumpy and black, would welding over this be a problem?

I suppose I have to have a go and see, that is the best way of seeing what happens. Also I dont fancy pickle pasting the whole thing. Blech. The again it is paste the welds and then scotchbrite the whole thing, blech. But maybe a bit less blech.

Chunko'.

I thought I was a bl***y fast drinker but clearly not in your league. Is the boozer next door?

 

[Welderpaul]

Yer mans right about the galvanising - it will make a terrible mess of it. Plus they are good at damaging things. Don't let that anywhere near a galv bath!

 

[piman]

Hello Chunkolini,

what sort of size is this, as another approach would to be have it chrome plated? I would think that it would be cheaper than stainless steel? Before you say that you don't want it shiny, chrome plating has the finish of the base metal. I.e. most chrome plating is on mirror finished steel.

Alec

 

[mike os]

Hello Chunkolini,

what sort of size is this, as another approach would to be have it chrome plated? I would think that it would be cheaper than stainless steel? Before you say that you don't want it shiny, chrome plating has the finish of the base metal. I.e. most chrome plating is on mirror finished steel.

Alec

'kin big

2m? ++

 

[drjim]

Cold galv spray and lacquer over the top??

Or just paint it silver - silver cars still look OK after a few years.

 

[mike os]

paint is not really chunko, pricne of painltess' thing.

 

[chunkolini]

pricne of painltess?

Paint never gives as good a finish as unpainted and needs looking after.
Maybe a good spray shop could do it but it seems a bit not the done thing to me.
Size quite small, about 2m long.
I did once speak to a company who do chrome plating ad they told me it has to be mirror polished, also I can plating going 80's kwacker dimple finish in no time.

So probably not galv, tomorrow I do some trials, I have near neighbours who I can bribe to roll the head pieces for me, distortion is a worry on the sheet as I weld around the edge, I suppose a series of short welds working round the structure is the way to do this.

Time for a pint? the bar is about 1m away, a nice white box in the kitchen.

Chunko'.

 

[mike os]

LOL my fnigers are lisdexic

 

[Shedendman]

Right can i throw in my 2 pennys worth,how about patination oil, stuff i use years ago on lead flashings dont know if it'll do the same for MS but its cheap and worth thinking about,no?

 

[Robotstar5]

How about clear powder coating?

 

[Shox Dr]

Galv warpage is caused by quenching after dipping in most cases. Ask them to let it air cool, and there will be little of no warping at all

 

[MrFluffy]

Engine lacquer for bikes holds up a few years under rough conditions if done right, but inevitably you have to remove it every 2-3 years as it starts to yellow and go manky with age. Beats having to polish bare japanese full of scrap quality ally all winter tho, since I have a perversion for mirror polished alloy cases...
Given that nobody's going to be driving the fish through salted roads and blasting it with road dirt, stones and gunge at 80mph and taking it through a heat cycle every time the engine starts, the spray on lacquer might be robust enough if you do a couple of coats?

 

[NigelAylesbury]

Shiny Shiny

I think you can get clear powder coat now.
I can't think of any immediate reasons why it wouldn't work, unless someone else can.

 

[shocker]

I was going to suggest powdercoat too....but who has got an oven big enough for the piece to go in once coated?Its not like you can powder it one place and truck it to another to kiln it.....or is it?

 

[Welderpaul]

Powdercoating is not designed to provide corrosion resistance to mild steel. Powdercoating is purely a decorative coating. We powdercoat-only stuff thats going to live indoors, but if it is left outside for any length of time rust spots start to show through - first in corners/nooks n crannies, then it spreads.
There are some massive powdercoating ovens around that it would fit in, but suggest that you are indeed weeing in the wind.

 

[chunkolini]

Some interesting answers.

I had a play around today with stainless, making the lines on the fins double sided was easy and they looked good either side. Pricing in the material and the extra faffing around it adds about £800 onto the price for peace of mind and it would look quite funky. If a bit shiny like.

Galv? I went to a company near my workshop who make loads of garden furniture and get it galv'ed. he reckons that cold formed 1.2mmm sheet with welds on the surface could go badly wrong with warpage etc.

Powder coating and lacquering? both of these can get scratched and let in water, also there are very deep nooks and crannies to get into, so I can see it looking messy in a year or two.

I will have a word with my prospective punter and see what they have to say. he likes the rusty look and prefers the Seahorse, she likes shiny and likes the fish. Decisions decisions.

I will report back.

Chunko'.