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Electroless Nickel or Nickel Electroplate: Motorcycle Frame

I would like to use nickel plating as a final finish on a small run of motorcycle frames. These consist of round steel tubing with some forged elements such as the head stock that carries the forks. The assembly is both brazed and welded joints. This is a replication of a finish used years ago by the Rickman company in England. My question is whether electroless nickel would be superior or whether traditional electroplate is best. What I'm trying to achieve is a durable, corrosion-resistant finish, semi-bright to bright, and something that would look good on a substrate using only minimal polishing and metal finishing prior to plating. Obviously, threaded holes and bearing press-fit areas would need to be masked to prevent unacceptable dimensional changes.

If it is within your area of expertise, please let me know why one method is superior, or would not be suitable. Are there cautions about the process that apply regardless of which direction I take? Or, to put it another way, is there something seriously wrong with the plan to begin with?

Robert Sharp
marketing services - Rochester, Michigan
2006

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First of two simultaneous responses -- 2006

Dear Sharp
I am recommending you to coat by EL method. There are many advantage by this method over electroplating. Some are Durable as it is very hard(P is always present in Ni coating if you are using Hypophosphite),excellent corrosion resistant,semi bright to bright appearance(depends upon concentration of additives).Also it will very easy to coat a part like yours. Coating will be even in thickness and it takes very small time(10-15min).
Presently I am doing my Dissertation on EL coating in IIT-ROORKEE.

Dhananjay Kumar Singh
- Roorkee, Uttaranchal , India

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

Electronickel will be softer, brighter, more available and (in my opinion) a lot cheaper than electroless nickel. On the other hand the later will be more uniform in thickness but for that application of yours this does not justify the price.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
2006

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If you have enough money to electroless nickel plate motorcycle frames, then you also have enough money to add on sulfur free semi-bright electroplated nickel and then top off with full bright electroplated nickel. It would last forever !

Robert H Probert
Robert H Probert Technical Services

Garner, North Carolina

2006