Copper Plated Motorcycle Tank

Greetings,

I would like to copper plate a motorcycle gas tank and then age/patina the finish. I would prefer this method to a faux painted finish. Can the plating be done and the finish chemically treated to produce a patina?

My best,
Ken

Hi, Ken. Yes.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

Once I have the patina to my liking, can the finish be clear coated to preserve the finish without destroying the patina? (I would use a clear urethane). Will this also arrest any further corrosion?
I appreciate your reply.
My best,
Ken

Hi yes you can have your tank copper plated -

I chrome plated 1 a few weeks ago - (copper , nickel and chrome )

I just wanted to let you know how tricky they are to do !

It had to be filled with water and sealed to stop it from floating and also touching the anodes. Also helps with drainage as the plating solutions cannot get inside.

1 side effect was that it was very heavy!

(I must add that we plate for aerospace, the tank I plated was a private job, so automotive specialist would probably have custom made jigs to make the job much easier)

!

The end result was great! Although it took ages draining and drying the inside.

Good luck to the plater you use ;-)

Hope this helps.

Hello Jay...
Thank you for the reply. I did find a local plating company that does automotive/motorcycle part plating and plating a gas tank, copper or otherwise, is no real challenge as they have done them before.

My real concern is, once I chemically patinate the copper, will the corrosion continue and eventually destroy the gas tank?
My best,

Hi, Ken. It can be lacquered or clear coated and should be fine, although periodic re-lacquering may be required at a frequency determined by how much time the bike spends outside in rough weather.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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