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Trying to create vintage patina on sandblasted bike frame

September 16, 2009

Hi there
I'm restoring my first vintage motorcycle and am trying to go for something other than the old sandblast bare - black powdercoat route for my frame (and probably for the tank if it looks good). The frame is steel which I intend to sandblast, then I want to create a vintage patina on the steel which I can then seal somehow. I read of one project (in a bike magazine) where "the wonderful, patina-rich paint job was achieved by spraying on gold paint after rubbing the metalwork down with oil."
This confuses me - presumably the oil makes the frame look great and the gold go on in interesting ways, but then how does one seal on top of that? Almost any coating I have seen has "make sure the surface is clean, dry, and free of oils" or something to that effect.

Are there other spray-on patina finishes that could go on after a primer coat? I am thinking of getting sprays from a local auto-body shop and applying those. Any hints?

Thanks a million

Jonno Roberts
hobbyist - Los Angeles, California, USA

There are many types of metal finishes available from gunsmith suppliers. There is the traditional blue or black, brown, and Parkerizing, which can be anything from grey to green/grey color depending on the specific process. The Parkerizing is quite weather resistant, but the other finishes would require a clear coat to survive outside. Brownells [affil links] carries these finishes.

Tom Griffin
- Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
November 5, 2009