Gold Plated Wheels
07-14-2003, 06:21 PM
#6
Actually having your wheels gold plated wouldn't be very practical. Gold is very soft and would scratch easily, especially when you are cleaning them. You're better off having them Titanium Nitride plated, or possibly anodized.
Off hand, I'm not even sure if TiN coating can be applied to aluminum, but industrial platers for tool and die shops can tell you. TiN looks just like brass, but is more scratch resistant than chrome. I had a prototype wheel TiN plated a few years back and it looked awesome. Personally, I think it looked a little rice, but if you like that kind of thing you will certainly turn a lot of heads.
I don't know anything about the anodizing process, but if you went this route you would probably want to apply a clearcoat to preserve the finish. Some cleaners such as phosphates will eat through the anodizing finish, allowing it to oxidize (white rust).
Off hand, I'm not even sure if TiN coating can be applied to aluminum, but industrial platers for tool and die shops can tell you. TiN looks just like brass, but is more scratch resistant than chrome. I had a prototype wheel TiN plated a few years back and it looked awesome. Personally, I think it looked a little rice, but if you like that kind of thing you will certainly turn a lot of heads.
I don't know anything about the anodizing process, but if you went this route you would probably want to apply a clearcoat to preserve the finish. Some cleaners such as phosphates will eat through the anodizing finish, allowing it to oxidize (white rust).
10-02-2003, 04:00 PM
#7
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Actually, I annodize, clearcoat is already in the annodize, and no phosphates dont eat away at annosizing, the only thing that will take away that annodizing is sand paper, LYE, and a mix of acids. Very dangerous might I add i spilt LYE on my leg once. OOOHHHH WOW DID IT BURN!! Annodizing is actually a part of the metal, enorder to remove that layer of annodizing you have to take off .05mm of metal. If anyone has any questions on the process or annodizing in general just PM me, or my AIM is Travis Mercier.
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10-02-2003, 04:20 PM
#8
Um, Travis, I thought anodizing was an electro-plate process. Clearcoat is a paint layer, is it not? You would have to clearcoat on top of an anodized wheel (i.e., clearcoat is not "in the anodize") 
10-02-2003, 04:41 PM
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annodizing is a dye, it does involve electro-plating process, but depending on the anno you get, some are matte finish, some are high shine, some are semi shine, etc.. Annodzing is almost like a clearcoat, it doesn't just apply to paint, how do you think they make fades with anno.
