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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Galvanizing the entire frame?
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Message started by kamelryttarn on 02/10/20 at 02:28:25

Title: Galvanizing the entire frame?
Post by kamelryttarn on 02/10/20 at 02:28:25

I am stripping my frame trying to take care of many years of abuse from previous owners and some parts of the frame show quite a bit of rust so I am thinking about glass bead blasting the entire frame and then galvanize it before I paint it. Has anyone galvanized the entire frame before? Can it be done (are all tubes open in both ends so I don't end up with a lot of Zinc in some places where it can not escape from)?

Title: Re: Galvanizing the entire frame?
Post by zevenenergie on 02/10/20 at 03:12:23

Yes it can be done, but it needs finishing, Zinc has crystals and you see that in the surface. All holes must be made to size again. When the frame is removed from the zinc bath, they let it drip out. So you get drips, and a thicker layer of zinc on the lower parts. Not really a nice surface for a layer of paint.

Spraying a zinc layer with a flame is better.
But I wouldn't do that either.

I would bring it to a professional powder coat company and have it sandblasted and and bring on a 3-layer system with a high-gloss finish.

Title: Re: Galvanizing the entire frame?
Post by kamelryttarn on 02/10/20 at 03:51:49

Excellent input. Thank you very much.

Title: Re: Galvanizing the entire frame?
Post by Mavigogun on 02/10/20 at 10:04:30

Paint is reasonable -but there’s very little reasonable about the Savage. I wanna see one copper plated:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=diy+copper+electroplating

Title: Re: Galvanizing the entire frame?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 02/10/20 at 10:11:08

Before I went any further I'd test the frame to see if it retains a new bearing race. I've no idea what the rust did.
A really careful inspection of the frame would be in order.

Title: Re: Galvanizing the entire frame?
Post by ohiomoto on 02/10/20 at 18:56:27

+1. Get the bike in good working order then decide if it's worth making pretty. Also, understand that much of the frame is built with fairly thin tubing. Surface rust shouldn't pose a problem, but anything more could compromise it's integrity.

Title: Re: Galvanizing the entire frame?
Post by srinath on 02/13/20 at 21:29:29

If you're hot dip galvanizing - then you need to drill a bunch of drain holes atleast 1/4" diameter. They drop the whole frame in a molten zinc and it will get in the frame rails and needs to get out.
And prepare for huge sections of it that will be filled with zinc that has solidified. Frame goes in 20lb and comes out 100 lb. So I guess weigh it so you know if its come back 1/ filled with zinc.
Now the outside will be that chunked up highway guard rail look, its pretty OK … but remember its still only about 10yrs before it rusts again.
If you painted or powdercoated it, you will easily get 20+ yrs of it looking beautiful without even worrying about it.

But if you do hot dip galvanize it, we definitely wanna see pics of it.
Cool.
Srinath.

Title: Re: Galvanizing the entire frame?
Post by kamelryttarn on 02/13/20 at 22:59:12

My plan actually WAS hot dip. There is a company that helped me with hot dip galvanizing with a part I needed for something completely different and that gave me the idea of doing it to the frame.

The risk of partly filling part of the frame is probably my greatest concern and I do not want to drill holes anywhere since it may weaken the frame so I will probably do as you suggest - sand or glass blast it and hand it over to a company that can professionally paint it for me. Either wet paint or powder coat.

Title: Re: Galvanizing the entire frame?
Post by srinath on 02/14/20 at 04:47:38

Good powdercoaters basically blast it with emery dust, or a similar dust free abrasive, the rust will be a distant memory. They do not acid dip it, I don't like that method, it would get inside the frame and can eat it inside out.
BTW I have powdercoated several frames and am not regretting it cos I want to cut 2-3 of em to mod them, will look stupid.
One frame I did in silver with a multi color flecks in the clear, looked awesome, sadly I cant even find that fleck mix any more and I have already cut that frame.
Cool.
Srinath.

Title: Re: Galvanizing the entire frame?
Post by twhitus on 02/16/20 at 20:03:03

i was always under the impression that if you hot dip steel it can make it brittle. im not sure to what extent, but its a thought. another issue is if it gets scratched then you will get rust under the coating through galvanic reaction.

Title: Re: Galvanizing the entire frame?
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 02/17/20 at 07:09:15

I’ve had great success with powder coating motorcycle frames. For spot rust I use POR-15.

Title: Re: Galvanizing the entire frame?
Post by batman on 02/17/20 at 09:45:06

zinc is used in steel hulled ships as a sacrificial metal ,I don't understand how it would aid in deterring rust , I think it may end up being the worst think to use .

Title: Re: Galvanizing the entire frame?
Post by LANCER on 02/17/20 at 10:34:01

47445148444B111D250 wrote:

zinc is used in steel hulled ships as a sacrificial metal ,I don't understand how it would aid in deterring rust , I think it may end up being the worst think to use .

The zinc sacrifices itself so the base metal structure remains intact, even a motorcycle frame is no different.

Title: Re: Galvanizing the entire frame?
Post by Ruttly on 02/17/20 at 17:45:18

Zinc bars fixed to the hull of ships below water level lets the electralasis that is created when saltwater flows around the hull eats the zinc bars. If no zinc is present then it quickly rusts/corrodes the steel. Similar to grease worms ! They have been using zinc since they been building ships of steel. I wonder if a techno geek has figured another way , instead of using zinc bars.

Title: Re: Galvanizing the entire frame?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 02/17/20 at 18:42:14

I'd wrap a board in a rag and put it against the frame and give it some goodquick raps. See if rust rattles inside.

It's not uncommon that the Uncommon solution to a problem is uncommon because it's not a good solution.

Powder coating is very popular..
Galvanizing,, not,,
Maybe you could be a trend setter.

Cathodic Protection
Cathodic Protection
Cathodic protection (CP) is a technique used to control the corrosion of a metal surface by making it the cathode of an electrochemical cell. A simple method of protection connects the metal to be protected to a more easily corroded "sacrificial metal" to act as the anode. The sacrificial metal then corrodes instead of the protected metal. For structures such as long pipelines, where passive galvanic cathodic protection is not adequate, an external DC electrical power source is used to provide sufficient current.
Cathod

Title: Re: Galvanizing the entire frame?
Post by batman on 02/17/20 at 21:19:38

Galvanizing a frame will require sanding, cleaning ,and primer before paint if you expect it not to flake off. Powder coating sounds much easier.

Title: Re: Galvanizing the entire frame?
Post by kamelryttarn on 02/17/20 at 23:13:38

I went to a friend the other day and glass bead blasted some parts I already removed from my bike. The result was amazing and I will do a test with zink spray from an ordinary spray can. It is supposed to give a matte dark gray surface. I consider using it alone on the swing arm and frame if I am happy with the result. Electroplating of some kind will probably give a very good result but I want to try the "spray can road" first. I can always redo it in a few years if I don't like it. I have learned a lot so far.

Title: Re: Galvanizing the entire frame?
Post by batman on 02/18/20 at 07:17:03

I'd be sure to protect your lungs ,zinc poisoning is no joke.