Help Identify Frame Finish

[19wisconsin64]

I'm trying to identify a frame finish that I'd like to put on a steel frame of mine.
If someone could help me ID this color / technique. Also, is someone knows where this can be done, please let me know!

It's an amazing clear blue / metallic blue color. Sort of looks like someone applied melted blue glass over a chromed steel frame.

Your help, as a group, as always is much appreciated!

Dave

[malcolm]

can't really help with the specifics but unless I'm mistaken it's a translucent paint (like candy paints) over a chromed frame. They were not uncommon and seen in several colors in the '80s, I think.

[phcollard]

I believe it's called cromovelato.

[sg8357]

Wilier Triestina, copper lacquer over chrome.


http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/08/wilier-triestina-gioiello-ramato.html

[Ahneida Ride]

I understand that chroming a frame is not good for the steel.

The one request that Mr. Bedford will not consider is chroming a frame.

I suspect that finish could be duplicated over polished stainless.

That finish does look spectacular.

[spacemen3]

I believe those old, cromovelato Italian frames were nickel-plated — lighter and better corrosion resistance than chrome — and then sprayed. The plating doesn't hold paint super well which is why you often see cromovelato frames with flaking.

[spacemen3]

I tried achieving the Wilier effect with a translucent copper powdercoat over a polished aluminum frame. I'd say the attempt was semi-successful.

http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=103330&stc=1&d=1349377732

[malcolm]

you could get a very similar effect by applying candy color top coat over a base of bright silver, if you can find someone to do it. I had a conversion with a bicycle painter about candy paints and bicycles and it's apparently quite difficult to get an even topcoat on the smallish round tubes. It's much easier on larger flattish surfaces.
I have a spectrum that is partially painted and it looks like Tom applied the paint directly over the polished Ti and in the sun it produces a close but not quite the same effect.

[DY123]

Cromovelato

[Louis]

When it comes to very difficult to do aesthetic bike stuff I'm of two minds:

1) It's a great feeling when you achieve just that look you want and it's a home-run.

2) Because it's purely aesthetics, something in the back of my mind makes me wonder how important that wild goose chase really is.

Best of luck with the project, and certainly let us know how it turns out.

[one60]

came with that finish. The frame is completely chromed & then candy apple blue metallic paint was applied. It truly is a beautiful color!

There are some pictures of mine at one60seattle on flickr

[avalonracing]

I tried achieving the Wilier effect with a translucent copper powdercoat over a polished aluminum frame. I'd say the attempt was semi-successful.

http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=103330&stc=1&d=1349377732

Cool. Can we see the whole bike?

As for the nickel finish in the early '90s I think it was John Cherry of Cherry Bicycles who would nickel plate his MTB frames and then put a coat over then that gave a candy effect. They were very nice looking.

[spacemen3]

Cool. Can we see the whole bike?
Here you go.
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=103324&stc=1&d=1349377672
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=103329&stc=1&d=1349377715

The powdercoating did produce an orange peel texture, which actually isn't half bad, but it wasn't the smooth cromovelato look that I had envisioned.

[ultraman6970]

That blue finish is a candy transparent paint over a full chromed frame, like the Christmas tree ornaments.

Not hard to do, the problem is to get the paint to stay for a very long time in the frame because after a few years the paint will start to peel. Thats the reason all those old scapins with the same finish for example never had their paint in a descent condition because started to peel after months of use. The other situation is that all the bikes with that finish and in good to mint condition is because the owner doesnt use the bike, fantastic finish but doesnt last, thats why all the stuff that is like in the picture are show bikes that actually nobody rides. Dont even dare to put a piece of scotch tape over the tubes because...

If you want a bike with that finish what you can do is to try a basecoat as similar to chrome as possible and then use candy over it, then clear coat, but no idea how close to the one in the picture will get, a lot of difference between chrome (or platina) and silverish paint.

[scooter]

Faggin is still doing cromovelato frames, according to their website http://www.fagginbikes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41&Itemid=33&lang=en. They have a model called the FIORENTINO CROMOVELATO available in various 'veiled' colors.

They seem to be into esoteric finishes, as this leather wrapped 'fixed' bike attests: http://www.cycleexif.com/faggin-primavera

[thirdgenbird]

Here you go.
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=103324&stc=1&d=1349377672
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=103329&stc=1&d=1349377715

The powdercoating did produce an orange peel texture, which actually isn't half bad, but it wasn't the smooth cromovelato look that I had envisioned.

This is a fantastic build. Lots of cool parts. I use the same seatpost and stem combo.