Can a razor be replated in a copper finish?

[tinashubby]

I believe copper is one of the steps in both chrome and nickle plating. I realize it is a soft metal and used as an "undercoat", and possibly only treated as one as far as cosmetics go during the plating process. Curious if a razor could have a final coat of polished copper rather than the usual finishes.
I ask because I once saw a custom bike that was finished in copper and nickle plating rather than the usual chrome and it looked real nice.

 

[Triad]

I,ve seen west coast razors do a copper on a replated red tip where the tip was copper he would be one to ask

 

[fast14riot]

Not so much an under coat, but an adhesion layer. It is soft and scratches easily. All cosmetics with plating is entirely the base metal, plating replicates exactly the surface it is going on, if it is scratched then the scratch will be in the new plating. It grows evenly (sort of, but that's more technical to explain) in all directions, it doesn't fill gaps like paint does.

I think it would look cool, but would be subject to wear quicker than nickel.


-Xander

 

[Toxic515]

If you wanted it to maintain a copper shine without a greening patina, you'd have to lacquer the crap out of it, and I don't much think that would last well. Perhaps a clear automotive lacquer... It'd still be easy to scratch though.

 

[Intrigued]

I,ve seen west coast razors do a copper on a replated red tip where the tip was copper he would be one to ask

I don't think it was copper on the tip of that one. I believe it was rose gold. From what I've been reading the rose gold that he has been using has quite a copper cast to it. At any rate that replated Red Tip looked sweet!

 

[cb91710]

Not so much an under coat, but an adhesion layer. It is soft and scratches easily. All cosmetics with plating is entirely the base metal, plating replicates exactly the surface it is going on, if it is scratched then the scratch will be in the new plating. It grows evenly (sort of, but that's more technical to explain) in all directions, it doesn't fill gaps like paint does.

Bingo.

Chrome-plating 101:
Prep the base metal. As smooth as possible, anything on the surface will appear in the chrome.
Plate with copper, polish copper plate.
Plate with nickel, polish nickel plate.
Plate with chromium.

Chromium is a transparent mineral with a slightly blue tint.
The color of chrome comes from the nickel plate. The chromium simply protects it, prevents corrosion, and adds the glassy-clear finish.

Many materials can be used as that final color coat rather than nickel... 24k gold is often used, and I see no reason why copper could not also be used.

If you wanted it to maintain a copper shine without a greening patina, you'd have to lacquer the crap out of it, and I don't much think that would last well. Perhaps a clear automotive lacquer... It'd still be easy to scratch though.

Ya, a chromium plating step would still be needed to protect the finish.

 

[ironfist]

I know nothing about replating etc but I think it would look nice

 

[Toxic515]

Bingo.

Chromium is a transparent mineral with a slightly blue tint.
The color of chrome comes from the nickel plate. The chromium simply protects it, prevents corrosion, and adds the glassy-clear finish.

Many materials can be used as that final color coat rather than nickel... 24k gold is often used, and I see no reason why copper could not also be used.



Ya, a chromium plating step would still be needed to protect the finish.

Cool, I didn't know chomium was actually transparent. I've got some experience with surface coatings, but nada with plating.

 

[Mick]

Copper is way too soft and it tarnishes very quickly which is why you never seen much in copper other than solid copper cooking pans and household wiring where the heat transfer and electric transfer (low resistance) is more important than the drawbacks of tarnishing and scratching.

A copper coated razor would be a maintenance nightmare.

Rose gold would be the closest you will get in a durable finish.

 

[PhiGam]

Bingo.


Chromium is a transparent mineral with a slightly blue tint.
The color of chrome comes from the nickel plate. The chromium simply protects it, prevents corrosion, and adds the glassy-clear finish.

Ummmm....Agree to disagree??

As a chemistry teacher, I thought this statement was odd. Looking in my CRC, chem textbooks, as well as the most hated of resources, wiki, they all agree.

Chromium is steely grey--think nickel or titanium colored, not quite as bright as silver. It shines to a high luster.

The only 'colorless' or 'transparent' elements at standard temperature and pressure are the gases, in their gaseous ground state, of course.

 

[fast14riot]

Ummmm....Agree to disagree??

As a chemistry teacher, I thought this statement was odd. Looking in my CRC, chem textbooks, as well as the most hated of resources, wiki, they all agree.

Chromium is steely grey--think nickel or titanium colored, not quite as bright as silver. It shines to a high luster.

The only 'colorless' or 'transparent' elements at standard temperature and pressure are the gases, in their gaseous ground state, of course.

+1

That is correct. It is true that chrome has a blue cast to it compared to polished Al or bright nickel, but it is not clear. I think the poster was confusing chromate conversion coating which is used to pasivate aluminum, zinc, cadmuim, copper, silver and some others. It uses a chromic acid bath, hexavalent chromium, and is highly toxic and regulated highly as well. Non-toxic options are becoming available widely now, though.

Ever got some cheap stamped tools that had a yelowish color to them? That's the chromate conversion coating. Also common on fasteners like bolts and such.


-Xander

 

[cwnidog]

Cool, I didn't know chomium was actually transparent. I've got some experience with surface coatings, but nada with plating.

It's not transparent, it's a silvery-grey like most other metals. It forms a transparent oxidation layer just one molecule thick, which blocks any further oxidation.

 

[Sled Dog]

I have seen some older Gillettes with the top cap done in copper..I'm sure they are original.
Looks good, I'm keeping my open for one at a reasonable price

 

[midniterambler]

I have seen some older Gillettes with the top cap done in copper..I'm sure they are original.
Looks good, I'm keeping my open for one at a reasonable price

not original; usually those were gold with over lay of lacquer, where both have worn away revealing the under surface.

 

[PhiGam]

+1

That is correct. It is true that chrome has a blue cast to it compared to polished Al or bright nickel, but it is not clear. I think the poster was confusing chromate conversion coating which is used to pasivate aluminum, zinc, cadmuim, copper, silver and some others. It uses a chromic acid bath, hexavalent chromium,

OK, now my wife really thinks I am goofy--

I just told her how happy I am that someone used the word 'hexavalent' and also that someone knew the difference between -ic, -ate, and -ium endings...all at a place where I come for my leisure enjoyment.

Never ceases to amaze me the types of folks who appreciate shaving as a worthwhile pursuit!

 

[cwnidog]

OK, now my wife really thinks I am goofy--

I just told her how happy I am that someone used the word 'hexavalent' and also that someone knew the difference between -ic, -ate, and -ium endings...all at a place where I come for my leisure enjoyment.

Never ceases to amaze me the types of folks who appreciate shaving as a worthwhile pursuit!

Happy to help keep you going. Now, can you explain buffering to me? It was something I just never got a handle on.

 

[tinashubby]

Ok - thanks guys, I agree with and understood the oxidation and maintenance. Never thought of rose gold, that sounds just perfect.