Discolouration of metals with heat (not strictly bikes)

[talkToTheHat]

Chrome goes nice blues and purples when it gets hot and these oxides are a pain to polish out. This looks quite nice when used for decorative effect. I did the attatched on a gas hob, and I recon I can get it neater with a propane torch, which I didn't hhae to hand when I did that...

I'd like to do something to complement in sheet metal, but it's not particularly feasible to send one-off cuttings for chrome plating. What else gets interesting oxide colours that are stable? It's not useful no use if they wipe off or futher oxidise to something dull in atmospheric conditions. I figure those of yo uthat weld might have an insight into this.

I'm looking for something available in sheets 440x290mm that can be cut and shaped with jeweler's saw and files and rigid enough to use as a control panel supporting otentiopmeters and clunky switches.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[Fisty]

Titanium.
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Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[MCN]

Niconel (spelling).
Oxidized beautifully and is stainless.

Googlize it.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[doggone]

[ThatDippyTwat]

Ti colours up well.

Inconel, specific alloy dependant, and if you can get hold of it, colours up well. I've never seen it in sheet form and I work with it daily.
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[Sister Sledge]

Depends on the metal tbh but you need to find something you can fabricate easily - stainless can sometimes be awkward to work with and titanium is quite tough.
I did a quick search on the famous tube and it dumped a whole heap of suggestions.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=colouring+metal+with+heat

Even boring old mild steel sheet can display some nice colouring if the surface is clean bare metal - polished metal especially.

I like the idea actually. I've noticed CCM are doing just this with their latest bike the Spitfire. The frame is left as bare metal and the heat discolouration is left at the welds and the whole frame then clear lacquered.

[weasley]

Copper colours up nicely, although will tend to dull with time if left bare - a bit of clear coat should fix it though.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[MCN]

[ThatDippyTwat]