Anodizing the handles

Maprik

Maprik

Joined
May 17, 2012
Messages
2,779
Has anyone anodized their Sebenza handles? I wonder what bronze handles would look like. If you have, please post a pic!
 
Din't have pics at the moment, but I did my Umnumzaan and Small WC Seb bronze. It's a great choice for CRKs IMO!

edit: Found this older pic after I refreshed the anodizing on my family of CRKs :D

6XJeV.jpg


zhkCn.jpg


FeorK.jpg
 
Last edited:
Very nice!!! I am seriously considering doing this to my Sebenza...
 
Last edited:
Dane.Chichester said:
This is gorgeous!!! I want to do one like this, what did you do to achieve this?!?!
Click to expand...

Picked that guy up a few days after the WC Sebs were released :D

Had to have it, but when it arrived, the pattern didn't really stand out to me, plus some other stuff kept me from carrying it. To get warmed up to it, I ended up sanding it with sandpaper taped to a block of wood so that the rays would stay sandblasted (dark). Afterwards, it reminded me of sun rays, so I anodized it gold/bronze. The better the finish, the brighter the anodized color will look, so with the two surface finishes, it ends up two-tone :)
 
I thought this was done by application of a butane torch. Perhaps you're using a battery and some stuff from Brownell's?
Interesting and very nicely done.
Sonny
 
Sonnydaze said:
I thought this was done by application of a butane torch. Perhaps you're using a battery and some stuff from Brownell's?
Interesting and very nicely done.
Sonny
Click to expand...

I use electricity. In general I don't really like the uneven look a torch gives, so I built an anodizer, which are pretty easy to make :)

DzKTy.jpg


I assume that's how CRK does it as well because it'd be hard to do the precision work you see on their designs with a torch. Theirs is probably more professional looking than a variable transformer and switch screwed to a board, though :p
 
How do you attach the alligator clip to the Ti handle without the clip going into the solution? Did you use baking soda/water? I've seen a few how to videos but none are very good...
 
Maprik said:
How do you attach the alligator clip to the Ti handle without the clip going into the solution? Did you use baking soda/water? I've seen a few how to videos but none are very good...
Click to expand...

Yep, baking soda and water

To get past the problem of not having the gator clip in the water, I'll do maybe like 90% of the titanium submerged (% doesn't really matter as long as it's more than half), then flip it over and do the rest. As long as the current stays the same (and it does if you don't touch the dial), it'll all end up the same color. For the other one, I take a longer piece of aluminum foil with some sticking in the water and some out, attach the clip to the part outside, then clothespin the foil and clip in place.
 
kreole said:
Yep, baking soda and water

To get past the problem of not having the gator clip in the water, I'll do maybe like 90% of the titanium submerged (% doesn't really matter as long as it's more than half), then flip it over and do the rest. As long as the current stays the same (and it does if you don't touch the dial), it'll all end up the same color. For the other one, I take a longer piece of aluminum foil with some sticking in the water and some out, attach the clip to the part outside, then clothespin the foil in place.
Click to expand...

Awesome! I'm going to give it a try! What's best voltage for a deep bronze? I've seen some charts but your experience is best!!!
 
Maprik said:
Awesome! I'm going to give it a try! What's best voltage for a deep bronze? I've seen some charts but your experience is best!!!
Click to expand...

I don't go by voltage most of the time. I know about where to start on the dial and move up to get the color I want (which is a technique I'd recommend BTW--you can go up but can't go down unless you strip it off by sandblasting or something). Judging by STR's chart (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/830190-Anodizing-Colors-and-Voltages), the Umnumzaan would be 15-17 (just on the border of bronze/brown before it turns purple) and WC Seb is 55-60.
 
Well, I'll give credit to you, kreole. You really know what the heck you're doing.
Sonny
 
Kreole,

Does the amperage of the transformer matter? I just ordered one that is variable up to 30V DC and output is 1.3A. How many amps does your unit put out? I did a slight bronze anodizing on a clip today just using a wall wart transformer that put out around 13V. When I tried to do a handle slab I fried out the wall wart!!! But the clip looks awesome so now I have a taste of how cool this is...
 
Hmm, not really sure what's necessary. I got it from a large auction site searching for variac, and it was pretty cheap. The manual says the DC output is .5 amp / adjustable 0-90 vdc
 
Wow, I love that WC. I'd like to do that with mine but I would probably electrocute myself.
 
gdw said:
Wow, I love that WC. I'd like to do that with mine but I would probably electrocute myself.
Click to expand...

Which brings up something I should've mentioned! Get a pair of rubber gloves rated for electricity.

I use a pair of mad scientist style ones I had lying around

oQq3B.jpg


BNVH2.jpg


It's a fun hobby anodizing stuff, but I suspect getting zapped would make it lose its appeal :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top