Best finish for hiding scratches on Titanium ?

Sagittarius

Sagittarius

Joined
Mar 4, 2007
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371
I have a couple folding knives with titanium slabs.
They both have a satin finish.
They seem to pick up superficial scratches rather easily which will eventually become an eyesore. :( :thumbdn:
In the past, I was under the impression that titanium was tough and scratch resistant until I found that it isn't at all. :thumbdn:
It's actually a fairly soft metal that scratches rather easily. :(
Thinking about having the knives refinished, anodized, or coated.
What finish do you guys recommend for hiding scratches or making them less noticeable ?
Or, do you recommend having them hard coated or type 3 anodized ?
Any information appreciated. :)


Sag.
 
You can't type 3 anodize titanium, that's reserved for aluminum. Ti can be heat and electrically anodized, both of which will show scratches even easier than what you have now. Personally I suggest just getting used to the scratches, but if you must then getting them stonewashed should hide scratching very well, though it will do so by making thousands of random scratches all over the surface ;) Best option for coating would be a PVD like TiN/DLC but I don't know of anyone that does that in small batches anymore. See if you can find somehow who will do guncote or cerakote, which I've heard is excellent stuff.
 
Thanks for your reply. :thumbup:
I was wondering if that Type 3 anodized information was correct but I found a website that said they type 3 anodize titanium so guess they were in error.
What about bead or sand blast finishes, will the scratches show as bad with those types ?


Sag.
 
Did a Google search on the "stonewashed" finish and, in the pics I saw, looks about the same as sandblast to me. :)
Is that correct; is it about the same ?


Sag
 
it is roughly the same but less uniform and a bit coarser depending on the tumbling medium used.
 
ziptrickhead said:
What about a brushed finish? I like brushed over stone wash because it seems more uniform to me.
Click to expand...
And the uniformity shows scratches better... I should know, I have a brushed-Ti watch, and it shows scratches pretty damn easily. That being said, you just take a piece of scotchbrite to it, and it's good as new!
 
You might look into Norell's Moly Resin. I've had it put on a couple of rifles, and it real tough stuff. I'm considering using it on a Benchmade that I'm planning on restoring. I hit my rifle pretty hard coming out of the safe one day, and nary a scratch or chip; durable stuff. It's worth looking into.
 
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