how is "orangepeel"-titanium done?

M

M Wadel

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Sep 11, 2005
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i see some makers do "orange-peel"-titanium scales, how is it done??

ive grinded som ti myself and i overheated it (staying static at one place) and it smeared. you know no clean grind but a semimelted surface, is that how its done? just going too slow :confused:
 
If you want an orange peel finish it is as simple as buffing with the wrong compound....titanium requires a greasy compound to give a smooth surface so buffing with a "dry" non greasy compound designed for stainless steel will push the surface into small ripples..orange peel.
 
I normally use a compound made for stainless on my titanium every day and am getting mirror finish. There must be something else to it. I get what looks somewhat like orange peel if I try to wire brush it with a stainless brush on a rotary tool though. Here's what stainless compound does for me.
spyra.jpg
 
its more of the over heatign on the grinder i think
i know when i hand sand the finish it comes clean but if i try to run up the belts to say 400+ it gets kind of grabby while grinding

dont know if that helps or not
 
btboone said:
I normally use a compound made for stainless on my titanium every day and am getting mirror finish. There must be something else to it. I get what looks somewhat like orange peel if I try to wire brush it with a stainless brush on a rotary tool though. Here's what stainless compound does for me.
spyra.jpg
Click to expand...

Damn, nice desk pen! :thumbup:
 
btboone is that pen stainless or ti? anyway looking good.

i managed to get a smeared surface on a 80grit belt, i have to do some more testing and ill get back to ya, but a 400belt would produce more friction (and heat) so i think the effect will be greater with a finer belt. i have to try it out.
 
The pen is 6al4v titanium with inlays of African Olivewood.

Does anyone have a link to some orange peeled titanium scales?
 
I really want to know how this is done also. Are you sure u used "greasless" stainless steel compound? Because it has to ber greasless i hear?
 
A wire wheel on a bench grinder is the trick. I heats up and "pulls" the titanium into the orange peel texture. Easy peasy, just watch your fingers.
 
In the thread "There's just something about the 940", check out the 941-81 Osbornes in post #22. I heard that the orange peel effect is caused by manipulating the current, but I don't recall the details. Also Google "941-81 Osborne" and click on images.
 
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