How to remove anodization from titanium knife scales

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knifejunky

Joined
Dec 8, 2021
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Hey I'm new to this forum and got a question concerning the removal of titanium anodization.
I'v recently purchased a lion steel "Barlow slim" slip joint folder. I got the blue anodized version for the milling pattern I wanted was not available in blank titanium.
Even though I actually like the color I'd like to remove it since it just dosent go along with the other edc items I carry.
I think my only option would be chemicly removing it, for I dont think sanding will get into all the milled areas of the scales and I dont have access to a sandblasting set-up.
I'v seen Whink rust remover beeing recommend a lot.
However I unfortunately cant get a hold of this stuff for in europe cleaning products containing hydrofluoric acid ( the main ingredient of Whink rust remover) seem to be banned.
Frankly i wouldn't wanna bother with this stuff anyway, because hydrofluoric acid even though quite diluted in this cleaner is just nasty stuff.
I think it's not actually all that corrosive on organic compounds but therefore highly toxic.
It gets absorbd trough your skin almost instantly and even small exposures can be fatal if not treated immediately. (for comparison you can submerge your entire hand in sulfiric acid or hydrochloric acid and be fine as long as you quickly rins it of afterwards).
So whink rust remover isn't an option.
Does anyone have experience with other acids ore corrosive compounds in general instead to remove titanium anodization?
Hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and lye fore example are widly available where i live.
I don't have any anodized titanium pices to test and I don't wanna ruin my knife so i'd like to gather some information first.
If you have any experience on this topic or can point me towards some information i'd love to here about it.

looking forward to your answers!



(sorry for my grammer/spelling .....english isn't my first language)
 
You can sand it off, or media blast.
Whink rust remover will strip it clean and leave a matte finish, you can sand it after or tumble to give it a stone washed finish. There's other solutions that can be used to clean it off like bar keepers friend.
 
P.C.E. said:
You can sand it off, or media blast.
Whink rust remover will strip it clean and leave a matte finish, you can sand it after or tumble to give it a stone washed finish. There's other solutions that can be used to clean it off like bar keepers friend.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your response!
As I said I don't have access to whink rust remover for it's banned from sale in Europe due to its hydrofluoric acid content.
Sandblasting would of course work but I don't own a sandblaster neither do I know some one who does.
I'v attached an image from the official lion steel site of the particular knife want to strip the anodization of. I think I wont be able to get into the milled groves with sand paper ore steelwooll and I also don't want to ruin the surface finish.
So do you know of any other options that could work?
Especially chemicly removing it ?

CKS0115%20BL-O.jpg
 
ferider said:
Don't do it mechanically. Buy this:

i-5RRbz6w-X3.jpg


Disassemble, dunk the Ti parts in for a few minutes, wash off, done.

Handle with care, use gloves, etc.

Roland.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the recommendation.
Unfortunately this particular cleaner isn't available in Europe either. I just looked it up but I can't find it listet for sale anywhere.
I could order it straight from the US but than this 1l bottle would end up costing around 50 dollars with shipping and tax (not including import fees).
I looked up the datasheet but I can't find any similar product were I live (at least not from my quick search).
Do you maybe now of the exact chemical compound in "alumabrite cbx" that removes the anodizing?
Maybe I can find some lokal product with similar ingredients.
But as said before everything containing hydrofluoric acid is not fit fore sale in Europe and too dangerous for me to Handel anyway.
 
knifejunky said:
Thanks for the recommendation.
Unfortunately this particular cleaner isn't available in Europe either. I just looked it up but I can't find it listet for sale anywhere.
I could order it straight from the US but than this 1l bottle would end up costing around 50 dollars with shipping and tax (not including import fees).
I looked up the datasheet but I can't find any similar product were I live (at least not from my quick search).
Do you maybe now of the exact chemical compound in "alumabrite cbx" that removes the anodizing?
Maybe I can find some lokal product with similar ingredients.
But as said before everything containing hydrofluoric acid is not fit fore sale in Europe and too dangerous for me to Handel anyway.
Click to expand...

You can find it here https://www.corrosionx.com/products/aluma-brite, it has Phosphoric acid, don't know about respective laws in Europe. It's used in ship yards if that helps.
 
you can use Barkeepers Friends

easy peesy

or just ignore the blueness. einfach nicht dran stören sich. 🤪
there are bigger problems in December than getting all fuzzy about the purchased wrong color

i bought a hydro flask lid and by 0.0005m it doesn't fit on my stanley tumbler . that's much more worrysome!
 
knifejunky said:
looking forward to your answers!
Click to expand...

Ive removed the color from titanium using 2k sandpaper. Since your knife has contours, maybe you could use steel wool or stainless steel wool. The color isn't hard to remove.

If you'd like a different color, titanium is ridiculously easy to anodize. You just need to run current through it at the appropriate voltage. YouTube can explain it better than I can in the forum.
 
I've been meaning to picked up a 1lb bag of Multi-Etch to remove the anodizing from previously done parts but to also anodized other parts without aftering the surface finish.It's advertised as the safe alternative to acids like hydrochloric and sulfuric.The small bag is the 1lb bag and that costs $50 USD + Shipping.


Safety | Multi-Etch®

Safely using Multi-Etch
www.multietch.com www.multietch.com
 
Also in Europe, looking to remove blue ano on titanium. Did you finally succeed remonving your ano??

I plan to use BarKeepersFriend that i found on amazon with a tooth brush... Any tips for that??
 
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