Kershaw Dimension flame anodizing

[Doc182]

A while back I bought a Kershaw Dimension.. Mostly because it has Titanium scales and I thought it might be fun to tinker with. I don't think it's a particularly great looking knife. The factory knife has a flat, almost bead-blasted finish. I assume they did this in order to better match the standoffs and pocket clip (?), which are not titanium. Here's what it looked like to begin with:

I started off by sanding and polishing both scales, then flame anodizing the front scale

Then, put it back together


I'm considering whether or not I should do the back scale... What do you think?
I'm also thinking of acid etching the blade... Although, I think they did a good job of stone washing it.. It kinda seems like a shame to change it.

 

[Murphenstein44]

I vote no on acid stonewashing the blade, just because it will be darker (un-stonewashed) around those solid thumbstuds and look a little homemade. Right now, that looks really professional. I've never tried heat anodizing, but it's just on the surface, right? I think you should either make the other side to match, or make the other side to match and then sand and polish the flat surface again. This would create a border of blue heat ano on the sides and bevels of the scale, which I think would look pretty cool. I'd do one of those options, depending on whether you prefer the symmetry or the two tone style you have going on now.

 

[BladeCommander]

another vote for matching scales.
I really like the blue heat anodize. What tools did you use to do that?

On a side note, Kershaw should have given the back scale the same machining as the front. There is not framelock, so the front and back are basically identical, so it would not have been much more to make them match. Except for machining twice the parts maybe.

 

[Doc182]

another vote for matching scales.
I really like the blue heat anodize. What tools did you use to do that?

On a side note, Kershaw should have given the back scale the same machining as the front. There is not framelock, so the front and back are basically identical, so it would not have been much more to make them match. Except for machining twice the parts maybe.

I just sanded and polished, then cleaned and made sure there were no fingerprints... Then heated evenly with a propane torch until I got to the color I liked. I'll try to do the back scale today or tomorrow... And post more pics

 

[Doc182]

 

[Spyder328]

Looks great! I've been thinking about getting one just because of the anodizing possibilities

 

[Fish30114]

Hey Doc, I like the scale you did a lot. Another vote from me to do the opposite side as well, this makes me want to try flame anodizing on a Ti framelock I purchased recently, just to give it a little pizazz.

 

[Doc182]

Hey Doc, I like the scale you did a lot. Another vote from me to do the opposite side as well, this makes me want to try flame anodizing on a Ti framelock I purchased recently, just to give it a little pizazz.

 

[rogerxd45]

how did you get the black in the design on the front scale? i really like it that wau, it looks great. im just wondering why the groves dont match the other parts. i dont think it would look nearly as good if the groves werent dark

 

[Doc182]

Its Actually Not Black, Just Dark grey ...I Anodized, Then Sanded The Flats, Then anodized again...And This Is How It Turned Out. I'm Glad You Like It.

how did you get the black in the design on the front scale? i really like it that wau, it looks great. im just wondering why the groveGreys dont match the other parts. i dont think it would look nearly as good if the groves werent dark