Polishing exotic metals

[JD Spydo]

I have a challenge on my hands and I know that some of you have probably already crossed that bridge. I have a top notch Titanium knife handle which for some unknown reason has gotten some handling marks. I hesitate to call it scratches because I really don't think it is a scratch per se.

I am wondering about polishing Titanium or any other exotic metal as far as that goes. I have tried 2 non abrasive polishes: Flitz and Norrostol. Neither one really did much good. I got a feeling that I am going to need a polish with some abrasive properties. But I am going to need a Polish geared toward non ferrous metals.

any websites, name brands or dealers would be helpful. IF there are just simply of tricks of the trade that I am overlooking with the Polishes I have then I am open to checking that out too.

 

[ddean]

google "titanium polish"

here's an interesting bit:
http://americanbrightworks.com/ti_polish.htm
"Titanium polish is a chemical polish/etchant that results in a smooth, bright, passive finish. It removes feather burrs, flag burrs, cross hatch burrs, galling, surface scratches, EDM contaminants, discoloration and stresses while holding critical tolerances. The very tenacity of titanium can make it difficult to obtain a smooth, bright burr-free finish.

When done correctly, titanium polish helps to:
• Deburr without labor intensive hand deburring or potentially damaging vibratory finishing.
• Remove micro-burrs that may affect small threaded components.
• Uniformly treat the surface.
• Hold to high tolerances.
• Resist staining.
• Passivate the titanium, helping the treated titanium to retain a bright finish over time.
• Improve surface RMS finish and yield a bright matte, burr-free finish by the preferential removal of the high points on the metal surface."


http://www.franeloptical.com/content.php?s=66
at the bottom of the page shows a bar of polish for opticians' use
on eyeglass frames


might gently try auto chrome polish
though I've never polished titanium


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[JD Spydo]

Hey Dean thanks a million. I am going to get some of that first one you got the link to. I just knew that there was viable solution to this. The membership dues I pay to be here on Bladeforums is truly some of the best money I ever spent. Great bunch of folks here for sure.

But if anyone else has something else that DEAN didn't mention I would like to take a look at it too. This is something that I feel needed to come to light. It seems like in the last 2 years they are just making so many more things from Titanium that it only makes sense that we explore what's out there.

It actually amazes me why some of these exotic metals haven't been used long before now to the extent they are using them now. thanks a million DEAN