Raw aluminum handles - finishing options?

[kennyj]

If you have a raw aluminum handle on your knife that you want to put some form of finish on, and sending it off or grabbing a bunch of chemicals for DIY anodizing aren't appealing to you, what are some good options?

Been considering stripping what's left of the DLC off my Kershaw RAM's handle and doing *something* with it, but can't decide what. Since this is a daily user, wear and scratches/scuffs/etc. is a concern, and the usual flat texture ideas like polish or satin aren't going to stay attractive for very long. I might just strip the "edges" of the handle since that's where all the scuffs are, but I'm not sure I'll like the results.

I was thinking of maybe going for something like the texture on the Benchmade Opportunist, but I have no idea how to actually accomplish that effectively - aside from maybe tapping on a watchmaker's hammer using a flat or ball hammer head, or maybe blunting the end of a spring-loaded nail punch and trying that. Alternatively, I could maybe gouge it with my Dremel and then buff out the telltale tool marks, but I'll have to find a suitable bit.

Any ideas?

 

[kuuto]

If you like a "brushed" look, rub the aluminum with a Scotchbrite pad.
I've done this with unpainted aluminum bicycle frames to get rid of scratches and give it a fresh look.
Cheap and easily done anytime.

Hammering or Dremel a pattern onto it would be interesting.

 

[kennyj]

I'm thinking I'll get a similarly thick piece of aluminum somewhere and practice on it a while, see what works. A few of the high-speed or tungsten carbide bits look like they'll be able to leave an interesting shape.

I might get really crazy one day and get some titanium to make a new handle from, but that's probably well beyond my skill level!