Slippery titanium scales

Sonnydaze · Mar 31, 2018

I have this excellent Spyderco Slysz Bowie in CTS-XHP. Actually, it's my third, but I sold the other two in the past.
I carry this folder clipped. It has one glaring problem in my eyes. The titanium scales are nicely 3D rounded/curved for ergonomic purposes, but the scales are VERY slippery. It is difficult to get a decent hold when I want to open the blade...Heck, it's just hard to hold onto...period. (MUCH MORE SLIPPERY THAN ANY CRK TITANIUM SCALES, FOR INSTANCE.)
My desire is to roughen the scales in order to get a better gripping surface. I have good tools such as a drill press with some milling bits, 6" belt sander, Ken Onion Worksharp with Blade Grinder attachment and Dremel tools.
As this is a keeper, I'm open to suggestions and appreciate your help.
thanx...

gunfixrjoe · Mar 31, 2018

I would find someone to grit blast it. Its the most thorough option.

SVTFreak · Mar 31, 2018

If you take it apart and send the scales to me, I’ll blast them for you. PM me to discuss.

Sonnydaze · Mar 31, 2018

Thanx to both of you. I will PM SVTFreak.
I have a snowbird friend who has a sandblaster at his home in Michigan, but he's down here yet for another month or two.
Sort of a "mild" grit-blast sounds perfect.
best,

REK Knives · Mar 31, 2018

Don, the scales on CRK's are sandblasted (not beadblasted) jsyk, make sure he uses a garnet or aluminum oxide sand at 100 grit or coarser =)

You could also do something like this, but it's a 'trade secret' - if I told ya I'd have to kill ya

I call it the tree bark pattern

dirc · Mar 31, 2018

That is really nice work. It looks like g10 or something, not titanium. I'd love that treatment Josh, what ballpark would you normally charge for Ti scales done like that?

darth_cholo · Mar 31, 2018

razor-edge-knives said:
Don, the scales on CRK's are sandblasted (not beadblasted) jsyk, make sure he uses a garnet or aluminum oxide sand at 100 grit or coarser =)

You could also do something like this, but it's a 'trade secret' - if I told ya I'd have to kill ya I call it the tree bark pattern

That is amazing!

victorf · Mar 31, 2018

Brass/steel wire wheel - depends on how rough a finish you want on a bench grinder or on your drill press can give you rough finish or anything in between on the rather soft titanium.

Dremel tool accessories can also do the same.

To blacken along with texturing, combination of repetitious use of heating with a propane torch flame to a straw color then press against corse brass wire wheel.

Do with what you already have in tooling. You can gain valuable experience thru the process and can come up with your own unique final finish.

Have fun.

Sonnydaze · Mar 31, 2018

I just PM'd a nice generous fellow and told him thanx but no thanx...
I've read the other posts on my thread, and I'm going to take a whack at it myself.
Thanx to victorf for challenging me a bit and get me off my butt. He's right; I do have all the tools...although a bit light on the skill.
I do thank you ALL for your helpful posts. I'm gonna give it a whirl.
Josh, at REK, is the MASTER of this stuff, and has previously sculpted the scales on an AVO. I've never seen better work.
JOSH...that tree-bark pattern is outstanding. You da man!

Sonnydaze · Apr 2, 2018

victorf...thanx for some nice hints on texturing and "coloring" my titanium slabs.
My appreciation,
don