thermally oxidizing/anodizing

Waktasz · Sep 29, 2001

Well, being the poor college kid that I am, I can't really go out and get a bm43 or tachyon at the moment and I'm getting kinda bored with my 42.

I've seen some older posts in the archive in which pictures are posted showing the thermally oxidized titanium...nice touch, but how do I do this without screwing up my knife.

Am I just supposed to blowtorch it until it comes to the desired color?

Any help or info about this would be appreciated.

Thanks

Matt

Darth Detori · Sep 29, 2001

by my understanding, yes.
then dip it in water when you get the color you want.

I know theres more to it than this, but that's all I really know

mmtmatrix · Sep 30, 2001

If you do a search you will probably find a ton of information on the subjects of Thermal and electrolytic oxidation (anodizing).

Here is one that I recently replied to, there is also a number of threads on the balisong forum (there is info there from when I did my 42) and the shop talk forum:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=168895

Let me know if you have any questions or if I can help you out on something, the new titanium handled BM Balisongs look kinda cool anodized, as well as the bolsters on the LCC.

mmtmatrix

BalisongMan · Sep 30, 2001

Looks great on the bolsters of an LCC

The plus side is, if you don't like the color or you don't want a certain spot colored you can just sand it off.

Waktasz · Sep 30, 2001

anyone have any pics of a finished product?

thanks

edit

h, i just saw mmtmatrix's pics...looks cool
matt

joemamma12 · Sep 30, 2001

i anodized my with four 9v batteries. i faded my up from gold to silver. the gold starts at the latch on my 47 and stop half way up. i didn't take mine apart but i assume this still voids the warrenty.

BalisongMan · Sep 30, 2001

If all you do to your Bali-Song is thermally oxidize the handles than you have not voided the warranty, you won't void the warranty until you disassemble or abuse your knife (like using it as a chisel or prybar).

7Cain · Oct 1, 2001

Make sure you clean the metal of all oils and fingerprints before you begin, otherwise they will effect the outcome and more than likely burn the image of your fingerprints into the color pattern. If you want it to have rich deep color then you will also want to take it apart and hang each handle from a wire or coathanger. Begin heating the metal from bottom to top (heat rises so it will make it easier) the colors will depend on the temperature of the knife (lower temps will bring out golds and browns, higher temps bring out blues and purples) I found the best colors when I brought the Titanium to a red hot level (blues and purples) and let it air dry, it looks exactly like an Anodized model. I also left the latch and pins their natural color.