Thoughts on modding my user Shiro

JasonPaul · Mar 31, 2019

I just purchased this and I want to tinker a bit. The handles have scratches and the blue ano color varies throughout. Blade is perfect.

Ideas I'm considering..
1. Strip ano off and leave it plain titanium
2. Strip ano and redo it the same or different color
3. Stonewash it as is
4. Redo ano and then stonewash it

It'll be a user and I'm a tinkerer so leaving it as is isn't an option. I'd like to personalize it.

Current state:

Here's what I picture a stonewashed ano could look like. This is my Hati R.

akguy59 · Mar 31, 2019

Heck man it's your knife do whatever you want. I'm like you I just have to personalize everything I own. It gives me a lot of pleasure to personalize my gear.

Jason Puckett · Mar 31, 2019

I think a light stonewash as is would be cool. Less than on the Hati so more blue is left.

Lapedog · Mar 31, 2019

carsnrockmusic said:
I just purchased this and I want to tinker a bit. The handles have scratches and the blue ano color varies throughout. Blade is perfect.

Ideas I'm considering..
1. Strip ano off and leave it plain titanium
2. Strip ano and redo it the same or different color
3. Stonewash it as is
4. Redo ano and then stonewash it

It'll be a user and I'm a tinkerer so leaving it as is isn't an option. I'd like to personalize it.

Current state:
View attachment 1102104 View attachment 1102106

Here's what I picture a stonewashed ano could look like. This is my Hati R.
View attachment 1102108

What are you using to strip the ano?

I think redoing the ano then stonewash would look good but maybe you could try something you haven’t tried? Maybe anodize the knife multiple colours or try just anodizing the clip?

Dogdrawz · Mar 31, 2019

I've been tinkering with anodizing, stonewash then anodize again with another color. They've been coming out pretty good.

JasonPaul · Mar 31, 2019

Lapedog said:
What are you using to strip the ano?

I think redoing the ano then stonewash would look good but maybe you could try something you haven’t tried? Maybe anodize the knife multiple colours or try just anodizing the clip?

Rust remover. I had considered doing a bronze then briefly hitting it with blue. I like the idea of doing the clip a different color. I may try that.

JasonPaul · Mar 31, 2019

Dogdrawz said:
I've been tinkering with anodizing, stonewash then anodize again with another color. They've been coming out pretty good.

That sounds awesome. Mind sharing some examples?

Lapedog · Mar 31, 2019

carsnrockmusic said:
Rust remover. I had considered doing a bronze then briefly hitting it with blue. I like the idea of doing the clip a different color. I may try that.

Bronze knife with blue clip would look awsome!

Dogdrawz · Mar 31, 2019

The effects are subtle & that's what I was going for.

Yellow w/ bronze accents

Blue w/ purple accents
Before:

After:

JasonPaul · Mar 31, 2019

Dogdrawz said:
The effects are subtle & that's what I was going for.

Yellow w/ bronze accents

Blue w/ purple accents
Before:

After:

This looks amazing. Thanks for the input and sharing.

Dogdrawz · Mar 31, 2019

No problemo. Good luck!

Lapedog · Mar 31, 2019

carsnrockmusic said:
That sounds awesome. Mind sharing some examples?

Here’s some of my examples for inspiration, it’s all done at home with 9v batteries:

(Please forgive the Strider clone. I got it as a free surprise in a trade and since it is all Ti I use it as a testbed for anodizing)

JasonPaul · Mar 31, 2019

Lapedog said:
Here’s some of my examples for inspiration, it’s all done at home with 9v batteries:

(Please forgive the Strider clone. I got it as a free surprise in a trade and since it is all Ti I use it as a testbed for anodizing)

The boker and ZT look amazing! Did you use the sponge technique for that pattern?

Lapedog · Mar 31, 2019

carsnrockmusic said:
The boker and ZT look amazing! Did you use the sponge technique for that pattern?

I used bounty paper towel to do it. I didn’t even know about the sponge technique until later.

The pattern on the bounty paper soaked in the anodizing bath is transfered to the ti when electric charge is put through it. I just touch the wire to one spot on the paper towel at a time and hold it there. The colour goes from high voltage to lower as it spreads out through the paper towel causing the colour fade.

Basically lay the paper towel soaked in anodizing bath on top of the ti. Hook the knife up to the POSITIVE wire and then touch the wet paper towel with the NEGATIVE wire.

Watch the first video on this link to get a better idea. However unlike in the video you just touch one spot with the negative wire and hold it rather than “colouring in” as seen in the video.

http://strsbackyardknifeworks.blogspot.com/2013/02/anodizing-made-easy.html?m=1

REK Knives · Mar 31, 2019

Here's how I modded my Neon... Note the choil extension. I vote to strip, stonewash, and bronze anodize!

JasonPaul · Apr 1, 2019

You guys are awesome.

I'll post pics as my project starts. I ordered a variable power supply and will be testing on an okc Carter prime. I think I may grind the blade down a bit on that as well and leave the blackwash on the untouched areas.

JasonPaul · Apr 5, 2019

Phase 1 complete... Away on a brief fishing trip so didn't have time to anodize it. I like how it came out so far.