- Joined
- May 25, 2009
- Messages
- 321
Hey guys! Just getting into the titanium scale/knife trade.
I want to start a thread to share tips/pics/results of titanium finishes.
Things I want to cover are some comprehensive guides put together by the community on the things listed below.
I'll get some pics in the next couple of days.
Sanding
Polishing
Stone washing
Blasting
Anodizing Heat and electro
Oxidizing
I want everyone to input on what techniques they use and the results they get. I will start out by explaining my few methods I have been able to try out so far.
Sanding
So far I have not had to sand much of my titanium. I have been getting the knifemaker grade from AKS and it comes looking pretty good. When I complete a scale of my CNC there isn't much that needs to be done besides knock the edges off. For this I prefer using the Red scotchbrite pads and 600 grit sandpaper. I like to give everything a good rub with the RED pads and get everything even. Ill then wetsand with the 600 grit on the surfaces to my liking.
Polishing
Stone washing
My stone washing procedure is simple. I picked up the large harbor freight vibratory tumbler with 3x 5lb jugs of the triangle ceramic media. I put some dawn dish soap and water in the tumbler and let it run for 24 hours and get a decent stone wash finish that I am happy with at this point.
Blasting
Anodizing
Electro
I have just started to electro anodize and have learned a few key things. I was using the sulfuric battery acid mix but quickly got rid of that due to the hazards. I am now using a borax and tap water solution and have been winging the mixture. I have had fair results but not perfect. My plan for now is to use distilled water 1 gal to 20% mixture of borax to eliminate spotting. SO first off I fill up a Tupperware container using my 20% Borax to distilled water solution. Make sure its good and mixed up before I do anything. I place as much scrap titanium as I see fit to meet the surface area requirements of my piece I am anodizing. I then hook my negative up to a titanium rod I purchased on amazon. Make sure everything in the circuit is TITANIUM! The second rod I have bent into a u shape with hooks to hold my scales/other random items.
1. I clean the piece as best I can in Soapy hot water.
2. I etch the piece in Whisk drain cleaner found at wallmart (more details to come.) I have been letting it sit in there till it really starts to bubble but this seems to mess with my surface finish of the previous operations siust quick dips. Be sure to ware rubber gloves/goggles/face shield as this stuff is nasty.
3. I neutralize the acid n a bath of water and baking soda. Very important! Don't want to be spreading it around the shop and ruining everything.
4 I wash it again in hot soapy water.
5 I rinse in two different containers of water to get off all of the soapy water.
6 Going to start dipping in acetone to get it 100% clean
7 Store immediately in clean water if you do not plan to anodize immediately
8 Anodize - Currently I just place on my u shaped hook and dip it in the tank with the power supply turned off. Its VERY important to wear gloves to avoid shocks. Make sure none of the pieces you are anodizing are touching the negative pieces. Turn on the power supply and anodize to the color you want.
9 Done
Heat
I have only done heat anodizing once but the cleaning procedure should be the same. After that break out the torch and apply heat until you get the desired color. This takes practice to get what you want so don't expect perfect results the first time.
Oxidizing
Last night I tried to oxidize some scales. it did not go well. I was using OXI Clean NOT OXY Clean. Two different things. I think it all boiled down to my tap water not being clean enough. So I hope someone chimes in on this.
Next time around I will do something like this.
1. Clean using the same procedure as anodizing.
2. Boil Distilled water
3 In a glass container mix some OXI Clean and the boiled water till I thing its good and mixed.
4 Dip titanium in there for 30-60 mins.
This is as far as I have come so I hope the rest of you can add to this to help us beginners out.
I want to start a thread to share tips/pics/results of titanium finishes.
Things I want to cover are some comprehensive guides put together by the community on the things listed below.
I'll get some pics in the next couple of days.
Sanding
Polishing
Stone washing
Blasting
Anodizing Heat and electro
Oxidizing
I want everyone to input on what techniques they use and the results they get. I will start out by explaining my few methods I have been able to try out so far.
Sanding
So far I have not had to sand much of my titanium. I have been getting the knifemaker grade from AKS and it comes looking pretty good. When I complete a scale of my CNC there isn't much that needs to be done besides knock the edges off. For this I prefer using the Red scotchbrite pads and 600 grit sandpaper. I like to give everything a good rub with the RED pads and get everything even. Ill then wetsand with the 600 grit on the surfaces to my liking.
Polishing
Stone washing
My stone washing procedure is simple. I picked up the large harbor freight vibratory tumbler with 3x 5lb jugs of the triangle ceramic media. I put some dawn dish soap and water in the tumbler and let it run for 24 hours and get a decent stone wash finish that I am happy with at this point.
Blasting
Anodizing
Electro
I have just started to electro anodize and have learned a few key things. I was using the sulfuric battery acid mix but quickly got rid of that due to the hazards. I am now using a borax and tap water solution and have been winging the mixture. I have had fair results but not perfect. My plan for now is to use distilled water 1 gal to 20% mixture of borax to eliminate spotting. SO first off I fill up a Tupperware container using my 20% Borax to distilled water solution. Make sure its good and mixed up before I do anything. I place as much scrap titanium as I see fit to meet the surface area requirements of my piece I am anodizing. I then hook my negative up to a titanium rod I purchased on amazon. Make sure everything in the circuit is TITANIUM! The second rod I have bent into a u shape with hooks to hold my scales/other random items.
1. I clean the piece as best I can in Soapy hot water.
2. I etch the piece in Whisk drain cleaner found at wallmart (more details to come.) I have been letting it sit in there till it really starts to bubble but this seems to mess with my surface finish of the previous operations siust quick dips. Be sure to ware rubber gloves/goggles/face shield as this stuff is nasty.
3. I neutralize the acid n a bath of water and baking soda. Very important! Don't want to be spreading it around the shop and ruining everything.
4 I wash it again in hot soapy water.
5 I rinse in two different containers of water to get off all of the soapy water.
6 Going to start dipping in acetone to get it 100% clean
7 Store immediately in clean water if you do not plan to anodize immediately
8 Anodize - Currently I just place on my u shaped hook and dip it in the tank with the power supply turned off. Its VERY important to wear gloves to avoid shocks. Make sure none of the pieces you are anodizing are touching the negative pieces. Turn on the power supply and anodize to the color you want.
9 Done
Heat
I have only done heat anodizing once but the cleaning procedure should be the same. After that break out the torch and apply heat until you get the desired color. This takes practice to get what you want so don't expect perfect results the first time.
Oxidizing
Last night I tried to oxidize some scales. it did not go well. I was using OXI Clean NOT OXY Clean. Two different things. I think it all boiled down to my tap water not being clean enough. So I hope someone chimes in on this.
Next time around I will do something like this.
1. Clean using the same procedure as anodizing.
2. Boil Distilled water
3 In a glass container mix some OXI Clean and the boiled water till I thing its good and mixed.
4 Dip titanium in there for 30-60 mins.
This is as far as I have come so I hope the rest of you can add to this to help us beginners out.
