Titanium Framelock Question

cziv

cziv

Joined
Nov 24, 2005
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I have several Ti framelocks and even though they're not EDC knives the stonewash titanium seems to be getting darker. I don't think this is my imagination and perhaps someone may have run into this?

They are LNIB and have been cycled (opened and closed) but never carried, used, sharpened, or cut things - just pulled out of the case a couple of times a week and handled. Still in 6 months time, two of them are noticeably darker (the stonewash Ti handles).

Can this be from my hands while admiring them and handling them? Can they be lightened up with soap and water for e.g.?

Thanks! :)
 
Titanium is continually "oxidizing" -- which is nice if you get light surface scratches because they eventually re-oxidize and appear to "heal" themselves. I have experienced this phenomenon with both Ti knives and Ti watches.
 
link2derek said:
Titanium is continually "oxidizing" -- which is nice if you get light surface scratches because they eventually re-oxidize and appear to "heal" themselves. I have experienced this phenomenon with both Ti knives and Ti watches.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the information link2derek. :thumbup:
 
There are not many metals that won't oxidize.
What makes stainless steel, stain less, is the excess Chromium oxidizing, forming a protective layer. Iron oxide is porous, allowing Oxygen to continue on attacking the Iron underneath.
Though, as commonly seen with a nice patina you can get similar results using plain Iron.
I have used a patina very successfully on many knives, one in particular would still rust when coated with oil or petroleum jelly. With the patina I can cut citrus fruit with it and merely wipe the blade clean, the only consequence being a slightly darker blade.
 
Can this oxidation be spruced up with a mild agent of some kind or is this not possible. I would like to sell or trade 1 for sure and though it's LNIB, it has grown slightly darker over time. Not trying to rip anyone off but I'd like it to have the bright look it had at time of purchase from the mnaufacturer - even if it doesn't go to market. Thanks! :)
 
Short of re-tumbling it there isn't really anything you can do to lighten it. That's just how Ti is. The oxide layer is what protects the base metal from corrosion. The same way annodizing protects aluminum, annodizing being just a thickened oxide layer.

If you re-tumble it it will eventually just revert to the dull gray color again.
 
Titanium and aluminum begin oxidizing immediately when exposed to air. Bare Al and Ti are basically covered in a thin layer of oxide. The difference between these metals and iron/steel is that unlike rust, these oxides aren't corrosive, but rather are inert and even protective. Kinda like a patina that happens to be the same color as the base metal. You can polish aluminum to a mirror finish, but after a while it'll oxidize and won't look as shiny, but dull and cloudy.
 
It's the oils from your hands, especially obvious on beadblasted or stonewashed. Yep, Soap and water, or something like windex will clean it off and lighten them back up. The oxidation layer on titanium is unbelieveably thin, forms right away and then doesn't thicken unless you use electricity to make it thicker where it becomes the thickness of light waves and reflects colors. (anodized) if you've ever had anodized titanium, it will get dull from use but unless it gets rubbed off, the color comes right back with a good cleaning.

Grizz
 
gdwtvb said:
It's the oils from your hands, especially obvious on beadblasted or stonewashed. Yep, Soap and water, or something like windex will clean it off and lighten them back up. The oxidation layer on titanium is unbelieveably thin, forms right away and then doesn't thicken unless you use electricity to make it thicker where it becomes the thickness of light waves and reflects colors. (anodized) if you've ever had anodized titanium, it will get dull from use but unless it gets rubbed off, the color comes right back with a good cleaning.

Grizz
Click to expand...

That did it Grizz! A few drops of windex on a piece of cotton cloth, lightly wiped it on, rubbed gently and dryed it off with the same cloth. Looks like brand new again. :thumbup:
 
As far as titanium goes, you can place it in a solution of water and Oxy-Fast for a couple of hours and really darken the titanium. Not sure if this process is oxidation or a poor mans anodizing. Just thought I would throw it out there.
 
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