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02-04-2017, 04:44 PM
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anodizing..
hey guys so I am trying to come up with a rig to anodize titanium. the adjustable power source I use to etch my logo's doesn't have enough volts. I saw a video where a guy hooked up a bunch of 9v batteries I tried it with not much luck at all....I really don't want to spend crazy cash on a anodizer... does any one have any ideas of something I could rig up either from something I may be able to salvage or even if there is something I can buy that I could rig to work that's not crazy expensive...any idea's?
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02-04-2017, 06:01 PM
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It doesn't take a lot of volts and very little amperage so be careful screwing around with that stuff.
I did it once with nothing but two 6v lantern batteries (the square batteries with spring terminals that you see in big flashlights that have handles on them). Use one battery for whatever color that gave me and two batteries for another color. Then, I went and spent $500 on a professional titanium anodizer. Got a few more colors. In the end, I gave the anodizer away. There is no practical use for anodizing titanium that I could see unless you're making very VERY high dollar knives that will spend their lives in a glass case. Anodizing on titanium has a lifetime measured in hours if you handle it....
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02-04-2017, 07:53 PM
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I didn't know that Ray. Aluminum holds anodize pretty well.
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02-04-2017, 09:29 PM
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Ya, but aluminum anodizing is an entirely different process, produces a thicker and harder coating. Anodizing on titanium is more like etching a blade with vinegar only that would be heavier and more durable than what you get on titanium ...
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02-04-2017, 09:34 PM
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Only Titanium anodize I ever saw in aerospace was grey.
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02-05-2017, 08:38 AM
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I wonder why they would bother since titanium is naturally grey ...
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02-05-2017, 11:41 AM
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yeh I know its not a very durable coating that's for sure, I do have a bunch of those batteries you were talking about worth a shot.....is heat coloring any more durable or no?
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02-05-2017, 01:35 PM
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I think the anodize was prep for another process, they were not large parts. I remember some parts being platinum plated, but it was for satellite parts. I still have some nickel silver platinum sheet metal pieces for making little springs.
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02-05-2017, 02:25 PM
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No, heat coloring is also an oxidation process. It may be a heavier oxidation but not enough to make a huge difference. Of course, if the knife goes in a glass case then it doesn't make much difference.
If you want to know how durable heat coloring is just take a small piece of steel, polish it, and then heat color it. Carry it around in your pocket for a week or two and you should have your answer ...
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02-06-2017, 06:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jimmontg
I think the anodize was prep for another process, they were not large parts. I remember some parts being platinum plated, but it was for satellite parts. I still have some nickel silver platinum sheet metal pieces for making little springs.
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Nickel silver platinum?
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02-07-2017, 01:45 AM
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Yes
A .025 sheet metal material that came in a box about 1" wide by 18" long. Very tough stuff. Wasn't supposed to keep any spares, but the tolerances were +0.000 vs. -0.003 so it literally took me almost 4 days to make 24 little springs. I just happen to have some spares leftover. Very tough stuff.
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02-07-2017, 09:04 AM
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yeh I guess your right depends what kinda knife you making and all the anodizing is usually on a very high end knife. I have seen liners anodized on some cheaper knives but all the really nice stuff like texture tech stuff and timascus is deffinitly high end knives....but man the timascus stuff is just absolutely beautiful
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02-07-2017, 07:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jimmontg
A .025 sheet metal material that came in a box about 1" wide by 18" long. Very tough stuff. Wasn't supposed to keep any spares, but the tolerances were +0.000 vs. -0.003 so it literally took me almost 4 days to make 24 little springs. I just happen to have some spares leftover. Very tough stuff.
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Are you saying it was an alloy made of nickel and platinum?
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02-07-2017, 08:29 PM
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Nickel, silver and platinum alloy. Platinum is a very tough metal, these springs were for I do not know what purpose, but I made 24 springs every April so I'm guessing spare parts I think for the SR 71 as I made parts for it every April and May (1980s). After I formed the springs I put four holes in each part and they went to heat treat. There were 6 bends and 2 hems with ridiculous tolerances for sheet metal. They were an inch wide and about one and a half inch long when finished.
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02-07-2017, 08:41 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2013
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that sounds odd... none of those metals are known for their "spring" properties.
corrosion resistance, brittleness/hardness, and whiteness of color....
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anodizing, battery, blade, buy, case, etch, etching, flashlights, glass case, handles, heat, heat treat, knife, knives, made, make, making, material, metal, pocket, polish, silver, steel, titanium, video |
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