Anodized Titanium

[oupa]

I see that many folders are now offered with colourfully anodized Titanium handles.
Can anyone tell me if the finish is durable?
Does it scratch easily?
Thanks
Dirk

[oupa]

Well, thanks for all the timely, enthusiastic and meaningful replies.
Dirk

[Jamey Saunders]

Hi, Dirk. I was waiting for one of the folding knife folks to wade in on this, but since nobody's replied, here goes.

The anodized layer of titanium is at the most just a few microns thick, and being a surface coating, it is subject to scratching. A knife with anodized bolsters that is carried in a pocket will show wear quickly. The good news is that with titanium, it's pretty easy to bring the color back, especially if the knife is put together with screws. Just take it apart, buff off the anodizing, and re-anodize.

The anodized layer is a little harder than the titanium substrate, but isn't hard enough to be impervious.

Just my opinion, but I think a knife with scratched anodizing still looks better in most cases than one with plain titanium.

Hope that helps, and welcome to the forums!

[Don Robinson]

If you carry the knife in the bottom of your pocket, the edges that contact the cloth will cause the color to wear off that area.

It lasts longer using a pocket clip.

I like it, though.

[oupa]

Thank you for the information.
Dirk

[Jeff Higgins]

Heat-coloured Ti will last longer than anodized, but is a lot more difficult to do.

[Jeremy Krammes]

Just a thought. What about clear baking lacquer to protect the surface, like Tim Herman does on his color engravings. It might make it a bit shiny, but you could steel wool it to dull the finish.

Jeremy