Anodized Aluminum Durability

[Eli Chaps]

Howdy Knife Knuts,

I'm pondering the purchase of a lionSTEEL Thrill in anodized aluminum. The knife will be carried in the same pocket as my keys and folding-glasses case.

Just curious how the anodization might hold up...?

 

[eveled]

It’s durable, but will get scratched by the keys. Find a way to separate it from the keys if scratches will bother you.

 

[WValtakis]

If it’s anything like Microtech's or Surefire's type III hard ano, you're more likely to get brass from your keys rubbed off ONTO the knife...hard ano only comes in black or kind of a funky gray/green. For reference, I used an x-acto knife to scrape adhesive off a MT Scarab with zero damage to the ano If it's a bright color it's type II ano that is less durable and may scratch through to the base metal...I'd keep it separate either way though.

 

[Eli Chaps]

If it’s anything like Microtech's or Surefire's type III hard ano, you're more likely to get brass from your keys rubbed off ONTO the knife...hard ano only comes in black or kind of a funky gray/green. For reference, I used an x-acto knife to scrape adhesive off a MT Scarab with zero damage to the ano If it's a bright color it's type II ano that is less durable and may scratch through to the base metal...I'd keep it separate either way though.

It's orange.

I figured it'd scratch, just needed some other folks to convince me and help narrow my consideration list.

 

[knarfeng]

Anodizing puts a thin layer of aluminum oxide on the surface. Aluminum oxide is harder than steel, but it is brittle and the underlying aluminum is typically softer, so the finish does get damaged over time. Go look in the Gadgets and Gear flashlight threads for corroboration.

On the other hand, most of these are 6061 aluminum, which does does not corrode all that much. So even if the finish is damaged, it will just be a cosmetic issue.

If the cosmetics are an issue, you might consider a pocket sheath, or carry the knife in a pocket by itself.

 

[Eversion]

I happen to have perfect case evidence for you. This knife was carried by my dad nearly every single day for 25 years. It's black anodized aluminum.



Here is where it occasionally interacted with his keys (he carried it tip down. Blasphemy!)



Here is where it interacted with the outside world, as the clip position is pretty bad and it sticks out over 1" out of the pocket without a deep carry clip. This includes a few tumbles in the desert sand.



Yeah, anodized aluminum will wear, eventually, but it'll take a while if it's just clipped to your pocket. I'm sure you'll be fine, especially since orange is a much less contrasting color than black on aluminum.

 

[sabre cat]

Some of it is very soft. Look at the finish Victorinox puts on their Alox scales.

The other side of everything is the type III anodizing put on cookware. Very tough.

 

[WValtakis]

Yup, a nice thick layer of Type III over some 7075 is INCREDIBLY durable.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

Here you go, a Piranha Excalibur carried in my left hand pocket right next to my keys almost everyday for the last 5-6 months. The edges and chamfers get most of the wear, in my case. This was carried on and off construction sites, not used very much since it’s a backup knife. You get the idea

 

[Ajack60]

Get the Ti thrill, you won’t be disappointed and worth the extra money.
You can see the rub marks on this one. That’s front shirt pocket rubbing against a phone case.