Bronze Ano Turning Dark - how to correct?

Garytn

Garytn

Joined
Nov 1, 2013
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174
I have several knives with bronze anodizing of the Ti. Over time they seem to darken. This isn't specific to any knife maker other than it is anodized Ti. Is there any way to reverse that? If there is, then is there a way to prevent it in the first place. I was wondering if Ren Wax would prevent it, but am not sure if that would work since I don't know what the chemistry is behind it. I'm afraid to treat it with any abrasives for fear of losing the anodization layer.
 
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"I'm afraid to treat it with any abrasives for fear of losing the anodization layer."

That's true enough...that layer is very thin...no abrasives. I'll watch and learn...
 
Do not use any abrasive on it, electro anodizing puts on a very thin ano layer that can be easily buffed off or taken off with a scuff pad. Heat anodizing puts a slightly thicker layer on it.

What you can do is get some windex and a paper towel (I find the blue shop paper towels work best) and clean it. Most of the time its only oil from your hands and some dirt. Windex won't hurt it at all. I recently started anodizing Ti and I find that the color will change when you handle it.

I just did this one last night, you can see the less vibrant side was where it was handled and the other side was just cleaned with a little windex.
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Not sure if the wax will remedy your problem, but if it does please let us know :)
 
I just tried it and it helps a lot. Many thanks!! I used the glass cleaner and then went over it with the Ren Wax. The wax didn't do much but give it a nicer sheen. But I'm hoping it will protect fromnew fingerpritns, etc.
Thanks for the tip.
 
Just FYI, Ti "anodizing" is very different than colored aluminum anodizing. With aluminum the anodizing makes the surface porous, allowing dyes to penetrate and be trapped the outer oxide layer. With Ti, the electrical current is just changing which spectrum the Ti reflects light in. Which is why a layer of oil or dirt can further change the colors reflected.

The cool thing about Ti anodizing is that there are no dyes to chemically break down over time, so it doesn't fade like aluminum anodized colors do in sunlight.
 
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