Flame coloring titanium with a butane lighter?

Death's Head

Death's Head

Joined
Jul 26, 2005
Messages
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I don't have any experience working with acetylene torches and the such, but I have a titanium ring and possible some folders that I would like to add some color to if it is not too difficult. I don't want to ruin anything of course. Can I easily mess things up if I have never done this before. Also,
is it possible to flame/heat color with one of those butane lighters.
 
I don't believe it is possible to anodize titanium with a butane lighter. But, I may be wrong. Normally an electrical current is used.
 
DGG said:
I don't believe it is possible to anodize titanium with a butane lighter. But, I may be wrong. Normally an electrical current is used.
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Sorry, I think we are not understanding each other. I like the look of anodized titanium, but I prefer the look of flamed coloring better. The flamed colored stuff that I have seen are less bright and shiny. Almost like a colorful camoflauge.
Flame coloring I believe is traditionally done by coating the titanium object you wish to color with a lubricant like WD-40 is what I have read. Than depending on how much you heat the different parts of the titanium, different colors will appear.
Toxic Knives has some killer flamed colored items like knives, rings, kubotans, etc.
 
i dont thing you will get hot with just a little lighter
but if your talking about one of those little jet lighters maybe
heat coloring most Ti seems to start around 800F or so least from when i have done it in my kiln
 
A butane lighter ain't gonna get it. I tried on a gas stove, barely worked. I think you need atleast propane if not MAPP gas torch for it to work decntly.
 
What is a MAPP gas torch. Would that be acetylene torch? Sound like to much trouble to go through.
 
You can buy MAPP torch kits at Home Depot, displayed right next to the butane torches.

I have no idea if they'd work for flame anodizing, but they do get hotter.
 
I would think that one of those butane torch lighters would work, but not just a normal bic.

I honestly have never tried it though, just seems like it should work.
 
ginshun said:
I would think that one of those butane torch lighters would work, but not just a normal bic.
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I tried it. Didn't work. Not even close.

I bought one of those propane torches you use for heating plumbing/soldering and that worked pretty good.

I didn't know you were supposed to put some kind of lube on it first, though. I just heated it (Sebenza) in different areas and it changed colors.

.
 
fulloflead said:
I tried it. Didn't work. Not even close.

I bought one of those propane torches you use for heating plumbing/soldering and that worked pretty good.

I didn't know you were supposed to put some kind of lube on it first, though. I just heated it (Sebenza) in different areas and it changed colors.

.
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Could you post some pics of the results. Also I am not sure if it was on this forum, but I recently read that people would but some kind of lubricant. It would usually be WD-40. I am guessing it makes the coloring more effective, based on the fact that I have seen it posted several times, but I really don't know. I am hoping someone can fill me in about this.

Also, what rebeltf posted looks useful. What do you guys think of this. Will it perform the same as other torches.
http://www.masterappliance.com/mt5.html
 
deathshead said:
Could you post some pics of the results. Also I am not sure if it was on this forum, but I recently read that people would but some kind of lubricant. It would usually be WD-40. I am guessing it makes the coloring more effective, based on the fact that I have seen it posted several times, but I really don't know. I am hoping someone can fill me in about this.
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I was part of a multi-person experiment thread HERE.

deathshead said:
Also, what rebeltf posted looks useful. What do you guys think of this. Will it perform the same as other torches.
http://www.masterappliance.com/mt5.html
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That's very similar to the butane cigar torch I was trying to use, so I have my doubts. That said, rebeltf isn't exactly a wet-behind-the-ears newbie, so I'm not going to discount his claim without letting him explain further.:cool:

.
 
Thanks for the link fulloflead. I read that thread before and totally forgot about it. I do the oxiclean bath all the time with great results. It's a no brainer. Your heat treating came out well also. So which torch did you end up purchasing from home depot?
 
deathshead said:
So which torch did you end up purchasing from home depot?
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I'm at work, so I can't tell you for sure, right now, but it was blue and came in a blister pack that was like a 'kit' with solder, flux, a brush, etc. - one of those discount jobs in a cardboard display standing in the plumbing aisle. Cheap too. I think it was $9.95 or something like that.

.
 
fulloflead said:
I'm at work, so I can't tell you for sure, right now, but it was blue and came in a blister pack that was like a 'kit' with solder, flux, a brush, etc. - one of those discount jobs in a cardboard display standing in the plumbing aisle. Cheap too. I think it was $9.95 or something like that.

.
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You must have a sweet job! How many posts are you up to today.:D
 
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