Is it normal for anodized colors to fade.... Like almost immediately?

R

Ro$$

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Aug 27, 2015
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Hi guys, this is my first post on here other then in the exchange ( so be gentle ). So here is my predicament, I just bought a brand new zt 0900 on eBay that has the flats and screws anodized I bright blue ( I think flat is the right term). The ebay seller had a Instagram full of knives he has done and all look awesome, so I figuered I'm safe.. Well anyway the knife came in today! I love the little knife but that awesome bright blue color almost immediatly starts to fade to a light blueish purple. I emailed the guy and said it was from oil on my hands, and that some windex and a micro fiber cloth will bring the color right back.. Well it did bring it back in a few seconds.. Almost just like new ( five minutes before haha) but the color still fades just as fast. Is this normal? What should I do? I didn't pay that much for a light purple knife. Sorry for writing so much.
 
Welcome to the Forums!
About your predicament, I think it is the oils from your hands, my anodized knives do the same.
Whats weird is the colors on mine dont fade as fast.
I suggest returning it if you can if you are bugged by it alot.
Just my 2 cents.
And again... Welcome to the Forums
 
Yeah that's pretty normal for area that gets contact a lot with your hands...anodize color works best or most suitable are for area that you don't make contact easily. Say the Blue standoffs of the Benchmade 940CF.

Note that Anodize Titanium is totally different Vs say anodized aluminum.
 
Ok I just thought that was like kind of false advertisement a beautiful blue knife so I buy it then the colors aren't that beautiful anymore. He said I can return it. But if you guys say it normal then I guess I won't be able to have that blue if I got a different knife :( I do like the knife
 
I have 3 anodized ZTs. They were done by Scott at usamadeblade......for no charge when I bought them.....all 3 look just like they did new after couple of months of use. Not hard use, but use all the same.
 
I talked to him on the phone today, he knew of the seller I got my blade from and said they do amazing work.... But the darker anodized colors will print. I am just goin to keep the knife I guess if I do have to show it to anyone I can clean it with some windex real quick and bring the color right back.. Scott's prices are very good I did end up buyin a pm2 off of him...... And if anyone wants a nice lil flipper the zt 900 is awesome!
 
Anodization for color is somewhat of a scam if you use your knife a lot. It will change color due to dirt/oils and it will also wear away. (Just look at the anodized thumb lugs on pictures of well used sebenzas; they turn from blue to no color pretty quick.) Nobody who sells anodized knives is fully upfront about the stability of the color unless you ask them directly. My first custom with anodized liners is about 10-15 years old and on the edges there is no color left, but inside it is still purple.
 
brownshoe said:
Anodization for color is somewhat of a scam if you use your knife a lot. It will change color due to dirt/oils and it will also wear away. (Just look at the anodized thumb lugs on pictures of well used sebenzas; they turn from blue to no color pretty quick.) Nobody who sells anodized knives is fully upfront about the stability of the color unless you ask them directly. My first custom with anodized liners is about 10-15 years old and on the edges there is no color left, but inside it is still purple.
Click to expand...
Just like a lot of other finishes I've seen. More use more wear
 
It's normal. The color "on" the surface of Ti from "anodization" comes from light refracted through a very thin oxide layer. There is actually no color at all. The thickness of that oxide layer determines the color you see. So anything over the top of that layer will also affect the color your eyes see.

Also, the Ti oxide layer is not terribly durable as it isn't very hard comparatively speaking.

Quite a bit different than Aluminum anodizing, where the oxide layer is actually dyed to the color you see, and Aluminum oxide is actually pretty hard.

HTH. ;)

PS - I hope you don't place the blame on the seller. Everything you're observing and I'm describing can be easily found by doing a little bit of online research.

ETA - Dammit!!! :mad: Seduced by a necrothread... :rolleyes:
 
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