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Titanium surface prep before anodizing

I recently bought some titanium cutlery and would like to anodize the items in various colors. However, I do not know if the cutlery was coated to protect the Titanium or not. The items are a natural titanium color at present and thus I am not sure if the surface is free of a clear coat or not.

Assuming there is some sort of coating on the titanium, what would this coating be? And more importantly, How would I strip any protective layer and clean the part before I anodize in a trisodium phosphate ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] solution? Any assistance would be appreciated.

Regards,

Nate Hallee
Designer - Minneapolis, Minnesota
2005

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Titanium is very resistant to corrosion and there is no reason to clearcoat it. Anodized layer is very sensitive to rubbing.And you can not lacquer it.

Good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
2005

Most cutlery marketed as titanium isn't really titanium. Its usually steel with a TiN coating or its just finished a dull grey color and called Titanium because it sounds exotic. There are several companies (and individuals) making Ti. knives but they are fairly expensive. So if your anodising doesn't work right this may be the problem. As an experiment try to stick a magnet to the blade...if it sticks the knife is not titanium.

Jason Aube
- Flint, Michigan
2005

adv.