How to: 3 color anodizing - Spyderco Manix handle with engraving

In this video I describe how I do 3 colored anodizing on a pair of aluminum Spyderco Manix handles. Youtuber fredde90210 requested an engraving of the Umbrella Corporation from the movie Resident evil, so I suggested that we go crazy and make it in color! This is my interpretation of the logo.

First step was to very thinly engrave the logo into the surface, more as a location guide than anything else, I didn't video this.
Second step was to cut out some vinyl stickers for masking.
Third step was to anodize the handles clear
Fourth step was to mask off the silver parts of the logo with the stickers.
Fifth step was to dye the handles red.
Sixth step was to mask off the red parts of the logo with the stickers.
Seventh step was to strip off the red color using bleach then acid.
Eighth step was to dye the part toxic green.
Ninth step was to seal the part in my nickel acetate sealer at boiling.
Tenth step was to remove the stickers and clean off the sticker residue with Toluene.
Eleventh step was to seal the part again, to get the areas under the stickers.
Twelfth step was to dry the parts and rub them down with WD40.

Not an easy job! But I think it's totally worth the effort. If you want me to make you something similar keep in mind it doesn't come cheap!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• spyderco
• manix
• anodized
• anodizing
• toxic
• green
• knife
• handles
• scales
• cnc
• machined
• grizzly
• x2
• vinyl
• cutting
• drag
• john
• grimsmo

[GFXDesignery]

Ahhhh if only i could find someone to anno my paintball gun that color of white you did , i liked it very much , how much would you charge to do it on about 3-4 parts? : D

[JohnGrimsmo]

@GFXDesignery I used to anodize paintball guns, but not anymore, too much of a pain. There are lots of other guys doing it.

[spreepin]

by the way toluene is a key ingredient for TNT ( hence the name - trinitrotoluene)

[JohnGrimsmo]

@spreepin Why do you think I bought so much? Haha just kidding! They definitely look at you funny at the paint store when you ask for it, it's behind the counter, you have to tell them exactly what you plan on using it for.

[kingjamez80]

Good stuff, I learned a lot and love the home made drag knife! I wonder if using a 3D printer to lay some sort of resist material would make for easier masking during the anodizing process. If you could find a extrude-able material that would adhere, but be removable, then you would have CNC precision on your mask and it probably would speed up your process and allow more intricate designs (ala dragons blood).

Plus everybody needs and excuse to buy a 3D printer.

[JohnGrimsmo]

@kingjamez80 Ohh you punk, a 3d printer is a great idea for anodizing masks!!! Now I want one haha. It should work really well if the lines are crisp enough. Vinyl stickers work pretty good but a lot of times you can see bleed at the edges.

[GFXDesignery]

@JohnGrimsmo Thank you for the response ! , and I understand , do what you enjoy it makes life better ! , But thanks man i'll check it out (:

[verbytskyy]

Men, you are a freaking genius!!! I am jealous of your patience.

[JohnGrimsmo]

@jgbelmont It's a Sanyo VPC-GH4, not fantastic but for $130 on sale on Amazon I couldn't pass it up, it's working very well for me. Produces GREAT outdoor footage on a bright day, but with indoor lighting it lacks a lot.

[jgbelmont]

Great video. What kind of camera did you use. It looks nice.