Are these fakes? Good price?

[warcelo]

That’s what I do…a sandblaster, some gun oil and a steady hand with a Torx screwdriver…helps to not be afraid of a pin pusher

Heck I snagged two Juliet orbitals and temples a week or so ago from a trusted seller for 150.00. Already had all the other bits and an extra nose bridge

Patience will out…

2 orbitals and 2 temples for 150$ is great if you already had the bridge.
After sand blasting do you heat it up to 700F? Ive done some TI rings and I can get close to the x metal finish, If I want a darker finish I cool it down submerging on WD40 after it is hot. Never done with x-metals, just knives and rings.

 

[SpecialAdvisor]

2 orbitals and 2 temples for 150$ is great if you already had the bridge.
After sand blasting do you heat it up to 700F? Ive done some TI rings and I can get close to the x metal finish, If I want a darker finish I cool it down submerging on WD40 after it is hot. Never done with x-metals, just knives and rings.

Nope. No heat. Simple sandblast. Rare occasion if I have some stubborn finish spot someone put on, I soak a piece in thinner. Sandblast again. Light gun oil and done. Back to basic X-Metal.

Done this with MARS, Romeos, Pennys, XX, multiple Juliet’s…

 

[warcelo]

Nope. No heat. Simple sandblast. Rare occasion if I have some stubborn finish spot someone put on, I soak a piece in thinner. Sandblast again. Light gun oil and done. Back to basic X-Metal.

Done this with MARS, Romeos, Pennys, XX, multiple Juliet’s…

Interesting! Never knew Gun Oil would darken Titanium and match the X Metal look. Will try that. I know that heat oxidizes Titanium and gives it a rainbow color if it is polished; with matte finish (sandblasted) it will diffuse the light and get dark grey. To make it even darker you soak it in oil like WD40 or I guess gun oil should work too, while it is still hot.

 

[SpecialAdvisor]

Interesting! Never knew Gun Oil would darken Titanium and match the X Metal look. Will try that. I know that heat oxidizes Titanium and gives it a rainbow color if it is polished; with matte finish (sandblasted) it will diffuse the light and get dark grey. To make it even darker you soak it in oil like WD40 or I guess gun oil should work too, while it is still hot.

Well…to be fair these examples were “all” X-Metal to start out…some were rattle can painted, or Cerakoted. A couple were OEM Carbon or Plasma finish that had partially flaked.

I’m by no means an expert. Just a retired Tinker…and have zero knowledge of working metal…titanium or otherwise.

The one thing I have been told by experts is that what sandblast media one uses can alter or affect coloration. I use the same stuff (100 grit aluminum oxide blast media) all the time so cannot speak to it.

I’ve used gun oil or even sewing machine oil…just darkens it a shade and protects the metal at the end of the day.

 

[warcelo]

Well…to be fair these examples were “all” X-Metal to start out…some were rattle can painted, or Cerakoted. A couple were OEM Carbon or Plasma finish that had partially flaked.

I’m by no means an expert. Just a retired Tinker…and have zero knowledge of working metal…titanium or otherwise.

The one thing I have been told by experts is that what sandblast media one uses can alter or affect coloration. I use the same stuff (100 grit aluminum oxide blast media) all the time so cannot speak to it.

I’ve used gun oil or even sewing machine oil…just darkens it a shade and protects the metal at the end of the day.

Thanks for all the information, I knew that the media would affect the coloration but what I didn’t know is that aluminum oxide would give you the x metal look, I thought that it would be lighter and another process like heating for example would be necessary to get it to the right shade of grey.
Can wait to get one x metal to try out, I was always a fan of it but for whatever reason I ended up buying dozens of o matter Oakleys for the past decade and never thought about the x metals until recently when 2 of my glasses broke, that is when I said: I'm done, I need a titanium frame

 

[warcelo]

Another thing I didn’t mention, I have a powerful laser engraver that engraves and etches metal, I mostly use it to make circuit prototypes etching copper. If blasting takes the serial number off, with the right font I can try to put them back. Have anyone tried this before?

 

[SpecialAdvisor]

Another thing I didn’t mention, I have a powerful laser engraver that engraves and etches metal, I mostly use it to make circuit prototypes etching copper. If blasting takes the serial number off, with the right font I can try to put them back. Have anyone tried this before?

The laser part is cool…at least one of our master class artists on here has and uses one for his signature, etc. I for one have not seen my sandblaster remove a serial. But I’d bet it’s happened. Another of our artists asks specifically if the person wants their serial masked before Cerakote painting.

Word to the wise…I’d stay “Way” clear of redoing a serial or even thinking about it too loudly …ya could get lynched round these here parts.

I personally don’t care about serials as I am a wear use collector and don’t have any intention of selling…ever. I don’t collect boxes or coins. Though those things do increase value. So you can see the danger of replicated serials. That aside I’d say the font would be hard to replicate…spacing…etc.

 

[warcelo]

Good to know that sand blasting does not remove the serial number, I was concerned and started brainstorming. I also do not care about boxes and etc, Im not a collector and never will be

 

[SpecialAdvisor]

Good to know that sand blasting does not remove the serial number, I was concerned and started brainstorming. I also do not care about boxes and etc, Im not a collector and never will be

I keep caveating on ya…

I’m a retired Military Intel Officer and like my facts. “My” sandblaster has not removed a serial…I’m sure they are plenty out there strong enough to do it

 

[warcelo]

I keep caveating on ya…

I’m a retired Military Intel Officer and like my facts. “My” sandblaster has not removed a serial…I’m sure they are plenty out there strong enough to do it

Great exchanging ideas with you! Let me rephrase: Good to know that there is a sandblast technique that does not remove the serial number
Do you happen to have pictures of your refinished x-metals? I will try to find posts from you with pics to take a look!