Black Camo custom titanium Charge scale finish

Crouton · **on:** December 30, 2010, 04:01:15 AM

I decided recently to make my own black scaled titanium Charge after finding that obtaining an OEM black titanium Charge is challenging to say the least. My original intention was only to make black scales but after practicing a bit I decided to go for a camo pattern. Thanks to gadget guy I had couple extra Ti scales to practice on, Gadget is a great guy BTW.

I used an Epilog laser machine from work like the one here http://www.epiloglaser.com/legend_36ext.htm and some Thermark Laser marking material http://www.thermark.com/content/view/35/78/. We normally use the marking material for etching writing into metal objects, but I decided to try my hand at scale painting with it. The process is simple, you spray the marking material on the scales, or any metal, and then print the pattern form a PC using Corel Draw. Any of the areas that are hit with the laser will turn from gray to black and become permanent. During my testing I discovered that I can easily turn the scale all black after etching a pattern onto it in case I change my mind.

Well here are the results, I'm actually quite impressed with it. The finish is very tough and will not scrape off. I bet nobody has a Charge like this one!

Before shot. This is a modded Xti with the extra bit driver replaced by scissors.

This is the after shot, interesting huh?

A glamour shot.

This is what the scales look like all black.

I did experiment with just hitting the titanium with the laser at high power with no marking material applied to the scale, and I found that I could darken the color of the titanium which was actually a pleasing effect. I will experiment with this later.

I will probably make an all black scale model next with the screw heads black as well. I like the look of the silver screws with this mod though.

rioredgt · **Reply #1 on:** December 30, 2010, 04:26:33 AM

WOW!

Robert

Sean · **Reply #2 on:** December 30, 2010, 05:16:33 AM

+1 Wow. Jeff, that is one of a kind! Great Job.

CENTURION · **Reply #3 on:** December 31, 2010, 07:41:37 AM

I'm super jealous of those scales

Great job!

AHB · **Reply #4 on:** December 31, 2010, 09:29:40 AM

That's an amazing result Crouton..

Now we all gonna need Camo scales..

Gareth · **Reply #5 on:** December 31, 2010, 01:11:57 PM

That looks superb Crouton.

J-sews · **Reply #6 on:** December 31, 2010, 01:30:16 PM

Whoa!

That looks REALLY good!

Neil · **Reply #7 on:** December 31, 2010, 01:50:14 PM

That looks like fun

What are you going to do next? I'd love access to a laser

Viix · **Reply #8 on:** January 01, 2011, 03:27:21 PM

Nice, now you guys juz make people like us with no access to laser jealous

stack · **Reply #9 on:** January 01, 2011, 03:51:23 PM

WOW

That is so

Thanks for shareing that with us.

Crouton · **Reply #10 on:** January 01, 2011, 05:24:52 PM

Quote from: Neil on December 31, 2010, 01:50:14 PM

That looks like fun What are you going to do next? I'd love access to a laser

My plan is to attempt to hit the whole scale with the laser at high power without marking material to see what it will look like. Then it's on to an all black scale model for my collection. I will post pics. Thanks guys for the comments.

J-sews · **Reply #11 on:** January 02, 2011, 04:23:46 AM

I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out!

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #12 on:** January 02, 2011, 04:56:27 AM

Please link this to the custom MTO charge thread

cerbera147 · **Reply #13 on:** January 02, 2011, 11:14:27 AM

Frickin' lasers, what can't they do?

Looks great BTW

nuphoria · **Reply #14 on:** January 02, 2011, 10:23:21 PM

Lovely job.... and yes we do all want a go on your laser

Essexman · **Reply #15 on:** January 03, 2011, 12:02:23 AM

Wow that looks fantastic!

Lasers eh! Now if you could fit one on the head of a shark...........

Crouton · **Reply #16 on:** January 04, 2011, 03:39:30 AM

Update - Here is what I did today:

Ready to commence.

Completely disassembled.

Scales ready to be modded.

The Epilog laser machine I will be using.

The computer that runs the laser.

The first pass I just hit the scales with the laser at low speed and full power with no marking material to see how it would turn out. This is the laser in action.

Here is one set of scales hit with the laser (top) and one set untouched (bottom)

This is all 4 scales hit by the laser. It makes for a nice rainbow effect but I wasn't happy with the uneven patina so I decided to go all black.

I added marking material, which is like a powdery paint, and cooked the scales again to turn them all black.

This is what the mod looks like completely assembled. It looks great in person, this result is exactly what I was going for when I started this mod.

View My Video
A short video of the laser in action, this was taken during the first run without marking material.

Afterthoughts: I did find that I had the power too high, or the speed too low, and actually warped the thin scales slightly (the non-leatherman ones). This ended up not being an issue once it was reassembled.

J-sews · **Reply #17 on:** January 04, 2011, 03:50:58 AM

Damn, its so seldom everything turns out so well!

Great post, great photos, great project, great results!!

Gareth · **Reply #18 on:** January 04, 2011, 12:02:41 PM

That's a great result Crouton and I'm guessing that the finish is as tough as old boots.

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #19 on:** January 04, 2011, 04:45:25 PM

Quote from: Gareth on January 04, 2011, 12:02:41 PM

That's a great result Crouton and I'm guessing that the finish is as tough as old boots.

But with less smell!

Beautiful work.

Crouton · **Reply #20 on:** January 04, 2011, 07:41:53 PM

Quote from: Gareth on January 04, 2011, 12:02:41 PM

That's a great result Crouton and I'm guessing that the finish is as tough as old boots.

I prefer the finish to a BO finish actually, it doesn't act like an added layer to the titanium it feels more like a deformation of the metal. See the link here http://www.thermark.com/content/view/16/86/for an explanation of how the marking material works. When I was cleaning the scales I scrubbed them very hard with a green scrubbing pad to see if they would scratch and it did nothing to the finish. Plus this finish is replenish-able for anyone with access to a laser

The one small downside to it is that the laser can't reach the sides of the deepest part of the scale without me building a jig so that I can hit the sides. That's not a big deal to me at all.

All in all this was a lot of fun, and both the Charges I modded came out really well.

J-sews · **Reply #21 on:** January 05, 2011, 02:57:27 AM

I love the all black for sure, but the camo black you did really pushes my hot button!

Are there any downsides to that if I may ask?

robibotti · **Reply #22 on:** January 05, 2011, 12:00:59 PM

...i translate an italian way of saying:

...i'm lost in wonder like cows watching a train passing over.....

great job!!!!!... :pok:my charge felt in love with yours...

Crouton · **Reply #23 on:** January 06, 2011, 02:10:35 AM

Quote from: robibotti on January 05, 2011, 12:00:59 PM

...i translate an italian way of saying:

...i'm lost in wonder like cows watching a train passing over.....

great job!!!!!... :pok:my charge felt in love with yours...

Hehe..thanks a bunch.

jzmtl · **Reply #24 on:** January 07, 2011, 04:30:55 AM

Very interesting, so essentially the scale was coated in a very thin layer of colored glass. That should be harder than any paint out there including those epoxy based one.

Neil · **Reply #25 on:** January 08, 2011, 01:51:12 AM

They did turn out well

I'll add laser cutter to my long list of workshop hardware I want and will never have

Metropolicity · **Reply #26 on:** October 12, 2011, 07:04:33 AM

Quote from: Neil on January 08, 2011, 01:51:12 AM

They did turn out well

I'll add laser cutter to my long list of workshop hardware I want and will never have

They aren't that expensive, well, relatively. The cheapest one is $8000 cdn from epilog. I've been saving up for one but have failed every time to photography equipment that makes money. Getting stuff laser cut/etch isn't as expensive as most think.

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Black Camo custom titanium Charge scale finish

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