What is titanium anodizing?
Unlike aluminum anodizing, which uses dyes to saturate the porous structure of the metal, titanium anodizing relies on an oxide layer which coats the metal. Using an electrical current, and carefully controlling the voltage and amperage, a thin layer of oxide crystal is grown on the surface of the metal. Light refracts through this crystalline layer, creating optical color as a prism would!
What colors are possible with ti anodizing?
The colors achievable in ti ano, in order on the voltage scale, are brown, purple, blue, blue-silver, gold, peach, pink, turquoise, and green. Fades are possible between colors which are adjacent on the voltage scale, as well as across any range of colors in their order. Certain multi-color graphic layups are possible, as well as marbled color, multi-texture layups, and splatter ano. Please check out the galleries for lots of examples, or inquire with specific ideas!
What kind of durability should I expect from my anodized titanium?
Ti ano color is roughly as durable as the bead-blasted texture on a bike frame. It will be susceptible to wear where it is repeatedly rubbed or scuffed - this means that you should expect wearing where a bottle is inserted and removed from a King Cage, or heel rub on your eeWings if your heel contacts the crank arm while pedaling. This would be considered normal wear.
Different colors are made of thicker or thinner oxide layers - the applied voltage determines how thick the oxide grows, which determines the color perceived. This means, necessarily, that certain colors are thinner than others - in particular, take care not to rub purple or bronze with anything abrasive, those colors will show scratches more readily.
The color of my cage looks a little dull or muted after handling or use, what causes this?
Some lower voltage colors, such as bronze, deep purple, or deep blue, can watermark and fingerprint similar to a stainless steel appliance. Titanium anodized color is created using an oxide layer on the surface of the metal, through which light refracts to create color - with low voltage colors (~12V-30V), which use a thinner oxide layer, contaminants can have the affect of shifting the wavelength of the color very slightly (by adding slight thickness to the oxide) and influencing the exact color which your eye perceives. Handling with oily hands, washing with hard water, or exposure to oils while riding can have this effect of shifting the wavelength and thus color perception.
Thankfully, it is simple to clean up and correct. If the color of your cage appears muted or duller as compared to when they were new, you can wipe it down with a scratch-free rag (I use blue Scott shop towels) and Windex to bring back the color’s pop. For stubborn cases, try alcohol and then Windex. For even MORE stubborn cases, you can remove the cage and wash it under clean running water using Dawn dish soap.
Should I use protectors where I expect wear?
Since anodized color is roughly the same hardness as the titanium itself, it will wear where abraded. It is always a good idea to use clear vinyl protectors where you expect abrasion - with frame bag straps, or if heel rub is a component of your fit, as examples.
An important bit of advice, however, if you plan to pursue protectors: be aware of the possibility of tearout! The oxide layer is bonded to the metal on a molecular level and won't peel or flake off on its own, but it is possible to tear it off if strong adhesives are applied and not removed carefully - this is referred to as tearout.
If you apply a vinyl protector and would like to remove it, the best practice is: Use a heat gun to heat and soften the adhesive. Remove it using a shearing direction, folding the vinyl back on itself rather than pulling it away from the surface. Remove it very slowly, letting the softened adhesive release from the surface gradually. Doing this, 99% of the time strongly bonded adhesives will release without taking any color with it.
If I send in a frame for a refinish, will all of its scratches and scuffs come back smooth?
In some cases yes, in some cases no. I’ll always go through the frame and soften any scratches, but I typically won’t attempt to make them go away completely. Usually, making scratches disappear requires sanding them out. Tube walls on many high level frames are often very thin, and I’ll never do anything that could potentially compromise the frame’s integrity.
Can I return product if I just don’t like it?
You’re absolutely welcome to return purchased product, but it needs to be in as-new condition. For cages, that means they shouldn’t have fixing bolt impressions from installation onto the bike. Please check color match with your frame or other components before installing or using them!
What is the small dab of epoxy inside one of the backstraps on my King Cage?
That dab is present on every single King Cage that we anodize, and serves a very important purpose. When King Cage welds the cages, they leave a vent hole in that spot for weld gasses to escape. Prior to anodizing, I seal the weld hole with a syringe and a dab of epoxy - this prevents chemicals from getting inside the cage's tubing during the anodizing process. This is necessary to prevent chemicals from getting trapped inside the cage’s tubing and causing the cage to fail prematurely.
Can you do black King Cages?
I do not offer any - but if you’d like black King Cages, consider black powder coated cages from Myth Cycles. They can be found here.