type III anodization Al light get scratch ?
- Thread starter picard
- Start date
Help Support Candle Power Flashlight Forum
GeorgePaul
Enlightened
Yes, you can definitely scratch an aluminum light with type III anodization.
picard
Flashlight Enthusiast
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2004
- Messages
- 1,298
I thought type III anodization is bomb proof. how can it get scratch? :thinking:
Gunner12
Flashaholic
Anything harder then it can scratch it(not much can though).
It also slowly wears though use. IIRC Aluminum Oxide is slightly soluble so of left in a large enough body of water, water long enough it will dissolve.
The metal underneath it is weaker then the coating so the metal can bend enough so it breaks the HA surface.
It can also chip.
If you look at pictures of well used lights, you will see that it starts to wear around the edges first. That is where the coating is the weakest.
It also slowly wears though use. IIRC Aluminum Oxide is slightly soluble so of left in a large enough body of water, water long enough it will dissolve.
The metal underneath it is weaker then the coating so the metal can bend enough so it breaks the HA surface.
It can also chip.
If you look at pictures of well used lights, you will see that it starts to wear around the edges first. That is where the coating is the weakest.
radiomanss
Newly Enlightened
You really have to beat it up a bit to get it scratched: if you EDC a type III anodized light in a pocket without sharp metal objects, its going to stay very clean. Anodizing quality varies between lights, depending on -- among other things -- the purity of the base aluminum.
etc
Flashlight Enthusiast
I am thinking about sending my SF 9P to get the NP3 finish from Robar.
FredM
Enlightened
In my experience even with dropping and not being very gentle, I mostly just lose the finish around sharp corners and edges.
jumpstat
Flashlight Enthusiast
Character marks....HA do get scratch
Tempest UK
Flashlight Enthusiast
It's just a strong finish, not a perfect one. HA will get damaged. Most often it will wear off on raised surfaces, edges etc. It doesn't necessarily take something extremely hard, either. A hard anodised light that is carried with keys for a long time will eventually show signs of wear.
Regards,
Tempest
Regards,
Tempest
gallonoffuel
Enlightened
Type III anodizing doesn't hold up for me the way I carry my lights. Here's about 3 months of carrying my Nitecore Extreme:
My Eagletac T10C which retired the NEI is showing very bad signs of wear. I don't mind at all, I'm just letting you know it won't last forever.
My Eagletac T10C which retired the NEI is showing very bad signs of wear. I don't mind at all, I'm just letting you know it won't last forever.
