Rawlings LWMXTI

[Stk004]

Has anyone gone about removing the black paint on their Rawlings LWMXTI? If so, how did you go about it? If you haven't but have an idea, what would you try?

[gnhbua93]

That is there for a reason.

[MadMax]

While I echo @gnhbua93's take on it, that the black has a beneficial reason for being there (hint: you in the PacNorWest rarely see it), my educated guess is the black isn't technically paint, but instead "flash film". These are strips of razor-thin film that are pre-cut, glued to the inner surfaces of the bars, and then either baked on or "flashed" by light so as to cure and hold (this light may be UV or infrared, depending on the material). The point is, this has not bonded with the titanium like anodizing would, thus can be chemically stripped off or mechanically sanded / filed / buffed off, with no lasting damage to the titanium.

In order to really affect the titanium, you would need a strong acid along the lines of Sulphuric acid. Perhaps try a nail polish remover?

[Thunderheads]

the question is,..... why remove it?

[dl1340]

The black on the inside of mine has started to come off in spots, but it has no affect on mask. Really love this mask

[Stk004]

13 hours ago, MadMax said:

While I echo @gnhbua93's take on it, that the black has a beneficial reason for being there (hint: you in the PacNorWest rarely see it), my educated guess is the black isn't technically paint, but instead "flash film". These are strips of razor-thin film that are pre-cut, glued to the inner surfaces of the bars, and then either baked on or "flashed" by light so as to cure and hold (this light may be UV or infrared, depending on the material). The point is, this has not bonded with the titanium like anodizing would, thus can be chemically stripped off or mechanically sanded / filed / buffed off, with no lasting damage to the titanium.

In order to really affect the titanium, you would need a strong acid along the lines of Sulphuric acid. Perhaps try a nail polish remover?

Thanks, I was anticipating a response from you. I simply don't like the look of the black covering on a titanium frame. It just looks bad, especially when it starts to peel off. 

[dl1340]

you can't see the black from the outside or the black peeling when you have the mask on using it. At least I can't. Doesn't bother me at all

[Stk004]

17 hours ago, MadMax said:

While I echo @gnhbua93's take on it, that the black has a beneficial reason for being there (hint: you in the PacNorWest rarely see it), my educated guess is the black isn't technically paint, but instead "flash film". These are strips of razor-thin film that are pre-cut, glued to the inner surfaces of the bars, and then either baked on or "flashed" by light so as to cure and hold (this light may be UV or infrared, depending on the material). The point is, this has not bonded with the titanium like anodizing would, thus can be chemically stripped off or mechanically sanded / filed / buffed off, with no lasting damage to the titanium.

In order to really affect the titanium, you would need a strong acid along the lines of Sulphuric acid. Perhaps try a nail polish remover?

As always, the brilliant @MadMax had the solution. Nail polish remover worked like a charm. It kept getting into a cut on my thumb which hurt like nobody's business but, the overall product worked out.