Simple, easy way to renew the look of your titanium key
If you have a Titanium key, you're carrying around a key that's a good 12 - 17 years old. Over time, the key's shine, or finish dulls and being that I regularly use a dremel for projects here and there, I recently brushed up several keys to clean them up (get rid of grime in the channels on the blade and light scratches on the bow) and when I was ready, saved the NSX titanium key for last.
Here's my results but before I get to that, I'll mention that the factory metal key is technically only a "titanium look" and is really a composite alloy of 70% nickel and 30% copper, hence, why it is so heavy opposed to if it was real titanium. So with that said, brushing it up with a dremel about once a year or so is not a big deal and you can get a great finish to the point where it just about looks brand new again!
There are typically 3 types of brushes with any dremel tool kit or chicago tool kit, stainless, brass and nylon. The nylon doesn't do much so I will describe the results of the remaining two.
Shiny Finish
If you want the key to have a shiny metallic finish, use a stainless brush. You can use an axial or radial brush (see pics) at medium to high speed and simply go over the entire key.
Matte Finish
If you want the key to have a nice matte finish, use a brass brush. You can use an axial or radial brush (see pics) at medium to high speed and simply go over the entire key.
Just for clarity, the stainless brush looks like steel wire and the brass looks like yellow wire. I tried both in separate sections and really liked the matte finish so I went with the brass brush and it came out really nice. The good news is you can't mess up. Just polish/brush until you like it.
Enjoy your new key!
If you have a Titanium key, you're carrying around a key that's a good 12 - 17 years old. Over time, the key's shine, or finish dulls and being that I regularly use a dremel for projects here and there, I recently brushed up several keys to clean them up (get rid of grime in the channels on the blade and light scratches on the bow) and when I was ready, saved the NSX titanium key for last.
Here's my results but before I get to that, I'll mention that the factory metal key is technically only a "titanium look" and is really a composite alloy of 70% nickel and 30% copper, hence, why it is so heavy opposed to if it was real titanium. So with that said, brushing it up with a dremel about once a year or so is not a big deal and you can get a great finish to the point where it just about looks brand new again!
There are typically 3 types of brushes with any dremel tool kit or chicago tool kit, stainless, brass and nylon. The nylon doesn't do much so I will describe the results of the remaining two.
Shiny Finish
If you want the key to have a shiny metallic finish, use a stainless brush. You can use an axial or radial brush (see pics) at medium to high speed and simply go over the entire key.
Matte Finish
If you want the key to have a nice matte finish, use a brass brush. You can use an axial or radial brush (see pics) at medium to high speed and simply go over the entire key.
Just for clarity, the stainless brush looks like steel wire and the brass looks like yellow wire. I tried both in separate sections and really liked the matte finish so I went with the brass brush and it came out really nice. The good news is you can't mess up. Just polish/brush until you like it.
Enjoy your new key!
