# Crack Finish on Titanium **URL:** \ **Category:** Yo-Yo Mods and Maintenance\ **Created:** [July 21, 2026, 5:18pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453 "2026-07-21T17:18:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cmchappell97](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/cmchappell97/32/699328_2.png) [@Cmchappell97](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Cmchappell97)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 5:18pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453/1 "2026-07-21T17:18:42Z")
Does anyone know how its done? I am stumped… Is it masking? Is it a thermal expansion process? ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/f/8/5/f8517031176880814b6a4a40755add9724b94559.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![bheinz63](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/bheinz63/32/137310_2.png) [@bheinz63](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/bheinz63)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 6:16pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453/2 "2026-07-21T18:16:09Z")
if it was thermal expansion there would be physical cracks in the material lol ---
**Author:** ![Cmchappell97](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/cmchappell97/32/699328_2.png) [@Cmchappell97](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Cmchappell97)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 6:44pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453/3 "2026-07-21T18:44:03Z")
Fair fair ---
**Author:** ![AudreySickburn](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/audreysickburn/32/313292_2.png) [@AudreySickburn](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AudreySickburn)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 6:59pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453/4 "2026-07-21T18:59:04Z")
I think you paint it on with like nail polish or similar and then give it a non acetone nail polish soak and scrub to remove the nail polish mask. that’s based purely off me googling and no prior experience ha. ---
**Author:** ![SuperTrooper](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/supertrooper/32/667906_2.png) [@SuperTrooper](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SuperTrooper)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 7:22pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453/5 "2026-07-21T19:22:43Z")
I know as far as painting things there’s a particular paint that naturally makes the crackle finish. No clue when it comes to anodizing. ---
**Author:** ![hsb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/hsb/32/193274_2.png) [@hsb](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/hsb)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 7:27pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453/6 "2026-07-21T19:27:46Z")
Is this the same process? > [@What did you throw 2023?](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-did-you-throw-2023/367694/2363): > > A well loved TiNY - sadly the amazing colorway does not last, had really worn off at the rims. The un-faded black lines are interesting. [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/f/0/a/f0afad50a1d938d2a4473e29968fe17f0ea4e2e0.jpeg) ](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/f/0/a/f0afad50a1d938d2a4473e29968fe17f0ea4e2e0.jpeg) @AngryGumball did this TiNY continue to fade? ---
**Author:** ![Tempura](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/tempura/32/246135_2.png) [@Tempura](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Tempura)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 7:46pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453/7 "2026-07-21T19:46:16Z")
That is probably down to the coating technique rather than the technique used to achieve the cracking mask right? ---
**Author:** ![Cmchappell97](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/cmchappell97/32/699328_2.png) [@Cmchappell97](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Cmchappell97)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 7:47pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453/8 "2026-07-21T19:47:02Z")
I ordered some acrylic crackle medium, should be in on Friday. So we’ll see! ---
**Author:** ![AngryGumball](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/angrygumball/32/683872_2.png) [@AngryGumball](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AngryGumball)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 7:53pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453/9 "2026-07-21T19:53:18Z")
Mainly at the rims, basically friction wear from being in a pocket. Cracks remain as they are. ---
**Author:** ![Shwa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/shwa/32/108351_2.png) [@Shwa](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Shwa)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 11:23am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453/10 "2026-07-23T11:23:29Z")
Maybe Rueben might be willing to help. @rnsy ---
**Author:** ![Nic\_from\_Adelaide](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/nic_from_adelaide/32/272038_2.png) [@Nic\_from\_Adelaide](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Nic_from_Adelaide)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 2:07pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453/11 "2026-07-23T14:07:08Z")
Pretty sure RSO use laser engraving. Check out the rad looking discolouration on the engraving for the Gravity ![Screenshot_20260722-133001~3](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/7/a/d/7adfb0b420624fb0af32b2b752455650ad03aa50.jpeg) Looking close up at the Martian it’s like an etch-a-sketch trail. RSO look like they use larger images than YYFr. I can’t see any pattern repeats on a single half, but the same pattern repeats on different halves ![Screenshot_20260722-132813~2](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/c/e/7/ce7ada9caa7f6573ae34460a377fc7278f791c3e.jpeg) YYFr have multiple repeats on a half and the same sort of overlaps as earlier RSOs ![f0afad50a1d938d2a4473e29968fe17f0ea4e2e0~2](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/c/7/2/c7248fc249801f2f4a366e67b7006ce7246b0456.jpeg) Not sure whether YYFr use printed stencils or engraving, need to see one in real life I think. Now that the Demons Fun is out there, it looks like the wear on the TiNy looks consistent with the PVD coating rather than regular ano. ---
**Author:** ![Tempura](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/tempura/32/246135_2.png) [@Tempura](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Tempura)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 2:39pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453/12 "2026-07-23T14:39:37Z")
I think it’s very very likely that RSO uses FPM which means the YYFr and RSO would be made by the same people with the same techniques. ---
**Author:** ![Nic\_from\_Adelaide](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/nic_from_adelaide/32/272038_2.png) [@Nic\_from\_Adelaide](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Nic_from_Adelaide)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 9:13pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453/13 "2026-07-23T21:13:40Z")
Probably, it’s likely then that FPM’s incentive to master a new technique comes from companies like RSO putting up proto money and YYFr only add it to their range if they can make the process profitable. I’m assuming that FPM have had slow enough points that YYFr exists partly to make sure they produce enough yoyos to justify upgrading equipment. I think I read only 17 cracked Martians were sold ---
**Author:** ![Cmchappell97](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/cmchappell97/32/699328_2.png) [@Cmchappell97](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Cmchappell97)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 9:31pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453/14 "2026-07-23T21:31:36Z")
![IMG_7185](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/c/a/1/ca14e34932ccbb16fc398c5079e992eab8c0dfb8.jpeg) Cracked anno test #1 ---
**Author:** ![Christianmckz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/christianmckz/32/99933_2.png) [@Christianmckz](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Christianmckz)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 11:33pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453/15 "2026-07-23T23:33:21Z")
Looks pretty cool, I like the variety of textures ---
**Author:** ![kaozmachine](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/kaozmachine/32/648040_2.png) [@kaozmachine](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/kaozmachine)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 10:57am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453/16 "2026-07-24T10:57:10Z")
Looks like you might have ‘cracked’ it! ---
**Author:** ![thegorehound](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/thegorehound/32/686220_2.png) [@thegorehound](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/thegorehound)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 1:04pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453/17 "2026-07-24T13:04:40Z")
![Paris Hilton: That's Hot](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/4/0/8/4089ebfabc7a0ca0ef557eec7af3e8c5e2fdaa5c.webp) ---
**Author:** ![persson](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/persson/32/208357_2.png) [@persson](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/persson)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 2:00pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453/18 "2026-07-24T14:00:29Z")
> [@What's your rarest yoyo?](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/whats-your-rarest-yoyo/56990/336): > > Gorgeous!!! I love the natural color of titanium, and even though the anodizing process on it is very simple, I wouldn’t do it on my yo-yos, with the sole exception of the cracked finish, which I absolutely adore! I can’t figure out what they use to “mask” the latticework… if you notice from this and other photos on the RSO website, the vertical part of the hub doesn’t have it, and often there are dots instead of solid lines, as if the mask was lasered in from above… I don’t know how they do it,… > [@What's your rarest yoyo?](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/whats-your-rarest-yoyo/56990/344): > > Hi! I know what pad printing is, but I’m not sure whether such a fine grid can be achieved with that technique. I’m also not sure whether a pad could adhere well to the entire concave surface of the inside of the cup, or the convex surface of the catch zone, without making the slightest smudge on such thin lines, but logically, it seems unlikely to me. In the case of the Martian in the photo, I think they used a voltage of around 50-52V to obtain the gold in the cracks. Then, after “masking,” th… ---
**Author:** ![persson](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/persson/32/208357_2.png) [@persson](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/persson)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 2:02pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453/19 "2026-07-24T14:02:08Z")
Wow! How did you achieve this result? ---
**Author:** ![Upmanyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e68b1a/32.png) [@Upmanyu](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Upmanyu)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 2:51pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453/20 "2026-07-24T14:51:18Z")
I think you did it mate! Was the acrylic crackle medium the secret? [Next page](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/crack-finish-on-titanium/449453.md?page=2)