Ano Gary Talks Process and Benefits of Anodized Titanium Finishing

In a few short years, Gary Land aka ‘Ano Gary’ has become one of the most respected names in anodized titanium finishing. Perhaps its his decades in the medical industry paired with a learned understanding of the unique approach one must take when anodizing titanium, but his work speaks for itself and can be seen on a growing list of top titanium framebuilders, and he’s one of our go-to options for custom Haley frames.

We caught up with Ano Gary to explore how he got into this eccentric craft, what’s special, and what’s tricky about anodized titanium.

How did you get your start in anodizing?

It’s a long story. I came from the medical field—grad school at Western Michigan University—and worked in bike shops on the side. I spent the next 20 years doing medical rehab work. I was already close with some of the local framebuilders, guys like Jeremy Sycip and Curtis Inglis and so when I retired, I decided I wanted to do something in the bike world. 

At first, I started messing around with anodized bottle cages, learning the process through trial and error. I also looked at what folks were doing in the knife industry. The art and knife communities use anodizing a lot, but no one really talks about it. It’s like this secret magic.

I taught myself along the way, struggled for about two years, then things finally clicked….I started to understand what was happening and why.

Then about four years ago, I did a frame for Jeremy Sycip for the Chris King open house event. Everyone loved it and told me, “You should be doing this!” Since then, I’ve worked on bottle cages, stems,  frames of course—pretty much anything titanium. I’ve even anodized flasks and mugs. 

In the simplest terms, what is anodizing?

It’s a chemical reaction between electricity and titanium, and that reaction creates an oxide layer which at different application voltages, shows the human eye a different color. It’s not super easy to explain, but basically it’s how light hits and reflects this layer that produces the colors we see. And that’s one of the tough parts…a flat sheet and a round tube will look different baked on the angle of the light. Refraction makes it complicated and different. 

Why is titanium so good for anodizing, and how is it different from anodizing aluminum?

Anodizing aluminum is a completely different process. It uses dye and harsh chemicals, and I didn’t want those around my home workshop. With titanium, I use just TSP (a type of soap), water, and electricity.
Also, it’s not permanent in a bad way—it’s re-doable. If you want a new look five years from now, you can redo the finish. Surface prep makes a difference too. I prefer a bead-blast or brushed surface because it gives the anodizing a great background to reflect from.

What can you do with anodizing that paint or powder coat can’t match?

No weight added. No surface texture. No sharp edges or transitions. And zero waste. It’s not as abrasion-resistant, though. So I always recommend avoiding high-rub areas—like the top tube on a mountain bike—for detailed anodizing. You might scratch it, and though most scratches won’t go through the oxide finish, there’s a chance. 

How are anodized titanium finishes in terms of maintenance and upkeep?

I use Windex sprayed directly on a rag. Nothing wax-based. Anodizing does not fade if it’s cared for properly, that’s a common myth, but if you apply something that leaves a coating, it will diminish the vibrance of the anodizing. Other than that, nothing will harm an anodized finish apart from some rather unusual etching compounds you’re not likely to have laying around. Oh, and don’t spray Windex or similar ammonia based products on anodized alumium…I’ve heard that can dull it. 

How do you maintain color consistency across a complex titanium frame?

Here’s the thing…I can’t 100% guarantee color consistency. No one can. Due to the way light refracts, no matter how precise you are, there’s always a chance that the work will look like an ‘adjacent’ color (on the spectrum) based on the angle of the light hits it. There’s an element of variation within the process, and I think that’s part of the appeal. That subtle variation is part of the appeal—it’s not paint. If you want total control and uniformity, paint might be a better fit.

Can you control fades and color shifts easily? What are the limitations?

The big misunderstanding is that you can fade between any two colors. You simply can’t. The anodizing spectrum is determined by voltage, and only adjacent colors on the spectrum can be blended. So a fade from blue to purple? No problem. But bronze to green? Not possible—they’re on opposite ends of the spectrum. It’s physics, and it’s non-negotiable. 

Another method I use for creating fades is the use of super-fine glass beads for blasting. It’s less harmful for the applicator and allows for more subtle fades between finish textures and anodized color.

Are there limits to the kinds of masked designs or color work you can do?

Yes. I try not to mask over welds—even super clean welds like what Haley does will have an inconsistent surface and the edges can catch light differently. It can look “off”.

Really small detail work is tough too. On the Made-in-the-USA Haley frame artwork, the lettering was less than 2mm tall—that’s hard to cut cleanly. I do manage to pull it off but I prefer to keep elements at least 4mm wide for accuracy and clarity. 

What should riders think about when coming up with an anodizing concept?

An anodized titanium frame is art. We start with a beautiful canvas…so how do you want to feel about it? Do you want something bold? Subtle? Do you want clarity in the design or something more abstract?

The key is to understand that anodizing isn’t a stamp—it takes time and it’s not 100% predictable. You have to let go of total control. Show me what you’re thinking, give me some direction, and we’ll collaborate. I love working with clients to refine their ideas, figure out placement, and make something unique that gets the best result out of  the process.

Thanks Gary, we’re looking forward to seeing more of your work! 

Interested in a Haley finished by Ano Gary? We can make it happen, and we’ll make the process quick, easy and incredibly rewarding. Lets talk.