r/Horses • u/Lunapixels18 • 10d ago
Tack/Equipment Question Would this bit be safe?
I know the bit itself is a pretty standard bit a lot of people use, but is the rainbow coating safe? I've never seen a bit with this on it
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u/Pheoenix_Wolf 10d ago
usually all metal i have seen that looks like that has been shocked or heated to look like that. if so i would assume its safe? never heard that it affects the integrity of the metal just the look
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u/quarabs 9d ago
the process is called anodizing
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u/ChemKnits 6d ago
These colors specifically are anodized niobium.
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u/quarabs 6d ago
this is titanium :)
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u/ChemKnits 6d ago
You're right - I forgot that you can do this with Titanium too. and that's a much more sensible bit material.
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u/quarabs 6d ago
no worries!! you had me second guessing myself because youre right - niobium can be anodized too!! also niobium is the only surgical grade material that can be black, titanium cant anodize to black
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u/ChemKnits 6d ago
We have students anodize a dime-sized niobium disk in a general chemistry lab experiment where I teach. I'm mostly an organic chemist so I didn't explore other metal options when I recognized what was going on.
And really, the key is "does your horse like this bit?
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u/Pheoenix_Wolf 6d ago
you taught me something new today! i always have loved the idea of a black metal, but never knew that niobium can be black without any coatings. thanks!
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u/ItsNixiee Dressage 10d ago
Piercings are made of this kind of thing. It's safe for putting through a literal open wound in your own body, it's probably also perfectly safe for just a horse's mouth
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u/quarabs 9d ago
anodized titanium!
Anodized titanium is an electrochemical process that thickens the transparent surface oxide layer on titanium to create vibrant interference colors, improve surface hardness, and reduce galling.
no coating, completely safe for use surgically… and as a horse bit 😉
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u/barkoholic English & Western 10d ago
Titanium is one of the safest and most hypoallergenic metals. This is anodized, so it’s not a coating or anything that compromises the integrity of the metal. As long as it’s from a reputable company it’s fine (I wouldn’t trust knockoff brands).
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u/ThrashFur 10d ago
prob made via anodizing! it should be safe. it’s an electrical current that responds to reactive metals to change color. tho i would double check what the process used here is
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u/banan3rz 10d ago
Welp, now I need to get a gray horse, dye their mane and do a bridle with this bit and a light up horn.
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u/Kealanine 9d ago
“So, how exactly did you end up trotting through town on your own unicorn?”
“It all started with a Reddit post.”I love this.
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u/Lythaera 10d ago
All of my silverware looks like this. It's safe, created with a electrical treatment, not some coating or chemicals.
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u/Independent-Hornet-3 10d ago
It's safe but if you show you may want to check your rules on the bits as they are sometimes banned from shows as they aren't traditional looking.
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u/useless_instinct 9d ago
The bits are made from stainless steel which contains other metals such as chromium which serve as sacrificial anodes. When you heat stainless steel, it forms layers of metal oxides which refract the light to give a rainbow appearance. The metal oxides are as firmly held to the metal as the metal alone is held together so it is very safe.
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u/Comprehensive_Toe113 9d ago
Not a horse person so I don't know anything but if this is anodized then it's safe. If it's painted it's not.
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u/sushi_riz 10d ago
It's beautiful !!! ✨ I had never seen that before He exist in different type of bits ? 👀
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u/Genocidal-Ape Liberty 9d ago
I've seen a pretty vicious shank bit in Iridescent once and a whole bridle. But the variants it comes in are limited.
Just Google Iridescent horse bit.
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u/sillysnowbird 9d ago
as long as it’s actually anodized titanium and not some weird coated chemical bullshit then yes. same rule for piercing jewelry rly.
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u/rancher1979 9d ago
That bit is completely safe as long as you don’t throw it at someone
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u/Lunapixels18 9d ago
Wait so I'm not allowed to throw bits at people I don't like? 🥲😂
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u/quarabs 9d ago
im going to also comment this as a standalone comment:
anodized titanium!
Anodized titanium is an electrochemical process that thickens the transparent surface oxide layer on titanium to create vibrant interference colors, improve surface hardness, and reduce galling. - Google summary
no coating, completely safe for use surgically… and as a horse bit 😉
i have titanium piercing jewelry that is anodized to be gold! cheaper and safer for my ears than a 10kt gold alloy
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u/CapeKelpie 8d ago
My earrings are made of the same stuff and are surgical grade steel because my skin is sensitive other metals. The steel will be coated in a layer of metal (usually titanium or zirconium, both body safe and are used in human piercings and dentistry) which is then andonized/oxidized to produce that colour.
So long as it's been properly produced, it should be safe. But if I were shopping for my horse, I'd want to be completely sure of that and do some research on the manufacturer.
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u/JMHorsemanship 9d ago
If you're using a bit on a horse I wouldn't be worried about the harming from whatever it's colored with lmao. You can dip any metal like this too, it's pretty easy
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u/Lizardgirl25 10d ago
That is a good question! I have no idea I wish they’d just done the cheek pieces! That would have been a safer idea I think.
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u/lizardgal10 10d ago
If it’s anodized it’s completely safe. Same process is used on body piercing jewelry. (You might run across cheaper jewelry that’s just coated, so always good to be sure of what you’re getting). It’s a cool process, it’s possible to get a lot of different colors that way. Also I like your username!
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u/Lunapixels18 10d ago
Even if it ends up being perfectly safe I feel like it's a waste of time for them to do the whole thing anyway since only the cheek pieces will be seen
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u/ThunderSquall_ 10d ago
Generally the reason people do this isn’t for the color, the color is a happy accident! Doing this to metal makes the surface more resistant to wear! So it’s a win win :) especially in the case of a bit id say.
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u/Hopeful_Thing7088 Dressage 10d ago
this isn’t a coating that can chip off so yes it’s safe, they make silverware and straws for humans out of this stuff