6061 Aircraft aluminium - Info and suggestions ?

J

Jason Cutter

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Oct 9, 2002
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I had a look through the search function and couldn't find what I needed.

I'm trying to research T6 6061 Aircraft aluminium. I know its used a lot in factory made knives, esp. folders and sometimes on guards and buttends. Does anyone have other info or feedback on using it for custom knives ? I don't have specific ideas to use but have found a source of it (possibly) - just wondering how it works, its pros and cons etc.

Thanks in advance. Jason.
 
I've used it for back spacers, and I know of another maker who has used it for bolsters on both folders and straight knives. It has the ability to take a very high polish. Be careful when bead blasting though, if you get to close, I've noticed it likes to leave a burr. T6 is fairly strong for what it is and lightweight.
 
Unless you anodize it it tends to leave nasty black marks on your hands.

Have you searched 6061 T6, rather than the other way, or for that mater 6061?
 
I'd suggest checking with Darrel Ralph since he is using it in his mid-tech line on the TAC auto.
 
From long ago...I think 6061 was a weldable (inert gas of course) alloy of aluminum. The T6 designation would be a harder grade use for stiff structural elements. We used 6061 T6 for a lot of telescope components. You would buy a different alloy and a softer grade if you wanted to bend it. As I recall 6061 weathered reasonably well. You could also anodized it or use a chemical transformation coating on it (alodyning?).

Aluminum does not corrode much if you keep it near neutral pH. Boiling water makes it take on a little bit of surface oxidation. Bases or strong acids can etch aluminum.
 
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