A few questions about titanium

I'm slowly getting into making folders and I'm looking for different things to use for handle materials.I'm planning on using birds eye maple and 410 liners on the one I'm working on right now.Titanium seems to be what everybody wants, and what all you guys use though.So first off, how hard is Ti to work with? I don't have that many tools. I'd have to cut it out with a hacksaw, or cuttoff wheel and then profile it on disk grinder.
And, does it have to be anodized to be used? I know that it may not look that great without being annodized to get a nice color, but I'll probably use it on a working knife that I want to really tough, so looks wouldn't be really important.
And lastly, would high speed steel taps work on it? Thats what I'm currently using to thread screw holes. Would I need to hunt up some carbide or cobalt taps?
Thanks for the help.

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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
 
S

Sumo

Joined
Jan 10, 2000
Messages
76
IMO Titanium isnt much harder to work then some of the 300 series stainless alloys, it's just different from a lot of people are used to. About the nicest 'working' finish I've seen is just with maroon scotchbrite, looks about the same as a satin finished knife blade.
Mission knives has a great link with a lot of info on titanium: http://www.missionknives.com/articles/KnifemakeTi.html

Oh, another thing you should get is a small, well made tap handle, so you can feel the tap starting to flex, helps keep breakage down to a minimum (only managed to break one 2-56 tap so far)

Hope that helps
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Almost forgot- regular HSS taps should be fine
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[This message has been edited by Sumo (edited 03-21-2000).]
 
there are a couple of thing's you need to know about ti,one is dont grind it without a mask it will make you sick to your stomach if you breath the dust off of it #2 is it makes perty white spark's when you grind it ,other than that there is no Difference I have found between working it and 416 ss I would rather tap Ti.than 416 or 300 series see my other post on tapmatic for instructions on tapping

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TbarK Custom Knives
http://vip.hpnc.com/~tbark Therefore I erge you brother's in view of God's Mercy to offer your body's as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship Romans 12-1
 
Matt,

Learned this from KIT CARSON. If he says it is the way to go, then you know it must be so.

Forget the tap handle and get a cordless screwdriver. Buy a keyless chuck (available at LOWE'S for about $10) to put in it. Use this set-up to tap all your holes in the titanium. It will reduce your tap breakage and will make the tapping go much quicker than by hand.

Grind the titanium slowly and with good quality belts (I use 3M Regalloy Ceramic). Grinding the titanium too fast will, shower you with white hot sparks, create some bad fumes that you don't want to breathe, and will create a fire hazard.

Titanium doesn't have to be anodized to be used. It does make it real pretty, though.

HSS taps will do just fine. They won't last as long as cobalt, but they will give you good service.

Try using a steel wire wheel mounted on a bench grinder for a quick even finish on your titanium. I use this finish as a standard on my folder liners. I have even used it on some
Ti scales.

Hope it helps.

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Barry
Jones Knives

Do you hear that?
That is the sound of inevitability.
 
Thanks alot guys. It sounds like I pretty much have everything I would need to get by working with it. I got a cordless drill for christmas and it has a keyless chuck so I'll be able to try that trick too.
One last thing. I looked up 6AL4V Ti on the halpern titanium site. I was hoping to make all Ti scales for a folder, so I would need ot use the .125 thick sheeting. The problem is it is listed at around $140.00 per sq ft. I don't need near that much Ti, and I'd rather not spend that much at once on materials since I'm not making that many knives right now, and I'm not selling any so far either. So can I buy it somewhere in smaller amounts? I would only need 10 to 12 sq inches for scales and a spacer.
Thanks again.

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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
 
Titanium knocks the grit on your belts quicker. It has a very hot spark. It does not have to be anodized. High-speed stainless taps will work but they also have special taps for titanium. It does not warp or dent as easily as stainless steel and is about half the weight. It can be colored in a variety of colors. It even holds threads better. It's different and definitely worth learning about.
I know of a knifemaker that has titanium in small pieces. I get some that are 12" x 12". I don't remember what it cost. E-mail me and I'll give you his e-mail.

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Gene Osborn
Center Cross Metal Works
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword...
Hewbrews 4:12
 
Try www.titaniumservices.com for smaller amounts of titanium. They can hook you up with just about any size or configuration you need. I bought a litteral brick from them for a special project. Titanium isn't cheap, but from what I've seen, their prices look reasonable.

 
Thanks guys. I'll check out that titanium services place. Halpern's price wasn't really bad at all if you figured it out in sq inches. That was around 85 or 90 cents. The problem is it was sold by the sq ft,and not only do I not need that much, I really don't want to spend $140 on 1 material when I need to get other stuff to, and I 'm not making any money off the knives I make.It would be alot easier to get a little at a time.

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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
 
Matt,
Feel free to call me any evening at 863-701-0126. I've been machining Ti. for about 20 years and would be glad to pass on as much info as possible. At my full time job we constantly experiment with all the latest tools, fluids, belts and wheels!!
Neil

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Blackwood Knives
More knives in stock! New Talonite models soon!!
http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Meeting/5520/index.html
 
Thanks alot Neil
I don't have any Ti to have trouble with yet. But I will probably take you up on that offer sometime
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I just realized I had never made it so you guys could see my email. I don't know why I didn't post it in the first place, but its on there now.
Thanks again everyone.

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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
 
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