Aluminum and it uses in folders?

E

Extremacqc

Joined
Nov 4, 2012
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I was wondering about aluminum being used for handles in a knife. More pasficly microtech knives that use
Aluminum. To my under standing aluminum gets stressed very easily and can sheer under the stress like other metals but the stress can not be relieved. Is this true? I am about to be a first time microtech buyer and was wonder if I should be turned away form the knife do to this material being used? And if the material will last being used every day for years on years?
 
it is solft metal easy too remember

titanium is twice as strong as steel and half the weight, aluminum is half as strong but half the weight of steel

Al is soft therefore the coatings wear faster anodized - which is salt oxide. Hard ano helps.

New vapor deposit coatings such DLC if used will help 7075 is good alloy

Al like Ti gets an instant oxide coating

Ti is more flexible the steel and very difficult too weld, there are just 2 main alloys

alumium melts at about half that of steel 1400 f vs 2800 f processing approximate. Ti melts well over 3300 f

all can be powdered and made into explosives, Ti bottle rocket is very cool! Aluminum is used in flash powder, iron is used in black powder.

how will hold up just fine!!!!! for knive scale, terrible for blade.
 
I have had microtech and ZT in aluminum and I love them. I find them to be very tough. No problems in hard everyday use. The only thing I don't like about them is how they take temperature. They get really cold or hot in the pocket like the outside temp.
 
good point, aluminum is excellent conductor of heat, cold is un-conducting, that is why it is used as fins in air conditioners and radiators.
 
Extremacqc said:
I was wondering about aluminum being used for handles in a knife. More pasficly microtech knives that use
Aluminum. To my under standing aluminum gets stressed very easily and can sheer under the stress like other metals but the stress can not be relieved. Is this true? I am about to be a first time microtech buyer and was wonder if I should be turned away form the knife do to this material being used? And if the material will last being used every day for years on years?
Click to expand...

Aluminum is heavily used in the aerospace and firearms industry and products in those fields are usually built to last a very long time.
 
Not a big fan of how aluminum wears, prefer titanium for straight metal, or G10/micarta/carbonfiber scales.
 
I have a lot of experience with ti used in knives and prefer it but I have never owned a knife that uses aluminum. I work retail and mainly use my knife to cut boxes and other shipping containers and bindings. I do expect to us my escape when I go hunting or hiking. So the question is could a knife hold up to the abuse if it used a to sub frame lock and aluminum scales? In my option is should be fine but I wanted to call open experience before I made a move.
 
Microtech does a great job with the aluminum. As does Aimpoint and Nightforce. Same with Bobro and Larue.

My Socom Elite weighs almost nothing for a knife that size. The weight is all blade but that folder locks up with a sound and force similar to a tri ad lock. That knife is as solid as any. My HTM Gunhammer is the same way, light weight even though it has these thick, chunky scales with no liners.

Aluminum is softer than steel or Ti so it will show nicks and dings but the benefit is material that is extremely light and easy to machine.
 
dragonsprayer said:
it is solft metal easy too remember

titanium is twice as strong as steel and half the weight, aluminum is half as strong but half the weight of steel

Al is soft therefore the coatings wear faster anodized - which is salt oxide. Hard ano helps.

New vapor deposit coatings such DLC if used will help 7075 is good alloy

Al like Ti gets an instant oxide coating

Ti is more flexible the steel and very difficult too weld, there are just 2 main alloys

alumium melts at about half that of steel 1400 f vs 2800 f processing approximate. Ti melts well over 3300 f

all can be powdered and made into explosives, Ti bottle rocket is very cool! Aluminum is used in flash powder, iron is used in black powder.

how will hold up just fine!!!!! for knive scale, terrible for blade.
Click to expand...

Not meaning to ofend or anything but it is a widley spread misconception that titanium is stronger than steel...
Metalurgy seems to dissagre. This is a short quote from"The metalurgy of blade steels": Microstructure of Quenched Steel Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of steel is that it may be strengthened to amazingly high levels by quenching. The strength levels are higher than the strongest commercial alloys of aluminum, copper and titanium by factors of roughly 4.7, 2.2 and 2.1.

Adding the fact that there are duty specific steels that can kick ti but on any aspect except weight...
Imo ti is used in folders mainly for concerns like weight, weight to strenght ratio, no need of ht to be springy(not realy sure on that one but pops into mind) feel-texture(ti has a pourous structure and seems to have a better grip), and last but not least the HIPE....uuu....ti was restricted material to comercial use. For a long time and makes a damn god reason to charge the extra cash.
My 2cents worth__
 
Aluminum is awesome. I guess I'm in the minority, because I like it. It wears fine. My blur which has shared a pocket with my keys shows little wear. And when it does wear it looks cool IMO.
 
I would think that if the aluminum handles on a quality folder could break as a result of stressful use, that such stressful use might very well damage some other part of the knife, like the blade or pivot assembly.

I'm not sure what people mean when they talk about the handles of a folder wearing. I have one aluminum-handled folder and there are washers between the blade and handles. The blade turns, but the washers don't, so no wear.

If people are talking about the handles getting worn by rubbing against their pants going in and out of their pockets, then I might suggest using a fabric softener ;) .

Aluminum is a lot less expensive than titanium. It's a safe bet that any knife made with aluminum would have cost significantly more if it had been made of titanium.

If anyone has actually "worn-out" an aluminum-handled knife, I'd be interested to see a pic, or at least know what knife it was.
 
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They mean wear as in the coating getting scratched (keys/change in same pocket, or if they set it down on a rock, our other stuff)
 
TotalDbag said:
They mean wear as in the coating getting scratched (keys/change in same pocket, or if they set it down on a rock, our other stuff)
Click to expand...
Ah, gotcha. I just consider that to be cosmetic and not something to be concerned about. I was under the impression that they meant actual damage that could affect the usefulness, safety, or longevity of the knife.

Heck, even titanium-handled knives can get pretty scratched-up
 
killgar said:
Ah, gotcha. I just consider that to be cosmetic and not something to be concerned about. I was under the impression that they meant actual damage that could affect the usefulness, safety, or longevity of the knife.
Click to expand...

Nope, just cosmetic.
 
ovidiucotiga said:
Not meaning to ofend or anything but it is a widley spread misconception that titanium is stronger than steel...
Metalurgy seems to dissagre. This is a short quote from"The metalurgy of blade steels": Microstructure of Quenched Steel Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of steel is that it may be strengthened to amazingly high levels by quenching. The strength levels are higher than the strongest commercial alloys of aluminum, copper and titanium by factors of roughly 4.7, 2.2 and 2.1.

Adding the fact that there are duty specific steels that can kick ti but on any aspect except weight...
Imo ti is used in folders mainly for concerns like weight, weight to strenght ratio, no need of ht to be springy(not realy sure on that one but pops into mind) feel-texture(ti has a pourous structure and seems to have a better grip), and last but not least the HIPE....uuu....ti was restricted material to comercial use. For a long time and makes a damn god reason to charge the extra cash.
My 2cents worth__
Click to expand...

I agree with you 100% lines up with what I know and have been thought so it seems legit to me!!!!
 
Extremacqc said:
I was wondering about aluminum being used for handles in a knife. More pasficly microtech knives that use
Aluminum. To my under standing aluminum gets stressed very easily and can sheer under the stress like other metals but the stress can not be relieved. Is this true? I am about to be a first time microtech buyer and was wonder if I should be turned away form the knife do to this material being used? And if the material will last being used every day for years on years?
Click to expand...

You will not be physically able to "sheer" an aluminium knife handle, I don't care what you do to it.

Aluminium is very tough stuff that will last extremely well as a knife handle material. Some people dislike it because the anodizing (the black / red / etc. finish) wears off with enough time and use, but as others have said, that's purely cosmetic.
 
Somehow I don't quite like the feel of it as much as titanium, or even steel.
Personal preference, but metals do feel different.
 
Aluminum has been used for handles for a long time. Victorinox and Wenger make some fantastic knives with aluminum handles. They also use aluminum as liners. In either function, durability seems perfectly adequate.

Rada kitchen knives have traditionally used raw aluminum handles that get dull and ugly, but remains fairly grippy.

The cosmetic durability can be not so great. Pretty anodized finishes are relatively easily scratched.

I've also found some anodized aluminum handles to be quite slippery unless they are nicely textured with checkering or some such thing. Even sandblasted type textures can be quite slippery even when completely dry.

Heat/cold conduction can be an issue for some folks.
 
ovidiucotiga said:
Not meaning to ofend or anything but it is a widley spread misconception that titanium is stronger than steel...
Metalurgy seems to dissagre. This is a short quote from"The metalurgy of blade steels": Microstructure of Quenched Steel Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of steel is that it may be strengthened to amazingly high levels by quenching. The strength levels are higher than the strongest commercial alloys of aluminum, copper and titanium by factors of roughly 4.7, 2.2 and 2.1.

Adding the fact that there are duty specific steels that can kick ti but on any aspect except weight...
Imo ti is used in folders mainly for concerns like weight, weight to strenght ratio, no need of ht to be springy(not realy sure on that one but pops into mind) feel-texture(ti has a pourous structure and seems to have a better grip), and last but not least the HIPE....uuu....ti was restricted material to comercial use. For a long time and makes a damn god reason to charge the extra cash.
My 2cents worth__
Click to expand...

good point, i gave rough rule for average person too remember but your details are good..... i am so sleepy i will research it tomorrow!!!!!!









Ti is crap for a blade. But great for other parts!

Ti is great as a scale and a lock as we know.

Ti is great in my custom moutain bike frame. omg here i go......... bed.......

aluminum is prone too dents, scuffs, and wear but is great scale. But as noted it does get cold and hot.

Blades are only made of steel except for underwater or spark reasons. Ti is anti spark.

your point is correct! kind off...... porous? and grip? grip is machining. pores...well do not get me started in microns and grains. bed time//////

respect Ti it is hard too make and work with and it has it's usage then is not replacable that is why my $5000+ (i only have grand into it ..so far) Ti bike frame cost 3k - i paid only grand complete, full bike. But the frame welds are so perfect, they are air-o-space welders. Ti bike frames are dead, carbon fiber is the thing.

i love those welds..... it is like a kershaw composite blade BUT BIGGER!!!


wow is those welds are like ... omg...too look at!

The bike is 4-5" front rear suspension so light at 26lbs with the right other stuff vs 34lbs in aluminum - my stinky.

i have too go too bed - bikes? Well so how this relates, since the stinky is aluminum high strenght and the merlin is titanium alloy.

i am off track again!!! The bike is so cool it sits in the same room, the natural oxide color of the Ti alloy front triangle mated too the rear ict ellesworth rear triangle. omg! is it engineering orgasum....oooowwwwwwwww. who needs a wife!

ok i am off subject, this was a pro football players bike i got..el cheapo...ewwwww.....

i just love too look at the welds!!! the welders were all x-air-o-space!

A titanium/aluminum love fest. take my 0550, 560cgcf and lay on my Ti frame bike and just gaze............ play some led zepplain lord of rings songs!!

lol! i am past bed time! wow am i off ........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
 
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