Does your Sebenza feel warm? Where would CRK be without TI?

kidcongo

kidcongo

Joined
Jan 12, 2013
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I'm a bit of a science buff, so skip this post if you just like cutting stuff with your awesome sebbie :thumbup:

We all make a big deal about the difference between 30V and 35V etc, and sometimes school ourselves on the benefits of a good heat-treat, to the point where the lowly TI scale gets forgotten. Titanium is a pretty amazing element that has a lot of misinformation out there about it. Some think it is the hardest metal in the world (it isn't ), some think it's expensive and rare (it isn't), some think it's the lightest material known to man (it isn't). Titanium is amazing only for it's combination of these properties. There's good info in the wiki about it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanium

The frame-lock knife is not really possible without it's particular properties of not losing is springiness over time, and not cracking under fatigue, and benefits from it's lightness. A spring-steel framelock would be super heavy, an aluminum framelock would eventually crack, a regular steel framelock would bend over and then not bend back etc.

One peculiarity of Ti that I did not know, but is now blatantly apparent to me since i got into CRK knives, is that it is a very poor conductor of heat, which is unusual for a metal. Pick up something metal like a fork, and then pick up your Sebenza. Do you notice the Sebbie feels warm, or does not feel cool, depending on the way you think about it? Ti cannot suck the heat out of your hand like other metals will. That's another reason is why it's great for things like knife handles. It has a warmth to it!

One thing about Ti I know first hand that doesn't apply to CRK is that it is the only metal that human tissue will adhere to. I broke my finger badly a few years back and got a TI plate put over the fractured bone. The doctor told me they no longer use steel, as steel plates remain separate from the surrounding skin, which can lead to future issues. The TI becomes part of you, with the tissue cells actually growing on it. Scary....I am part Ti!......maybe that's why I'm obsessed with my Ti knives!
 
Very interesting read!

Im fondling my sebby now haha.

Its like the styrofoam of steels.
 
Great Post.....!!! I have always envisioned Titanium as: Its lightweight like aluminum, but tough like steel. Its the perfect combo of both.
 
I have heard some truly amazing things said about titanium, I really had no idea. :rolleyes:...:D I am a materials junkie and love my metals. Some of the Ti alloys out there really are amazing materials though.

The heat conduction of Ti is an odd one. I use Ti a lot on my knives and tools and I find that it suddenly gets hot rather than warms up like steel does. I have had many a quick hand dip in the water bucket from grinding titanium. :p
 
Chris reeve is what made me look for Ti items.

I knew about em, but crk made me actually crave it.
 
Very interesting, here is a video of the kroll process they talk about, got to love youtube. There is no sound so don't try and turn it up for the first 30 seconds like I did :D

[video=youtube;oWyrzZh3We0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWyrzZh3We0[/video]
 
I've been messing with pure titanium for the past month or so, anodizing both with heat and electricity. One thing that I've noticed (and I'm not sure if it applies to 6AL4V or other alloys) is that it slowly radiates heat. I've heated a piece about 5" long to red hot at one end, the other end was cool, but in a couple of minutes the other end gets too hot to hold. Working with the stuff is definitely different than the steels I've messed with. I'm currently making a shield pendant.

6AL4V is cool as it can actually be heat treated to around 46 HRC if I remember correctly.

I too am a cyborg. :D Got a bunch of ti in a cage around my lower spine, as well as a long screw down the center of my forearm bone. It also has a titanium wire that wraps around the screw head and taps into the bone to keep the screw from backing out.

Also, all of the coils in my mattress are made of titanium.

Great stuff! Most of it is produced in the form of dioxide for whitening everything from your toothpaste to fireworks.

It's the only substance that I've ever bead blasted that showered sparks while blasting.

When you see a low-rider car or truck that showers sparks from under the vehicle it's almost always from titanium that is mounted so that it contacts the road when they bounce.

Btw, titanium is really easy to anodize with some baking soda, water, a couple of bits of wire and some 9v batteries.

IMAG1794_zpsac23b3e9.jpg


Liners on a Benchmade are one thing, I haven't gotten the nerve to anodize my 25 though. ;)
 
Interesting information, I did not know about the adhering to us! I have some titanium in my foot so I am with you in the part metal party:thumbup:
 
Ernie1980 said:
Interesting information, I did not know about the adhering to us! I have some titanium in my foot so I am with you in the part metal party:thumbup:
Click to expand...

I am noticing an alarming trend. Maybe it's time for a poll of how many CRK junkies have titanium implants. Seems like too much of a coincidence. ;)
 
DRK said:
Very interesting, here is a video of the kroll process they talk about, got to love youtube. There is no sound so don't try and turn it up for the first 30 seconds like I did :D

[video=youtube;oWyrzZh3We0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWyrzZh3We0[/video]
Click to expand...

Finally got a break to watch this. Great video and thanks for posting. Amazing that there are so many steps. I love it when they cut the top off the pressure vessel and discard it! Now I know why such an abundant element becomes expensive when you try to make it into a high grade metal. Lots and lots of waste along the way.
 
kidcongo said:
I am noticing an alarming trend. Maybe it's time for a poll of how many CRK junkies have titanium implants. Seems like too much of a coincidence. ;)
Click to expand...

My butt cheeks are Titanium doesn't serve me well when going through airport security.
 
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Sitting here in my nice leather easy chair with my 25 my Fenix pd35 light and the remote. Life's good
 

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Very interesting to read about. I do hear people say that TI gets cold in the winter, but every metal gets cold in the winter it just depends on how much heat it takes away from your hand.
 
AddictedToGear said:
Very interesting to read about. I do hear people say that TI gets cold in the winter, but every metal gets cold in the winter it just depends on how much heat it takes away from your hand.
Click to expand...

Yeah you are right, it would not compare to a G10, micarta, or wood handle for warmth, but amongst metals, it wouldn't be as bad I guess.
 
kidcongo said:
Finally got a break to watch this. Great video and thanks for posting. Amazing that there are so many steps. I love it when they cut the top off the pressure vessel and discard it! Now I know why such an abundant element becomes expensive when you try to make it into a high grade metal. Lots and lots of waste along the way.
Click to expand...

I was amazed at the process I really had no idea but I didn't think they went to this much trouble to arrive at the finished product. I can only imagine what the cost to set-up must be.
 
It's funny that you posted this today. Cause I was reading about 6A4LV just barely.

Then I come to the forum and bam!! Stubble upon this!!

Great post!! I appreciate all the good info and insight :)

Thanks

Oh p.s. I don't have any titanium as apart of me
 
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Thought I'd bump this since I was talking titanium in regards to the umnum pocket clip
 
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