help with working titanium

S

Spinerazor

Joined
Mar 30, 2012
Messages
510
Hey Guys, i've been experimenting with heat anodizing titanium, because the stuff is so expensive i have to keep resanding the same piece over and over again to try different things, my question is about sanding the stuff. Titanium is really difficult stuff to sand isnt it!? getting the oxide layer off is brutal!, is there any trick to it or is it simply just really hard and i have to deal with it, i don't mind but i wouldn't mind it going a little faster :) thanks for your help.
 
It is very hard to grind, cut, or sand. Because it flexs a lot meaning if you are using an angle grinder it likes to vibrat a lot. So if you are cutting it, clamp it very close to where you are making your cut and it will go a little faster but there is not much you can do about it
 
Once you get some experience working it, you will probably realize it can be worked in a reasonable manner. Frank
 
Titanium is like any other material. You have to learn its properties and how to work it. Sharp belts and papers, sharp tools, firm pressure, etc. When hand sanding, wet sanding with a quality paper makes the task faster and gives a smoother finish.

If grinding, watch the sparks, they are super hot. Eye and lung protection ids a must when grinding Ti.
 
thanks for the help guys, i'm finding that sharp tools, new belts and paper work best, paper i would normally keep using seems to just glide across the material, i'm finding that to be the most noticeable thing.
 
Fellhoelter said:
Multi-etch from Reactive Metals strips the color right off.
Click to expand...

+1. It works well, and Reactive Metals Studio is a good company to deal with. Their anodizer is also a good deal.

Titanium is a bit rougher to sand because that anodized color is actually a ceramic layer...so you have to sand through ceramic before you get to the actual Ti. As you've found out, clean, aggressive paper is the way to go.
 
ecos said:
+1. It works well, and Reactive Metals Studio is a good company to deal with. Their anodizer is also a good deal.
Click to expand...
Noooo!
I love the Reactive Metal folks, but their anodizer is a terrible deal.
The exact same one can be had from many other places for literally half the price.
Half!

Sorry for the short hijack...
 
Fellhoelter said:
Noooo!
I love the Reactive Metal folks, but their anodizer is a terrible deal.
The exact same one can be had from many other places for literally half the price.
Half!
Click to expand...

Oops, I should have checked their current offerings before opening my mouth. It was awhile ago I purchased anodizers from them and at the time their price was pretty good, but the model was also different. It was analog with current controlled by the turning of a knob, not the current lcd readout model, and I'm pretty sure the price was quite a bit lower. Or else my memory is off, which is entirely possible.
 
It's far easier to build an anodizer if you know a bit about electricity or can get a freind to help. Frank
 
For $120 the store bought one can't be beat.

I used a good homemade one for years, and loved it.

Bought one a year ago, and wish I had done it 5 years ago.

Hard to beat digitally controlled voltages to the tenth of a volt.
 
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