Possibly stupid titanium/steel question

bigbcustom

bigbcustom

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Dec 20, 2005
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I know that there is some lab equipment made from steel with a layer of titanium layered over it. I also know that a sandwich of hard steel between two layers of softer/more stain resistant steel is often times a desired trait. My question is this: Has anyone ever seen/used/done a blade with a hard steel core sandwiched between two layers of titanium? Or am I talking about something that is not possible? The lab equipment I have seen is welded, but I haven't seen titanium bonded (like a forge weld) to steel. One would think that the super stain resistance and toughness of titanium would make for great outer layers to a high hardness, high carbon inner steel core. Just thought about this, searched the net, and didn't find anything so thought I would ask the question here.
 
Mardi Meshejian, Northport, NY. Looks pretty cool with the Ti anodized.

I think Tom Ferry may have done it with Timascus, too.
 
Heat exchanger parts were steel clad with titanium and were made by explosive bonding !! I don't know if there are other methods now.
 
Tom Ferry makes Timascus, 6ALV4 welded to CP. Anodizing brings out the pattern since most acids won't touch Ti.
 
They did laminate titanium but not to steel....there ought to be a way lol.

Thanks much for the information though.
 
Explosives bonding for some reason just sounds really fun.:rolleyes: For knife making the term "detonation welding" sounds more descriptive. That process sounds like it would be better done outside your shop, i'm guessing.
 
also i would think heat treating would start getting tricky
Ti does not move heat vary fast so i would thing air quench steel in light fast oil would be the only way
oil or water quenching steels most likly would not work withTi sides
my .02
butch
 
butcher_block said:
also i would think heat treating would start getting tricky
Ti does not move heat vary fast so i would thing air quench steel in light fast oil would be the only way
oil or water quenching steels most likly would not work withTi sides
my .02
butch
Click to expand...

Ti doesn't move heat very quickly? It has always seemed like an excellent conductor to me (better than steel anyways). Whenever I wear Ti jewelery (in the stretched earlobe piercings, or the sceptum piercing) it always seems to conduct better than the 316LVM stainless stuff.

-d
 
when you get back up tot the shop i ll let you side by side grind steel and Ti till it glows and see how close to the glow you can put your fingers
bet you hold on to ti longer:D
 
Mardi Meshejian laminates titanium to steel.....I've held the knives in my hand. I don't have a clue how he does it. He gave me "hints" when I met him at a show, but I can't remember. Nice guy to talk to.

Sorry if I chose my words poorly: Tom Ferry has worked on welding Timascus to steel. Whether he was successful or not, I can't remember; I've been told, but the memory escapes me (common problem nowadays). Tom is a very capable man, and a persistent experimenter, so I assume he succeeded, since we know it can be done (Meshejian). That was several years ago.

Timascus, BTW, colors best with heat, not anodizing. That's Plain Ol Bill's opinion. (He's one of the co-inventors/patent holders/business partners. He used to frequent Paltalk and I had the joy of listening to him as he gave me "inside info" as the development of this laminate proceeded. Ferry used to come into Paltalk alot, too, for awhile. It was a great "place" to chat a few years ago.) Bill gave me a scrap piece to play with along with "instructions" on how to experiment. That poor ol' piece has been anodized, sanded, furnace heated, sanded, torched, sanded and anon.......it's gotten thin! The torch is the best way for me, since you can get the colors to "paint". Furnace is good for even coloring. Plain Ol' Bill's mighty sharp, too. I have a great fondness for him and he has taught me a lot.
 
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