Preventing titanium oxide during heat bending

D

Dsmroots

Joined
Nov 20, 2014
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Like the title says, I am looking to see if anyone has an answer. I have made a few clips for knives and I am using regular MAPP gas to heat up .04" titanium. In my first few runs the titanium got so hot it turned brown. I then used sand paper and HF to remove this oxide layer.

My problem is that a few pieces had to etch for so long that the material thickness got thinner than desired. So I was wondering if maybe a high temp paint/paint remover combination might keep the oxidation down while heat bending. If so that may cut my surface prep time and etch down before anodization. I've used regular nail polish as a resist during anodizing with good results, but I haven't tried any coating with heat. Any info, links or advice is much appreciated. The regular google search didn't come up with anything. Also, if this thread is in the wrong section admins, just let me know.

Thanks
 
I guess I'm surprised that you weren't able to remove what is supposed to be a very thin oxide layer just with fine sandpaper.
 
RX-79G said:
I guess I'm surprised that you weren't able to remove what is supposed to be a very thin oxide layer just with fine sandpaper.
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Yeah I was too. I will say that it is either much thicker or much harder oxide layer than the typical colored ano layer. I left the pieces in the hydrofluoric acid for at least 20-30 minutes trying to eat through it. This was at room temperature and 100% hf solution. I'm new at this and have much to learn. What started as making things for my own knives has turned into several requests from friends.
 
Dsmroots said:
Yeah I was too. I will say that it is either much thicker or much harder oxide layer than the typical colored ano layer. I left the pieces in the hydrofluoric acid for at least 20-30 minutes trying to eat through it. This was at room temperature and 100% hf solution. I'm new at this and have much to learn. What started as making things for my own knives has turned into several requests from friends.
Click to expand...

Sorry to keep asking the same question, but etching and sanding are different things. Did you try just sanding without using acid?


I ask because etching may eat into the steel, but not as evenly as sanding. So you may end up with high points that are still colored even as it becomes porous in between.

Also, if you start with smooth metal, the oxide layer should be thin and easy to remove as a thin layer with sanding. If you start with etched metal the color will be down in the pits.


Of course, some people bend Ti without heating it at all.
 
Yeah I tried sanding it by hand first. Once I realized I couldn't really get in the bends easily, (deep carry clip) I went to the hf. I can't remember what grit. The finishing isn't a big deal. I would prefer a smooth surface rather than a satin though. I'm just looking for a way keep from going through that step or at the least lessen the time spent.

Perhaps it was a scale build up. Idk if titanium scales up like steel or not. I'm sure I'm not the only noob to run into this. Thank you for the help and time however.
 
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