TitaniLor

The Virginian said:
I wonder if you would't mind sharing what the composition of the particular beta-titanium used for this blade is. And how that was settled on.

TIA!
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Sure thing, Virginian: The alloy is about 89.5Ti 10Nb 0.5Fe The niobium is a heavy-weight beta phase stabilizer and protector to the billet from atmospheric contamination and embrittlement at high heat, among many other fine and dandy things. The iron content (a powerful beta stabilizer) gives the metal a quick/deep-hardening quality, which I believe helps create the titanium versions of martensite due to the metal's poor heat conductivity.

It's a remnant of new structural stock from a Boeing project, I'd say at least 20 years old, made in the USA. It matches no grade number and was smelted for some special purpose, like a lot of the beta ti stuff. I've learned a lot more about ti alloys since picking it up for sword use, and it still seems to have the perfect character! :)
 
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From what I understand, beta ti alloys have a lot of general similarities with each other, but with their own little peculiarities (like tool steels do). Much of it is left-over material from aerospace industry projects, which used to be made readily available to the public, but is now usually sent to China as scrap. Thus, availability of leftover specialty beta ti alloys has become more scarce, but they're out there (with new alloys always in development)!
 
Not to bombard everyone with posts, but there are also several grades of 6al4v ti alloy out there, and I found that the ELI version was nicer and cleaner after being forged out into a blade billet. ELI stands for "extra-low interstitial," as in low oxygen, and it is a medical implant-grade, high purity form of the alloy. I think that's what Lycosa's sword is made of, the TiKat.
 
Lorien said:
I have a bit of a specialty going. I don't know of many other people who do what I do with blades in the field, finding usable corridors through the rainforest which will eventually become trails.

The use of large knives- how I use them- is very abusive, but not because I don't take care. Only because the stuff I have to cut requires a lot of force, precision and the plants out here bite back, and sometimes destroy steel tools. I spend hours at a time cutting brush of many various types and textures, often working myself to exhaustion. When coupled with this activity, my interest in design constantly evolves with my experience. Anything that makes it easier to cut, and minimizes maintenance is of great interest to me. Also, a lot of this work requires hiking in, sometimes up to an hour off trail just to get there, so weight is always a consideration. As a gnome sized person, reach is also important.

Many of these variable work at cross purposes and I'm convinced that I will never find the perfect blade for all considerations, but that's what makes the pursuit so endlessly fascinating.
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Lorien,

I think we share the same passion. One of my biggest quest on the weekends is to find trails and clear them for the state forestry.
So far we have managed to open trails that not even the forestry awares (specially patented "Los Domingos Macheteros" marking :p)
You name it and i might have already tested/used it. So i can feel what Lorien has in mind, just that at my yonder, rust is a lot more damaging (humidity of 95%) to blades , not to mention all the gunks from the plants and edge damage from fatigue of swinging.
The blade should have reach, nimble, balance, light, rust resistant and have good edge retention on many mediums.
Am i dreaming? Or course i can dream.

Also i might need to get my vision checked because i see a Dao in it, not just dha. These two blades have very similar background.

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* image from SwordsandAntiqueWeapons


Needless to say, i'm very interested to know how it performed in a duration. Like your well-thought-out design, Lorien.:D

Great work as usual, Mecha. I am a big fan of your work, the Ti twister.:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
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So, that's all my photos from Sam's shop. Here are some of mine, prior to testing- glamour shots, if you will;







 
Although, (for a piece like this) the best testing occurs in the forest, there are plenty of everyday items that can give a good read on the effectiveness of a design and quality of a knife generally. Since I was at work when the sword arrived, I used material that I had on hand.

Take your standard issue regional phone book, for example;




In this day and age, a phone book is more useful as a testing medium than what it's actually supposed to be for:D




Surprisingly satisfying cutting.




Your garden variety flooring underlay cardboard tube can also serve as a medium for testing speed, power and edge geometry;




One powerful swipe cleaved cleanly through the dense cardboard. This was cut freestanding. I took a number of swings through it. Very satisfying:D




Dowling, depending on wood type, can also be instructive. This piece is fir, near as I could tell. It wasn't pine, that's for sure, it was much harder.




Hassan Chop! One heavy handed blow against a hard surface provided the dowling with a severance package.




Good penetration into a seasoned fir 2x4. This is one hard piece of lumber.




Well, no discernible negative change to the edge. However, it did seem that the edge actually got a little keener which is completely counter intuitive. Or maybe I'm out to lunch. Further testing will clarify...
 
This is just plain impressive and fun. Congratulations on the project Mecha and Lorien. All of this metallurgy, design, and testing information is fascinating. Love it. Please keep it coming. Mike
 
Will York said:
Agree--more more MORE!!!

Time to set up the GoPro. :D

Any comparisons coming to mind yet, with similar steel blades?
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don't worry, sir, the gopro has been employed and video footage will be posted tomorrow.

As for comparisons, there is nothing I've used which is at all similar to this beta titanium.

Thank you all for your kind words. JayGoliath- I feel that we are kindred spirits indeed!
 
Lorien,

Do tell us more about the balance and feel. The weight as well.
Now i know it is too early to tell but how does it feel on hand compared to the sword from D.Keffeler?

Awesome thread!
Jay
 
The blade is about 3/16" thick at the ricasso, and tapers gradually toward the tip. It is fairly thin, flexible and light in weight. Overall weight is 810 grams, or 1.76 pounds. Blade is 19 1/2", handle is 8".
 
Wow nice double-dao, JayGoliath. :eek:

Thanks for the nice comments everyone, on a blade I now wish had been finished out more nicely, haha. Too many anger-beats with the hammer. Glad to see it holding up well so far; I don't know the results of the blade beat-down yet so this is exciting!
 
My first time out with this beast was during one of my night time trailbuilding sessions. Usually, I don't do much in the way of cutting, since it's hard to see in the dark lol. Lots of digging and hammering, with tools made for such work.




I cut a free standing empty can in half. Not so easy a feat as you might think. Still, not that impressive. I'll leave the impressive stuff for tomorrow :)

 
Lorien,

This is totally irrelevant but why are you trailblazing at night?

Seriously dude, you watched too many zombie flicks.:D;)
 
JayGoliath said:
Lorien,

This is totally irrelevant but why are you trailblazing at night?

Seriously dude, you watched too many zombie flicks.:D;)
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I'm a busy guy :)
 
[video=youtube;1RWPazzvyso]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RWPazzvyso[/video]
 
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