- Joined
- Feb 21, 2001
- Messages
- 1,002
Ok guys, I have a friend who builds things out of Armor for DOD. And recently the Govt specd Titanium armor. He used ATI425 titanium armor and has quite a few drops he said I can have if I can find a market for it. Well I at first decided to see if I could cut it with my bandsaw, Yes it cuts easily albeit slowly. Next I attempted to drill a hole in it with a hss bit, THat was a big no-go. Lastly I attempted to machine it with carbide mill bits, no problem. I next tried to hit it with a file, the file almost skated on it, almost like half hard steel. Lastly I took it to the sanding machine and using a worn blaze belt attempted to grind it. Well when the Ti got orange hot so I quenched it in water and it got hard as glass. I could no longer sand it and a file skated like hardened steel. I was only planning to make bottle openers or whatnots out of it to sell but now I wonder if I dont have a Ti-alloy that might make a good knife.
Here is what I would like, a few very very experienced volunteers who could attempt to make a knife out of this stuff to see if it has potential in the knife world before I decide what to do with this stuff. I prefer fulltime makers who can tell me if its worth a darn in a knife or not. A rockwell hardness tester would be good as well so we can see what we are getting on the rockwell test. I am still unsure how to harden this stuff and can not find anything on the net, but its definitely harder where I got it hot and quenced than everywhere else on the billet.
PS This is 1/4 thick stock.
Who is up for the challenge. I only have enough here to send out 2-3 billets at this time but can get much more if this looks promising.
Here is what I would like, a few very very experienced volunteers who could attempt to make a knife out of this stuff to see if it has potential in the knife world before I decide what to do with this stuff. I prefer fulltime makers who can tell me if its worth a darn in a knife or not. A rockwell hardness tester would be good as well so we can see what we are getting on the rockwell test. I am still unsure how to harden this stuff and can not find anything on the net, but its definitely harder where I got it hot and quenced than everywhere else on the billet.
PS This is 1/4 thick stock.
Who is up for the challenge. I only have enough here to send out 2-3 billets at this time but can get much more if this looks promising.