titanium condition for frame locks ?

W

wack

Joined
Dec 24, 2005
Messages
73
Hi guys , just a newbie question .

I am starting to make my first frame lock and have found some 6Al4V on ebay but it states that its "6AL-4V MIL-T-9046J AB-1 AMS type 4911 annealed" . Would this be any good in the annealed condition for the lock / scales or do I need some thats nomalised or hardened? I just dont want to have the thing heat treated later

I've worked every thing else out and hard / nomalised makes moore sense , its cheap tho

thanks for your time - Wack
 
Thanks SBuzek , I thought the lock might have had to have a spring temper to it engage . But it looks like I'm wrong ;) Thanks , looks like its off to ebay it is , thanks :D
 
Titanium metallurgy is different than steel. Even in an annealed state, it's at about what you'd call a spring temper for steel.
 
I read about an experienced knifemaker who attempted to heat treat 6al4v. The results were: same rockwell between control and heated sample. I think he sanded through the heat coloring layer before the test, so it was a through-hardening test.

6al4v will build up a slightly harder oxide layer if flamed and maybe anodized. As far as I've researched, 6al4v cannot be hardened, other than the very thin oxide layer (a sort of case-hardening).

Other titanium grades are supposed to be hardenable, just not the 6al4v that we like.
 
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