Titanium knife

Is it possible to forge weld a piece of stainless between titanium so the stainless holds the edge

  • Yes

    Votes: 1 20.0%

  • No

    Votes: 4 80.0%
  • Total voters
    5
J

Jacob.s.ti

Joined
Nov 27, 2018
Messages
3
So im planning on making a titanium knife but i read its not good at holding an edge. So whuld it be possible to take a piece if 440c or some other stainless and forge weld a sandwich with the thin stainless on the inside and titanium making up the outside?
 
I'm honestly not sure about forge-welding, but I know you can braze titanium and steel together... Best of luck.
 
I don't think forge welding titanium and steel is at all feasible. If you need to go with titanium and steel, why not braze a steel edge onto a piece of titanium?
 
I honestly don't see the advantage of a titanium knife. It's corrosion resistant but so is alloys like H1. Titanium is light weight but in the mid to small knife range which is most knives the difference is, meh.

Steel and other alloys just make better knives. I guess cool factor is something.. shrug.
 
"I read that iron doesn't hold an edge."

There are many alloys of titanium that differ a lot and just like steels, some are much better than others at making a blade. If it's a proper ti alloy and done right, it makes a good knife that does the job nicely, sort of like a normal carbon steel knife. Fine grain/no carbides, not super hard, easy to sharpen and get nice and sharp. Strong and flexible, resilient.

Now if you're talking about something big like a machete or sword, the ti alloys can be really exceptional! :D
 
No. Ti will form an oxide layer that will reduce any flux you put on it. That will prevent the pieces from welding. You need explosive welding to weld Ti and other highly reactive metals to other pieces of metal.
 
You can look into SM100 if you want a titanium blade. It's expensive and hard to work with...but slapping titanium onto a steel core and working with that sounds just as troublesome. Alternatively, make the entire blade out of titanium and carbidize it. That'll harden the edge enough to be functional as a blade.
 
The_Iron_Joe said:
I'm honestly not sure about forge-welding, but I know you can braze titanium and steel together... Best of luck.
Click to expand...
That is what I was thinking. Heat treat is going to be a nightmare (? Impossibility ?).
Preplace the brazing filler and heat in an oven (? Then quench right from there because you won't get a secon chance ?).

Hey . . . check out dovetail jointery in metal hand made woodworking hand planes. I'll find a link in a little while.
 
Link for dovetail joinery in metal. Here at this Link >>>>
Piece of cake right ?
No real skill involved.
You know I'm kidding right ?
Pressed in pins hold them together. Or maybe peening the softer metal then machining it. It has been a while since I studied it. I KNOW some are pinned though.

PS : of course I realize you don't want a ninety degree joint. That's where your creativity comes in . . . right ?
For that look at Japanese wooden temple joinery; those dudes connect planks end to end. Again . . . no skill involved :).
 
Last edited:
Wowbagger said:
That is what I was thinking. Heat treat is going to be a nightmare (? Impossibility ?).
Preplace the brazing filler and heat in an oven (? Then quench right from there because you won't get a secon chance ?).

Hey . . . check out dovetail jointery in metal hand made woodworking hand planes. I'll find a link in a little while.
Click to expand...
Kershaw and ZT do just fine with their composite blades! Although they use copper... I'll check out your link!
 
Lance Leon said:
You can look into SM100 if you want a titanium blade. It's expensive and hard to work with...but slapping titanium onto a steel core and working with that sounds just as troublesome. Alternatively, make the entire blade out of titanium and carbidize it. That'll harden the edge enough to be functional as a blade.
Click to expand...

SM100 isn't really a proper titanium alloy. It's damn near as much a nickel alloy as it is titanium. It isn't comparable to a typical ti alloy and is pretty much in its own category.

Buyers of eyeglass frames who have nickel allergies have been returning "titanium" glasses ever since NiTiNol (which is very similar to SM100) was put to use in use as eyeglass frames, because the makers of the frames call them "titanium" for marketing purposes. The opticians who sell the glasses are usually also under the impression that they are titanium, but then the wearers get a strong nickel allergic reaction and can't wear the frames.

Sorry I can't help myself. :p
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top