Titanium-tools and health issues

T

tom mayo

Joined
Jan 27, 1999
Messages
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This is a question for the guys who use this stuff a lot...NEIL! I have been using cobalt tooling up to this point...and it works fine, should I switch to strictly carbide for the titanium framelocks? (The frames start out .144" thick/each side)...what about the health hazards...I read here a while back that the stuff actually gives off a dangerous gas when you grind it..is that true??? and what about the dust...all dust is bad.....G10 and carbon fiber and a lot of the woods are definite carcenogenic (SP?) materials....how bad is titanium...Walt?? would like to know more....but I keep forgetting all that I have learned so maybe it doesnt even matter...keep smiling
smile.gif


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Tom,
I do all my milling of Ti. with carbide endmills. I do all my drilling with cobalt, slpit point, short "screw machine" length drills. I have to save all my carbide drills for Talonite!! DO NOT use any Ti.Nitride coated tools on Titanium, it doesn't work well at all! I like to use COOL TOOL 2 for drilling and I use a COOL MIST spray while milling. For tapping, good luck! I have the best results with the wax stick stuff from MSC. I will find out what the brand name is and post it.
I'm not to sure about the Ti Dust. There has to be a way to look up an MSDS for it online, I just don't know where to look. When I grind Ti. most of the dust goes down the dust collector, but I do wear a mask with organic vapor cartridges on it while grinding everything. My main concern in fire in my dust collection plumbing!!
I will follow this thread. I hope Walt will join in with some proffesional info on the health hazzards!
Neil

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if you need an MSDS on somthing specific call the state health department. They will send out any OSHS related materiel to you free


Bill
 
Tom ,I don't know how the long term effect's are but I can tell you from Personal Experience that the gray looking smoke off the titanium will make you sick to your stoumach I now use a resperator when I grind it ,Tank

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TbarK Custom Knives
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I always wear a dust mask and often a super fine filter double cannister respirator.. but am going to start a long production run of my new TNT model and wanted to find out if theres anything i should be super careful about....Neil, thanks for the tips.....how about cutting the locking bar with carbide jewelers saws.....would they shatter on me? Right now im using a 2.5 inchx .028" one (HSS) and it works pretty good, can cut about 4 or 5 before i need to put on another one..they are cheap..whereas the carbide ones cost around $40 each..seems to me the carbide would be way better as its stiffer and i would get a cleaner finish inside the lock....but if it flexs at all there goes two twenty dollar bills...also..what about nice finishes in holes...the stuff is so gummy...

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Here is a source for the MSDS for Ti:
http://www.twca.com/products/data/titanium/safety.htm

Here is where you can find MSDSs for any material:
http://www.msdssearch.com/DBLinksN.htm

Titanium is non toxic, and not a carcinogen or a cause of birth defects.

Of course, you didn't ask me about the MSDS for 6Al4V Ti. This stuff has been known to cause arrogance and intolerance, as well as the growth of a second head from between the shoulder blades, and an inability to grind a blade evenly on each side.
smile.gif
Walt

 
Tom,
I want one of those TNT's for this hint. The amount of time you will save will pay for it!! Take a 1/16" thick X 1"Dia. Woodruff key cutter and grind it down to the thickness you want your slot to be. If you have to use a smaller diameter cutter, then grind the diamter of the shank nearest the cutter down to clear the Ti. frame. Put the cutter in your mill and clamp the frame in you vise and ZOOOOM!! They cut like butter!!
I just mill along a scribed line. If the area ahead of the locking bar is long, you may have to make a second cutter with more relief on the shank. I clamp my frames to an angle plate for this cut.
The key cutter will give a nice straight, smooth cut. I have cut lots of Ti with mine and it's still going strong. I like to use a spray mist or COOL TOOL 2 when I do this process.
Pardon me for being so bold but I like the TNT
biggrin.gif

Neil
EDIT: The cutters I use are HSS and cost about 10-20 bucks from MSC. You should be able to sharpen them for added life!!
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[This message has been edited by Dr.Lathe (edited 04-16-2000).]
 
well.....Ive always had that inability to grind a straight line...so it cant be ti... and the woodruff cutter sounds great...but it has to be at LEAST 2.5" cutter...3" is better...because i have to end up with a pretty straigt cut at the lock end in both directions to avoid the x effect of one side going past the square of the top of the lock. remember...Im cutting .145 thick stuff, not 50 or 60 thou. BTW I LIKE IT TOO!!!!
talontnt.jpg
I think it is the coolest knife Ive ever made.

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[This message has been edited by tom mayo (edited 04-16-2000).]

[This message has been edited by tom mayo (edited 04-16-2000).]
 
Tom,
I cut .125 Ti with my woodruff cutter. I remove the last TINY bit of material with a file. This eliminates the X factor. You could use your jewelers saw to remove the last of the material. I find it MUCH easier than sawing.
I just finished a knife with the stabilized Koa. I will Email you a pic soon.
Neil

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Any health issues concerning your eyes when grinding Titanium?A tool and die man said the sparks put out ultraviolet(?) rays that could damage your vision.Any verified truth to that?Knifemaking still is a cottage industry.We may not find out all the harmful health risks on materials we use for years to come.
 
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