Turbine Blade

Thank you everyone, I wasn't expecting quite so much response.

unwisefool - The edge seemed pretty good for a chopping tool. It wasn't tested extensively, though I did spit some boards and chop on a table leg (which is easy for a blade anyway), and dropped it on its tip onto a concrete floor, without any real damage. It seemed quite tough. I hope the blade's owner will use it a bunch, then report back and send the blade in for some final tweaking. In the meantime, I'll do some experiments with heat-treating this alloy, and if the results are good I'll apply it to this turbine blade. In its current as-forged condition, the edge should preform at least as well as a normal steel agricultural tool like a machete, though this blade is a lot thicker. As it is, the blade is so rigid that it rings like a bell underwater.

Ronin_Jedi - This stuff would make a great hatchet head. When I use a ti blade for chopping tool purposes, the main difference is just that the light weight makes it so easy to control, accurate, and quick, as well as amazingly non-fatiguing to use. It still cuts great, and the spike of force on the cutting edge is still acute when you chop. The lack of extra inertia seems like a good thing to me, though I'm sure that could make for a raging debate! :D

BFS - If you like convex edges you should check out JW Bensinger's knives and full-on swords. I do like a nice thin convex edge. Another raging debate!
 
I'm inspired! There has been a box of turbine fan blade sections, sitting in my shop for 5 years. They came from a big gas turbine that blew up at the local power plant. None of the sections are as large as what you were working worth. Your post reminded me of their presence, under the storage shelves. I'll dig them out tomorrow and take another look.

Very nice blade, well executed. Fred
 
@Mecha

"As it is, the blade is so rigid....."

Wouldn't that lead to sore hands as it transfers more of the impact back to the user rather than transferring some of it to the flexing of a less rigid blade?

"The lack of extra inertia seems like a good thing to me...."

That was my area of concern, the extra inertia from a heavier blade.

Interesting idea, nonetheless. Looking forward to learning more.

Tangent: You may recall that the blase used by the alien in Predator was super sharp and light weight. Something akin to Ti? Too far into the future.

Best


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Most of the ti alloys I've messed with have a glorious ability to absorb shock, and dampen vibrations. It has a "dead weight" quality that neutralizes the thwang in your hand on a hard miscut. It also seems to make them have impact beyond what you would expect of their light weight. This effect is very blatant in the relatively heavy titanium-niobium alloy I normally use.
 
Lycosa said:
Velocity... whack!!
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It's hard to describe how a large, stiff ti blade feels and performs. It's subtle and visceral. I'd even say vicious.
 
Mecha said:
Most of the ti alloys I've messed with have a glorious ability to absorb shock, and dampen vibrations. It has a "dead weight" quality that neutralizes the thwang in your hand on a hard miscut. It also seems to make them have impact beyond what you would expect of their light weight. This effect is very blatant in the relatively heavy titanium-niobium alloy I normally use.
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Sounds **cool**. Thanks for the insights. Something I need to try one day.

Best

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As you know, Sam, I have a Tikat. It IS vicious.
I do not kid when I say my Tikat feels and responds just like traditional katanas that I have held.
rolf
 
Interesting comment about impact qualities . I' like to talk with someone who might use a Ti framer's hammer for comments.
 
Got a quick chance to clear a little brush today, a mix of dry and green mostly under 1" diameter. Only noticeable damage was a bit of edge deformation from a cut I definitely blew, but I was able to steel it back into place with the spine of my Basic 11. Even unhardened this stuff is impressive, and like Sammy mentioned I noticed very little shock transfer to my hand.

I can't wait to get time to really put it through it's paces :D

~Chip
 
HA! Nice. What's a Basic 11? :)
 
that is a great looking sword. I can't think of the historical context where that shape comes from, but I know there is one (sort of like a falcata with a different handle, maybe?).
I wondered whether you could forge titanium. I don't plan to ever use it, myself. But it is great to see what you have done with it. I am impressed.
 
Haha, the Busse fans would be pleased to hear about one of their knives straight-up field repairing deformed titanium. :]

Thanks abbydaddy et al. This blade will be improved as soon as I'm done with my heat-treatment tests.

Kevin -the professor: Titanium alloys are not only forgeable, the process can improve the "stats" of the metal in a way that is quite beneficial to making a sword, as well as normal structures like aircraft parts. This is a documented fact, which I exploit the hell out of. :D

I know that the general consensus for steels is that any grain dislocations or other changes from forging are obliterated during heat treatment, and thus forging can not have any noticeable benefit to a blade. This is not the case for titanium alloys that contain any sort of beta stabilizing element.
 
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Lycosa said:
"What is a Basic 11?"
Back to school!!
:D
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I thought that's what it was! :[]

Cut me some slack, you know I only think about swords. :D
 
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