Working Ti with hand tools?

[Chiro75]

I wanted to replace the liners on my REKAT Pioneer. When I first started experimenting with filework I really F'd up the liners. I have a small sheet of 0.040" thick 6Al/4V titanium and wanted to see how to go about cutting it up for the new liners. Looks to be the same thickness as the ones on the knife now. For cutting all I have to work with is bimetal hacksaw blades? Will this do the trick? I can rough the shape out on my bench grinder and do the fine stuff with files and sandpaper, no problem, but can I cut the stuff with a hacksaw blade? I don't have enough to screw up, so I wanted to get the lowdown before I attack the material. I really with I had a power source so I could anodize the finished liners. Blue would look nice, or blue fading to gold. Oh well...

------------------
Dr. Steve Agocs
http://www.geocities.com/Chiro75/frames.html


agocs_s@hotmail.com

 

[Matt Shade]

I continually try to talk myself into trying it and probably will soon. After asking lots of questions here the general consensus I got was that it work hardens in the blink of an eye on power equipment (bandsaw, grinder, etc. ) and the dust has the ability to not only burn, but produce its own oxygen as it burns which means you can't really put it out. You'll want to be very sure of what your doing if you take any power tools to it.
As for hand working, its extremely wear resistant, so plan on lots of sweat and elbow grease

. You don't have to worry too much about work hardening, but make sure you've got sharp drill bits and extra hacksaw blades.
On a side note, one way to cut out liners without a bandsaw is on the drill press. Out line your pattern with a whole bunch of 1/8" or so holes as close together as possible. Then you can cut whatevers left with a hacksaw. Make sure you leave a little extra room to grind the edges down smooth. If you run the drill press on a slow speed and use good bits you should be able to avoid work hardening.
So unless everyone has been lying to me

, you should be able to work it with hand tools.

------------------
I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer... but I've got the sharpest knife in the room.