[TheForge] Fw: Titanium blade

[David E. Smucker]

It most likely really is titanium.  That "hokey rainbow" should be a hint. 
These colors are typical of heat treated titanium.  Titanium is paramagnetic 
meaning that it will show some magnetic properties when in a magnetic field. 
Also the alloy may have a fair percentage of iron which would show magnetic 
properties.  How magnetic is it?  Compare it to a similar blade of carbon 
steel.  It should seem much weaker.  If it is just like carbon steel then 
your blade is just coated, like some drill bits etc.

The best way to check is have it tested, but of course it is not worth that. 
If you can remove the blade and estimate it's volume and measure it's weight 
to high precision then it should be about 2/3 the weight of steel.  (Hell, 
just put in your pocket and enjoy.)

When looking at the Russian aerospace industry in my old day job -- part of 
an evaluation of a possible joint venture in 1992 we visited their major 
titanium production plant.  They had titanium coming out of their ears they 
had so damn much.  They were even making titanium trenching shovels for the 
army.  We each were given several to take home -- they were that "hokey 
rainbow" color.  At that time they would have cost about $ 600 each to make 
it the USA.  The aerospace designers that were part of our team called 
titanium "black aluminum".  I was the rolling mill guy on the team.

Dave

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Jeff & Leslie" <barkingcrow at comcast.net>
Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 8:34 AM
To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [TheForge] Titanium blade

> Morning,
>
> I bought a couple of shirts from the Duluth catalog and was convinced to 
> buy
> em by the promise of a titanium blade knife for FREE.  The knife really
> ain't bad for a freebie chineese knife.  Blade is a hokey rainbow color.
> has the tiny ball bearing that helps it open.  I was surprised that the
> blade is magnetic.  Must be mostly steel.  So my question is how much
> titanium is there in a titanium blade?   Did the chineese just wave this 
> one
> over the pot of titanium?  Is there an optimum percentage?
>
> Inquiring minds are wondering.
>
> Thanks,  Jeff Valentine
>
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