Source for titanium in strips

[MolonLabe]

Hi,
I've already done some searching on the forums and on the internet in general, but I am coming to a standstill. I'm hoping to find a source for a few titanium strips, .030" thick x .125" wide x 6" long. Basically the same material and dimensions that the standard size titanium bogota sets from SEREPICK are made from. If possible, a couple of different thicknesses might be nice, .020, .025, .040, etc.

I'm not looking for anything complex, just some strips of titanium from which I can make some tension tools. Before we get into any religious wars regarding materials, I simply like the feel of the titanium bogota picks that I own and would like some stand alone wrenches made from the same material. No other reason than I like the feel =)

I can find sheets, rods, etc., just not any precut strips. Thanks for any help you can provide!

[Wiseman501]

Hello! I think this website may be able to accommodate you. I know you order through the sheet section, but they say they will cut it to your exact specifications, and there's no minimum order. Just tell them the dimensions you want, and I'm sure they will get your strips to you.


I grabbed this link for you: http://www.titaniumprocessingcenter.com ... -sheet.htm


I hope it helps, and good luck with your tool making! I hear that titanium is harder for a metal detector to catch as well. Just don't go picking the locks in a courthouse without permission. xD

Could you describe how they feel different from normal steel picks? I've never used titanium picks before.

[MolonLabe]

Thanks for the link, bro...I'll definitely check it out. As for titanium, first off, it is obviously lighter...more in the range of aluminum, but nice solid, thick aluminum. The finish is also interesting, feeling kind of like Teflon impregnated metal that I've handled before. It's almost as if there is a micro thin layer of a completely dry lube. There is a smooth flexion when pushed near bending, but springs right back when relaxed. The feedback feels slightly muted as compared to stainless, but that's good in my opinion. Kind of like a mic with the gain turned up too high, is how I view stainless. You feel every little thing in the lock, which can be too much stimulus, IMHO. The titanium feels like metal with a VERY thin polymer coating on it and, as you would expect from that description, feels like the light coating soaks up some of the feedback. To me, I like a little more muted feedback. It makes it easier for me to know the difference between a pin setting or me clumsily clicking on something else in the lock...lol.

Another property I like is that titanium doesn't seem to get super cold like stainless, taking forever to warm up. It seems to warm up to body temp within seconds of holding the pucks. With a brutal Wisconsin winter on the way, I think I'll really like that particular property!

[Wiseman501]

Any time, man!

I see! I'll have to get some titanium picks or make some and see that for myself. That sounds very interesting, thanks.

Say, do you play an instrument or anything? I noticed that comment about mic gain.

[foxyfox]

Awesome. Keep us posted on your progress. I'm particularly interested in your thought process on which alloy you ended up going with, and any tips on tooling titanium (e.g. how do you polish titanium?).

[Wiseman501]

I can answer the polishing part. As a jeweler, I run across titanium rings and pendants sometimes.

The best way I've found to polish those harder materials is to step down to finer and finer sandpaper like normal until you get to one or two thousand grit, then take a rubber wheel to it to take out all of the scratches from the sanding (But be light handed in places, because a rubber wheel can take material off of your picking peaks and valleys).

If you want a mirror finish, get a medium coarse rotary brush and use platinum polish. Greystar and Bluestar are good ones. You can get all of these for your rotary tools at Rio Grande, as well as a ton of other cool stuff. Stock up on brushes and rubber wheels, because they wear out eventually.

[Wiseman501]

Oh, and don't wear white when you do it. Rubber wheels and metal polish leave a black dust and residue that you'll need to clean off your tools and hands. I'd also suggest using a combination of flat and knife edge rubber wheels. Flat for big flat surfaces, and knife edge for "detailed spaces", used in smooth sweeping motions. Never push forward, or you'll get dips in your metal. A medium or high polish wheel is enough, even for titanium. Don't be tempted to use the coarse ones. They will punish your metal.

[BbGenesis]

Don't know if you ever got your titanium but try mcmaster carr, they have lots of materials and you can usually order in smaller quantities to try out. I ordered some of their stainless feeler gauges in various grades to test out. Let us know how the titanium turns out.