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russ57
3rd May 2020, 05:27 PM
G'day forumites..

I have some sheet titanium with which I thought I'd try making a pendant. Any tips? I found I can cut it ok with a hacksaw, and a reasonable polish starting with a cheap diamond stone to 600 grit then some 600 wet and dry followed by Tripoli on a buff. Still some scratche though and a few pits on the back.
I also tried heat colour with a little gas burner. Certainly got colour but very subtle. Would ox-acetylene be better? Does anodising give brighter colour?

Danger Mouse
3rd May 2020, 09:52 PM
Do you have any idea what grade of Ti you have? I’ve only used 6AL4v (grade 5) but with this heat colours are quite bright and it anodises very well. There are quite a few online tutorials with anodising - you will want a decent DC power source up to around 120v for all colours. The colours tend to repeat but you tend to get better lasting colour using the higher voltages. I guess because the surface oxide layer you form is thicker.

for multiple colours anodising is fun. If you lay down the highest voltage colour first (mask off the other areas with nail polish or remove some colour via sand blasting etc) you can then continue to add other colours without changing your high voltage colour.

russ57
3rd May 2020, 10:09 PM
Absolutely no idea... An auction find, along with a sheet of brass and copper..

Have to dig through the junk box(es) for the makings of a variable supply..

elanjacobs
3rd May 2020, 10:26 PM
Ti-6-4 is the most commonly used titanium alloy by far, so chances are it's either that or pure titanium

jack620
6th May 2020, 08:35 PM
The anodising process is so quick, you can just use 9V batteries connected in series to get the desired voltage (it's almost instant). Of course that only gives you 9V increments. I suppose you could also place a variable power supply in series with the batteries to fine tune the voltage.

joolstacho
23rd Nov 2020, 12:55 PM
I've used titanium inlays for guitars, and my Brit' bro' has used it a lot in his jewellery.
I found that it polished beautifully, taking it to 1200 before putting it on the wheel.

I used Mapp gas - got beautiful rainbow colour, but (with my titanium anyway) I had to seal it pretty soon after to hold the colour, otherwise it just goes dull and grey.
(I used 2K Clear auto finish, It's held it's colour still, after at least 12 years).

jack620
24th Nov 2020, 08:20 PM
I used Mapp gas - got beautiful rainbow colour, but (with my titanium anyway) I had to seal it pretty soon after to hold the colour, otherwise it just goes dull and grey.


That's odd. It shouldn't lose its colour unless it's subject to wear.