Titanium, The ultimate tool material

mxtman2 · Sep 14, 2009

Just wanted to share with you some tools I fabricated using Titanium. I've been using the diggers and scoop for a few years now and they are the lightest and strongest tools I have ever used. Virtually indestructable! If I can figure out how to produce these a little faster, I may offer some for sale in the future.
Thanks for looking.

Tank69 · Sep 14, 2009

wtg those are beautiful , I really like your diggers , to me I think this is one of the greatest asspects of this hobby is that folks build stuff , or take an idea an run with it to make it bigger better stronger .

great builds :icon_thumleft:

HH Tank

auferret · Sep 14, 2009

Please add me to your mailing list. I might be one of the first in line to buy some. Just out of curiosity, how does the material cost compare to say aluminum or steel?

extractor · Sep 14, 2009

Great looken tools!!! How did you get the holes in the scoop?

Tank69 · Sep 14, 2009

I bet the Titanium hand scoop would hold up better than the one I bought offline (wont mention the brand) I bent mine up the very first time out an have to straighten everything out every other trip , definitely not worth the money I paid for it .

Jeff In North Georgia · Sep 14, 2009

Great looking tools! I would guess that you or a friend work in aircraft fabrication and making these from scrap materials?

My only two concerns would be if the handle or where it attaches may bend when digging in my native Georgia clay and their expense?

Jeff

Jeffro · Sep 15, 2009

Titanium is very expensive and not likely to bend much. Tends to crack or break before it bends, mostly. But it takes a heckuva lot to crack, break or bend the stuff.

Its a bit out of the ordinary to work with and special processes must be employed when machining, welding or forming.

It's the ultimate when it comes to strength and durability for its very light weight.

Mass produced items like these would be too expensive to try and market in my opinion. WAY too expensive for your average MDer to buy off the shelf.

mikeofaustin · Sep 15, 2009

You might want to google it because It's been a long time since I read the article,...

But, there was a rather long story about some guy that went searching for the remains of an aircraft that crashed that was made solely of titanium (out of arizona area 51). Lost story short, he found the parts of the ejection seat as well as the parts of his uniform. he actually found the 'explosion' site and found a lot of shrapnel (titanium).

Very good story... google it... i'm sorry I don't have the address.

mxtman2 · Sep 15, 2009

Thanks to all for the kind compliments. To answer a few of your questions, Yes Titanium is VERY strong. A sand scoop or digger made from this stuff will last several lifetimes. The downside, and it is a big downside, is cost. The sandscoop alone has about 150.00 in material (if I had to purchase it). I have an idea to put a long handle on it, of a removable design. But a five foot tube cost about 160.00 for the size I need. So I may have to go with aluminum for that. The other factor is fabrication. Jeffro, you are right. Titanium is hard to fab. You need a mill to machine the stuff and you need to go SLOOO. It can be welded fairly easy using TIG with shielding gas behind the weld to prevent oxidation. I use slivers of Titanium for filler rod.
Hope this helps some of you fabber's out there.

Ray S ECenFL · Sep 16, 2009

Really nice looking diggrs. If you ever decide to market them, PM me.

Ray S ECenFL

mxtman2 · Sep 16, 2009

Thanks guys. I will definatly let you all know if I start producing these. I do have some scrap left to fab a few diggers and scoops. The thing is, they have to be individually hand made and take a long time to make. If I do I will probably make a limited amount for Tnet "family".

Tank69 · Sep 16, 2009

well I myself would be intrested in a hand scoop I aint gonna mangle the first trip out :icon_thumright:

Jeffro · Sep 16, 2009

I've worked with it quite a bit before myself, making golf club heads and even a titanium longboard :tongue3:

but mostly what I've done with it is laser cutting and forming. Awesome job on the welding, I've been told it had to be welded in a vacuum before, not being a welder I didn't know it was possible with only a good shield- thats pretty cool! Did ya use argon?

mxtman2 · Sep 17, 2009

Jeffro said:
I've worked with it quite a bit before myself, making golf club heads and even a titanium longboard but mostly what I've done with it is laser cutting and forming. Awesome job on the welding, I've been told it had to be welded in a vacuum before, not being a welder I didn't know it was possible with only a good shield- thats pretty cool! Did ya use argon?

Thanks Jeffro, It's actually not to bad to weld. Welding it is the least of my problems. Cutting it IS!!! Yes I use Argon

mxtman2 · Sep 17, 2009

Tank69 said:
well I myself would be intrested in a hand scoop I aint gonna mangle the first trip out

This scoop would be hard to mangle! Maybe if you run it over with a truck or something...The scoop in the picture is about 5 yrs. old.. Still new!!
I will let you know when I make another and let you all know cost. Hopfully I can keep it down to make it somewhat affordable..??

99thpercentile · Sep 27, 2009

I have used a number of titanium tools for field work. I have purchased at least one of everything that Mission Knife and Tool makes, and a lot of some of the items. For metal detecting I have found that their take apart mine probe and the military demining knife are great. My team has used them all over the world, we are geologists and geophysicists and use them to aid in soil sampling. The soil samples are measured in my lab to assist in predicting instrumentation response in other countries.

I don't work for Mission, but I have been very pleased with their customer service, pricing and quality. The MPT12-Ti Titanium Knife is an awesome knife, it's just really big.

http://missionknive.com/

Number9 · Oct 19, 2009

Titanium, like all metals, has certain working characteristics. Know the "how" makes it as easy as stainless or any grade alloy steel to fabricate.
Titanium has many different grades and each has something a little different.
Being able to adapt the grade to the job can be a trick and having 41 years experience in metal fabrication helps... some.
A few tools made from Grade 5 and Grade 9 titanium...

Best to ya!
-Wayne

mxtman2 · Oct 20, 2009

Very nice tools. I really like the hand pick! I use grade 2 titanium.
I see you REALLY know your Titanium :icon_thumright:

Number9 · Oct 20, 2009

mxtman2,

I see you really know your titanium too!

The pick was made from grade 5(6-4). I made it several years ago when the fab shop I was working at had a 220 ton press break. You'll notice the handle was made using two curved pieces... I broke one of them trying to bend it to the right angle! So I had to make another one and hope for the best!

How did you put the holes in your scoop?
All I have is a cheap Craftsman drill press. It took a long time to put the holes in my scoops!

I find most of the titanium I use on eBay. Titanium Joe(.com) sells different size pieces but his prices are higher than what you can find on eBay.

Do you work/own a machine or fab shop?

Your digging tools look great!

-Wayne

mxtman2 · Oct 21, 2009

Hey Wane:

Yep the holes are a B---h to drill. I used a bridgeport mill to do mine, but I did start small and work up to the size I wanted with the material clamped down. Then used a sheet metal roller to bend it round.

I work as a maintenance mechanic/welder/fabricator, so I actually get paid to play with all the equipment! :laughing7:

I was having so much fun at work that I had to build a shop at home so I could work on motorcycles and weld jobs for friends and whatever. Here are a few pics. for ya.

H>H>
Dennis