Titanium $$HOLY COW!$$ tools

[twostall]

Always thought it would be cool to have a titanium adjustable wrench in the box, but at $400plus I'll have to pass - maybe settle for the slip-joint pliers at $339...
Apologies if y'all seen this already(i did try a search!). I haven't been around here too long...

http://tinyurl.com/ca5mod

 

[jerk_chicken]

Well, it's pretty obvious that training to repair MRI's is where the money is at, when one considers that having a set of tools to repair them is going run six figures.

1/2" ratchet is like $1,100.

 

[tatra]

merk's new holy grail

 

[35mastr]

If you are repairing MRI's then you will have the money to buy the proper tools.

 

[twostall]

I'm gonna hang out by the hospital tomorrow - see if I can catch their tool truck.

 

[jerk_chicken]

If you are repairing MRI's then you will have the money to buy the proper tools.

Wonder what they fix MRI's in Germany with?

(Monte and Hawk321 will get the joke)

 

[Crawlin]

Someone needs to order a ratchet and report back

 

[35mastr]

Wonder what they fix MRI's in Germany with?

(Monte and Hawk321 will get the joke)

What do you guys use

Bfh,vice grips and plyers??

 

[HolisticPerformance]

Well, it's pretty obvious that training to repair MRI's is where the money is at, when one considers that having a set of tools to repair them is going run six figures.

Maybe I'll sound stupid here, but what about an MRI requires the use of a titanium tool? And while we all care about close tolerances and strength, these are, after all, just machines. Very expensive machines with very important jobs, but what about them calls for $1,100 ratchets?

Edited to say:

I now see the non-magnetic, non-sparking,- non-rusting. And those are all issues i could understand would be important for such a machine.

 

[DynoDale]

I think it's similar to the reason that aircraft mechanics must make sure that tools aren't left in jet engines: the machines don't like tools around when they're running.

A MRI creates a strong magnetic field which could accelerate steel wrenches that might smash important stuff.

 

[kartracer55]

So If I dropped 1100 on a titanium ratchet, ya think anybody could top it!?

 

[WVU Tuba Dale]

I was thinking something with the magnetism, but is titanium a ferrous material, and if so is it as "magnetic" as steel?

 

[Chris Adams]

No, it's not. Try to stick a magnet to a titanium pistol...

 

[Jononon]

Made by EGA Master, in Spain, they also market them for the oil and gas industry.

If you think they're steep, the Facom 40ti combination wrenches, OEM for the McLaren F1's toolkit, are several hundred dollars. Each.

 

[herb101]

That would absolutely **** in the wrong scenario!

Image dropping a $1,100 ratchet into a greasy, rusty framerail and not being able to fish it out with a magnet on a stick. Time to chop the frame!

 

[Bolster]

That ratchet looks like a slight modification of a vintage Proto.

Probably coarse teeth and all. Wonder how they made the springs. Can you make springs of Ti?

 

[HolisticPerformance]

That ratchet looks like a slight modification of a vintage Proto.

Probably coarse teeth and all. Wonder how they made the springs. Can you make springs of Ti?

From what I understand (!), Ti is a superior metal for spring use. It can flex substantially without fatigue.

 

[Skyline]

Maybe I'll sound stupid here, but what about an MRI requires the use of a titanium tool? And while we all care about close tolerances and strength, these are, after all, just machines. Very expensive machines with very important jobs, but what about them calls for $1,100 ratchets?

Edited to say:

I now see the non-magnetic, non-sparking,- non-rusting. And those are all issues i could understand would be important for such a machine.

I guess they are afraid that if you leave a single tool behind, it could kill someone when the machine is turned on. Any metal object in the same room becomes a projectile when the machine is turned on. There have been plenty of deaths to reinforce this message. We had a young boy killed in our town when an oxygen tank flew across the MRI room and crushed him. Why an aviation-like tool accountabily program is not sufficient is beyond me though. Maybe the machines retain enough magnetism even when turned off to make them difficult to work on with conventional tools.

 

[HolisticPerformance]

I guess they are afraid that if you leave a single tool behind, it could kill someone when the machine is turned on. Any metal object in the same room becomes a projectile when the machine is turned on. There have been plenty of deaths to reinforce this message. We had a young boy killed in our town when an oxygen tank flew across the MRI room and crushed him. Why an aviation-like tool accountabily program is not sufficient is beyond me though. Maybe the machines retain enough magnetism even when turned off to make them difficult to work on with conventional tools.

Wow, I had no idea of this. I've never been in the same room as an MRI, but this pretty much sums it up. I keep having this image of X-Men movies come to my mind.

Sounds to me like I need to own one of these MRI machines for some, um, constructive (destructive) downtime.

 

[Jononon]

Why an aviation-like tool accountabily program is not sufficient is beyond me though. Maybe the machines retain enough magnetism even when turned off to make them difficult to work on with conventional tools.

In most machines the magnetic field is constant, it isn't turned on for the scan. Electromagnetic machines are the exception, but they're an outdated technology.

 

[twostall]

Made by EGA Master, in Spain, they also market them for the oil and gas industry.

Thanks for that post - it's just the kind of trivia I like to irritate my co-workers with (long story).
Back around 15 years ago I remember being routed through the Lansing, MI airport on a work related trip. In the terminal they had a small display of local business / industry, and in addition to others (like Oldsmobile assembly) there was a company that included, as a relatively small part of their business, manufacturing titanium hand tools. They had a Ti adjustable wrench on display. I have forgotten who that was, and searching for evidence has never turned up anything. Don't know if they still exist. So, if anyone up there knows anything about that, include us in! That would make for some real obscure trivia.

 

[Merkava_4]

And we need titanium non-magnetic tools because_____________________________?

 

[-B-]

And we need titanium non-magnetic tools because_____________________________?

Because they at least have a viable ligament reason for be priced so high.

 

[twostall]

And we need titanium non-magnetic tools because_____________________________?

Because...because... ... ... umm, because... ...Because titanium is 43% lighter than steel, enabling me to push a 56" roller around much easier as I get old and feeble! Yeah, that's the ticket...

 

[twostall]

What the h3ll is a "viable ligament reason"???:

 

[Merkava_4]

LMAO @ "ligament"

 

[wyndycity]

It all makes sense to me now...found some relevant vids on youtube...

Apparently there's still a strong magnetic force even without the power actually on.

 

[BrushWhackin]

In the Army we use titanium tools for working on ied's and landmines since many of them are initiated magnetically. Also part of the reason our clothing has no metal fastners. And I'm sure the Gov't. pays WAY more then a grand for a titanium hammer.

 

[Jbullfrog]

I repossed a New Holland tractor from a chocolate farm in Waialua, Hawaii that had a Brass or Bronze "Non Sparking" 15" adjustable wrench on it. It has "DOLE CANNING PLANT" letter stamped in the handle on one side.

 

[Merkava_4]

In the Army we use titanium tools for working on ied's and landmines

I hope you're getting hazardous duty pay for that!!

They should pay you at least double whatever is you usually get.

They should bump up your life insurance too.

 

[onemoretry]

I used to work on an ICR machine which uses similar magnets as an MRI. Let me tell you it was entertaining. I had a key attached to a paddle on a cord. I put it my pocket with the cord hanging out. It was amazing how hard that key pulled... We could use standard tools on certain portions of the magnet as the field strength is dependent on orientation, the key was the way I could tell where I could work. Only so many nice tools to go around...

The unit of magnetism is Tesla, think 1 Tesla can pick up a car. The stuff they use for NMR and ICR (the scientific version of the medical MRI) can be 11 to 16 Tesla. A group in Florida has also built a resistive 26 Tesla magnet (it is resistive rather than superconducting so it can be turned off, but consumes unholy amounts of power). Weird things happen around magnets this big...

Sorry to bore you with details.

 

[Keep]

I hope you're getting hazardous duty pay for that!!

Yup you do, its $150 a month. (Well it was when I was in)

 

[jerk_chicken]

Pretty cool. I wonder how these tools would last in applications in a shop, in daily usage, even though that's not their intent. However, Koken makes Ti sockets. I wonder what grades these are and where they're made, including the sourcing of the Ti.