Titanium Tools

[RotoRoss]

Newbie here after checking out the body rotisserie thread. Prompts me to ask if any one has a source for Titanium Tools,
About ten years ago as I was leaving Japan after a job assignment, I went to the local arts and crafts store. They had a Porsche design Kiosk displaying all things Porsche ....gadgets. Next to that display was a kiosk with various titanium tools, crescent wrenches adjustable, combination box and open end wrenches etc... super lightweight superb quality but as I was in my last week I didnt get a chance to purchase on my way out ...Always in the back of my mind. The Japanese always have the most interesting gadgets,geegaws and what nots for themselves. Settled on all a pair of turquiose colored rubber tires for my mountain bike and a 400.00 Titanium WOK weighs like 8 oz,
Never stuff like that in The US we are too pedestrian but they really know how to treat themselves. So,any insight?

 

[jjjrmx5]

I think it has very little to due with any type of "pedestrian" issues, but the fact that using titanium in any type of manufacturing is VERY expensive.

Here's three metric wrenches for $1,500.00 USD

http://www.ultimategarage.com/shop/part.php?products_id=1373

Knock yourself out and buy them and you can brag to the Snap-On boys about how cheap and ****** thier tools are...

LOLOLOLOL.

 

[diesel research]

Sure you can pick the most expensive example out there, one marked up for historical purposes, but they do exist for less than that.

$102

 

[PowerGenGuy]

Check Acklands site, I believe that they sell Titanium wrenches.

 

[jk47]

Socket set

http://www.koken-tool.co.jp/catalog/en/#page=133

 

[jjjrmx5]

Socket set

http://www.koken-tool.co.jp/catalog/en/#page=133

$2,909.38 USD for that TI4261M 18 piece socket set with ratchet, breaker bar and extensions. Plus shipping and tax. I'm gonna guess that most of that cost is in the wooden storage box.

I'll take 2 please.

 

[Wakefield]

Wouldn't titanium even if ultimate strength is higher than alloy steel be more elastic with more deflection whip and wind-up? (Too elastic/springy)?

 

[jk47]

Or these

http://www.universalmedicalinc.com/Titanium-Deep-Wall-Socket-p/71691-umi.htm?1=1&CartID=0

http://www.newmaticmedical.com/prodtype.asp?strParents=3187,3188&CAT_ID=3284&numRecordPosition=1

LOL

 

[rlitman]

Wouldn't titanium even if ultimate strength is higher than alloy steel be more elastic with more deflection whip and wind-up? (Too elastic/springy)?

Probably. I don't think I'd be choosing it over steel any time, but in a marine environment, it won't corrode. Maybe, if you're in a long range offroad race where being able to make repairs on your own is important, but so is saving weight (Dakar, etc).
Also, it is non-magnetic. I know people who service MRI machines, and they use beryllium copper tools (same price range) for that reason.
Unlike berylco though, it is NOT non-sparking, so that's one environment where it isn't useful.
Somewhere in my colllection, I've got an aluminum box wrench from dirigible service. Lightweight, AND non sparking.

 

[IndyGarage]

Titanium tools are a gimmick. Pure titanium is way too soft for a wrench.

It's very similar to Aluminum - just a higher heat/corrosion tolerance, and a bit lighter.

 

[kythri]

Titanium tools are a gimmick. Pure titanium is way too soft for a wrench.

It's very similar to Aluminum - just a higher heat/corrosion tolerance, and a bit lighter.

They're actually not a gimmick at all, they have their uses.

Our maintenance engineers use them for work on MRI apparatus, among other things. Aluminum ain't gonna turn a bolt all that well.

For automotive work, or most other applications, steel tools are a much better choice.

 

[jjjrmx5]

One of the Ti tool manufacturers claim that titanium tools weigh only 58% of what the same Chromium-Molybdenum tool weighs. If weight is an issue, I can see the value.

I tool would agree that other metals are likely added to increase o/a strength I am guessing.

 

[IndyGarage]

They're actually not a gimmick at all, they have their uses.

Our maintenance engineers use them for work on MRI apparatus, among other things. Aluminum ain't gonna turn a bolt all that well.

For automotive work, or most other applications, steel tools are a much better choice.

Why do you say Aluminum can't turn a bolt? Aluminum and titanium are very similar metals. They are both pretty soft, but can be alloyed and hardened up.

The major difference is heat and corrosion resistance, and of course price.

 

[diesel research]

Titanium tools are a gimmick. Pure titanium is way too soft for a wrench.

It's very similar to Aluminum - just a higher heat/corrosion tolerance, and a bit lighter.

Sounds like a lot of speculation. As you can see, it is pretty much nothing like aluminum.

Titanium can be alloyed with iron, aluminum, vanadium, molybdenum, among other elements, to produce strong lightweight alloys ...

The two most useful properties of the metal form are corrosion resistance and the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any metal. In its unalloyed condition, titanium is as strong as some steels, but 45% lighter

Titanium is 60% more dense than aluminum, but more than twice as strong as the most commonly used 6061-T6 aluminum alloy. Certain titanium alloys (e.g., Beta C) achieve tensile strengths of over 200,000 psi (1,400 MPa). However, titanium loses strength when heated above 430 °C (806 °F).

It is fairly hard (although not as hard as some grades of heat-treated steel) and a poor conductor of heat and electricity.

Fatigue limit, endurance limit, and fatigue strength are all expressions used to describe a property of materials: the amplitude (or range) of cyclic stress that can be applied to the material without causing fatigue failure. Ferrous alloys and titanium alloys have a distinct limit, an amplitude below which there appears to be no number of cycles that will cause failure.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

I love me some titanium!! I got a titanium exhaust for my DRZ400SM Supermoto bike and I was very impressed with the strength to weight ratio and the beautiful welds.

 

[demographic]

Probably. I don't think I'd be choosing it over steel any time, but in a marine environment, it won't corrode. Maybe, if you're in a long range offroad race where being able to make repairs on your own is important, but so is saving weight (Dakar, etc).
Also, it is non-magnetic. I know people who service MRI machines, and they use beryllium copper tools (same price range) for that reason.
Unlike berylco though, it is NOT non-sparking, so that's one environment where it isn't useful.
Somewhere in my colllection, I've got an aluminum box wrench from dirigible service. Lightweight, AND non sparking.

If I remember right aluminium carabiners aren't allowed in explosive environments as they create a higher energy spark.

Aluminum alloy carabiners are not suitable for use in combustibe environments. D.I.N. recommends and B.S. 1397 specifies that steel carabiners be used in explosive enviroments. When alumium and steel oxides combine, very high temperture spark is produced. The steel - to - steel contaft sometimes causes a low temperature spark, but no data to show that this will ignite atospheres

 

[Marlin]

Why do you say Aluminum can't turn a bolt? Aluminum and titanium are very similar metals. They are both pretty soft, but can be alloyed and hardened up.

The major difference is heat and corrosion resistance, and of course price.

There is a big difference in strength between aluminum and titanium. Tensile strength of alloy aluminum ranges from 23k-48k psi vs Titanium at 50k to 135k psi. Alloy steel such as, 4340 is 109k to 220k psi.

 

[rlitman]

I'm not sure about that, but it does depend on the circumstances. In the case you showed, it requires the presence of iron oxide.

Aluminum, by itself does not spark. When you go to the gas station, be glad of this, because that's what the filler neck in your pump is made from, as is the metal piece it contacts when it's put back in the pump box.

 

[bart1]

Someone got me a titanium spork, which I keep in my desk at work. It is the awesome.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/kitchen/8ace/?srp=1

 

[0.511MeV]

Probably. I don't think I'd be choosing it over steel any time, but in a marine environment, it won't corrode. Maybe, if you're in a long range offroad race where being able to make repairs on your own is important, but so is saving weight (Dakar, etc).
Also, it is non-magnetic. I know people who service MRI machines, and they use beryllium copper tools (same price range) for that reason.
Unlike berylco though, it is NOT non-sparking, so that's one environment where it isn't useful.
Somewhere in my colllection, I've got an aluminum box wrench from dirigible service. Lightweight, AND non sparking.

Beryllium Copper is non-sparking. Yes, I own and use BeCu tools for that reason.

 

[vegar]

Probably. I don't think I'd be choosing it over steel any time, but in a marine environment, it won't corrode. Maybe, if you're in a long range offroad race where being able to make repairs on your own is important, but so is saving weight (Dakar, etc).
Also, it is non-magnetic. I know people who service MRI machines, and they use beryllium copper tools (same price range) for that reason.
Unlike berylco though, it is NOT non-sparking, so that's one environment where it isn't useful.
Somewhere in my colllection, I've got an aluminum box wrench from dirigible service. Lightweight, AND non sparking.

I do some work in EX-areas on factorys, and I must say beryllium copper tools are a PITA to work with, espeassly if its a little bigger tools like 36 mm and bigger.

 

[TWX]

I wouldn't want general-purpose all-titanium tools.

Now, that being said, I wouldn't mind combination wrenches made in a combination of steel and titanium- Make it steel where it contacts the fastener, and connect the fasteners on either end through a thin steel core, then wrap the whole package in titanium...

It would probably work for ratchets too- make the mechanism like it is, but thin-wall around the teeth, and have a core of a rod run from that, but then apply titanium over the whole thing.

But, I don't have tens of thousands of dollars to spend on them, so I couldn't afford them anyway.

 

[William Payne]

Titanium the elemant is not that strong its like most metals the strength comes from the alloying process when it is mixed with other metals.

Funnily enough the worlds largest supply of titanium comes from Russia.

 

[jchase63]

Ko-ken Tools Titanium pictures