bending titanium 5/32" rod - can I use a torch?
On Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:34:38 -0600, DougC
wrote:
I have a silly project that I need a few kinds of bent-wire pieces
(S-hooks, loops and the like) for. I had some 1/2"-OD ti tubing to use
for part of it and the metals place has assorted titanium, so I thought
it would be cool to use ti wire for the rest of it.
I bought about eight feet of some 5/32" solid round wire (the thinnest
they had). Nobody present could say exactly what alloy it was.
I got it home and clamped it in a vise with 3/4" left sticking up, and
grabbing the free end with a pair of pliers. JEEEESUS CRAP this stuff
doesn't want to bend.
Can I heat it with an oxy-acetylene torch to do this easier? I know I
can't weld it, and I don't need to join it anyway--I just need to bend
the wire into round shapes with curves 1-inch diameter.
I've not ever played with titanium before.... does it turn a different
color when it gets near melting point? If the surface of the wire
oxidizes and turns funny colors is okay, I just don't want it to go
totally-soft permanently.
I don't know why you can't weld it. Do you have a tig? I just welded
some 6AL4V and it was easy. Build up a little enclosure out of
aluminum foil, set the pats in it, flood with argon for 5 seconds or
so before striking an arc, and set post flow for about 15 seconds. No
color change means no oxygen or nitrogen absorbtion.
Eric
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