polishing titanium in a tumbler?
polishing titanium in a tumbler?
I'm sure this is a dumb question because I am not a knife maker so much as a tinkerer but I was wondering if anybody has a process for polishing titanium in a vibratory tumbler? The goal being to take it from a bead blasted finish (160 grit glass bead) to a polished finish without rounding out edges or de-shaping anything. This particular knife is a balisong with cutouts and holes drilled in the handles so it would be pretty much impossible to polish down in the nooks and crannies by hand or with belts. I have been looking at how jewelers polish metal jewelry and gem stones and I was curious if a similar process might work on titanium. What I have in mind is using Silicon Carbide Tumbling grits mixed with some plastic beads for filler. A grit progression from 220,600,800,1000,1200 and possibly finishing with walnut shells and rouge if the 1200 is not shiny enough. I may be fool hearty and completely off base here and I acknowledge that fully but if anyone has any recommendations I am all ears. Thanks Guys.
- New_Windsor_NY
- Gold Tier
- Posts: 11721
- Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2018 4:50 pm
- Location: I'm On The Far Right On The Left Coast In Commiefornia
Re: polishing titanium in a tumbler?
Kid: "Wish we had time to bury them fellas."
Josey Wales: "To hell with them fellas. Buzzards got to eat, same as worms."
Clint Eastwood-The Outlaw Josey Wales
Skip
Josey Wales: "To hell with them fellas. Buzzards got to eat, same as worms."
Clint Eastwood-The Outlaw Josey Wales
Skip
- 1967redrider
- Gold Tier
- Posts: 17452
- Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:23 pm
- Location: Alexandria, VA
- Contact:
Re: polishing titanium in a tumbler?
I would be surprised if you could polish titanium without some special medium, due to its hardness. But I'm no knife mechanic.
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter