[Jewelry making - Article 00197] - Re: [Orchid] Drilling Titanium

[Dan Statman]

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    For drill bits, I would suggest Cobalt containing high-speed steel. 
    I use diamond impregnated files, but the cheapo ones.  The books you
    should read are about machining, not jewelry making. 

    Be careful, titanium is HIGHLY flammable.  The small chips and dust
    formed in the machining process, and high heat that can be formed
    from a dull tool or too fast of a cutting speed, can cause some
    spectacular fires.  Titanium is the only metal that can burn in a
    pure nitrogen (as well as oxygen) environment.  If a fire starts DO
    NOT DOUSE WITH WATER, use granulated salt or sand to suffocate the
    flame.  Dousing burning titanium with water causes the titanium to
    react and create titanium oxide with residual hydrogen gas
    production, which you definitely do not want when something is
    burning. Keep a fire extinguisher handy for all of the other stuff
    that will catch fire after the titanium has burned itself out. 

    The bulk form of titanium in rods, tubing, sheet, etc. is not
    flammable unless provoked well beyond the limits of simple jewelry
    making. 

Daniel J. Statman, Statman Designs
www.statmandesigns.com
dan.statman AT rennlist.com


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