titanium frame

[gringolet]

thinking of a titanium frame for a commander...never worked with
titanium before...to fit beavertail, fit slide etc...what techniques are best?
Better off just getting stainless?

 

[Brian Williams]

Good luck finding one, Caspian is having a tough time getting them from Ruger's Casting operation.

If you are not set up to machine Titanium, it is not like fileing steel or aluminum, it has its own set of hassles.

 

[gringolet]

it's BAAACCKKK!

Caspian has told me they do have some titanium and will be back in production at least for a while....
so, if you cannot work it like regular gun steel, how do you fit this
stuff by hand? or can it be done? thanks again...

 

[Brian Williams]

Titanium tends to gall much more than either steel and aluminum, you need to have the tool setup for titanium, It is harder than aluminum but more easily worked like it.

 

[Dean Taylor]

I did SS01 which was a Caspian Titanium commander receiver with an carbon steel officiers slide. It was a copy of a pistol Dave Sanple did many years ago but with different materials, reverse checkering and a few different components.I am only an amatuer metal worker but I have worked with carbon steel, stainless, damascus and alluminum. In my opinium it is the hardest of the group to work with but a great educational experience. I had the advantage of being able to consult with and get help from Dave to get over some difficulties. Alluminum is soft but lighter but Titanium is very very hard. My SS01 shoots like a bullseye pistol which suprised me with its short Ed Brown barrel. There is no galling with about 2500 rounds.

Good luck and have fun.

Dean
[email protected]
410-952-7848

 

[HSMITH]

Are you going to work it with a machine or with hand tools? With a machine you want low speeds and relatively heavy feedrates. Titanium cuts much like nickle based alloys, it wants more pressure and lower speeds on the cutters.

With hand tools just do as much as you can with abrasives, they really don't care how hard the material is and are cheaply replaced if dulled or worn out.