MCHardmanUK
08-21-2006, 09:04 PM
What is Titanium?
The titaium BMX products manufactured by companies are titanium alows, tat is pure titanium has been mixed chemically with other elements in the periodic table in different ratios to produce different types of Titanium alow each with it own unique properties and therefore uses. Some of the most common mixed elements are listed below.
Aluminum
Tin
Vanadium
Molybdenum
Chromium
Copper
The result is a titanium allow, some of the most common are listed below of which only a few have any use in the BMX industry.
Ti-2.5Cu
Ti-6Al-4V
Ti-13V-11Cr-3Al
Ti-5Al-2.5Sn
Ti-6Al-6V-2Sn
Ti-8Mo-8V-2Fe-3Al
Ti-8Al-1V-1Mo
Ti-6Al-2Sn-2Zr-2Cr-2Mo
Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al
Ti-6242
Ti-3Al-2.5V
Ti-15-3
Ti-6Al-2Nb-1Ta-0.8 Mo
Ti-8Al-1Mo-1V
Ti-5Al-5Sn-2Zr-2Mo
Titanium is 45% lighter than steel with comparable strength, and twice as strong as aluminum while being only 60% heavier, making titanium one of the strongest readily available metals.
What are the advantages of Titanium?
Light (Lighter than steel but heavier than aluminium)
Strong (Stronger than aluminium and same as steel)
Very corrosion resistant
What are the disaddvantages of Titanium?
Expensive
Requires proper installation and regualer maintaince.
Very subspetable to cold welding with other metals thatcontact over a period of time.
Where to buy Titanium?
There are two options available, both expensive but one more so than the other.
The more expensive or lazy persons approach is to buy itanium products made by BMX companies specifically for BMX parts. Admittably it is sometime inevitable that this is what is required as I have found out myslef with a certain company making funny sized products.
The less expensive and for me the much more enjoyable approach is to take some time to go meassure up your own parts to see what size titanium products you require. This isn't possible with things such as crank spindles or hub axles due to there uniquness in design but for most nuts and bolts its perfectly achievable. I myself and anyone else that goes down this path will find that you can save a considerable amount doing it this way.
If you are willing to spend some time researching what sized nuts and bolts you need then you'l need some palces to buy stuff from. Here is a list of places I buy my titanium stuff from.
Ebay - www.ebay.co.uk or www.ebay.com
Pro Bolt/Tasty Nuts - www.tastynuts.com
Common Titanium BMX product specifications/dimensions
Odyssey Elementary Stem Bolt = M10 X 40mm X 1.50 pitch
Odyssey Elementary Stem Nut = M10 X 1.5 pitch
Macniel Seat Bolt for Pivotal Seat Series =
Odyssey Mr ClampySeatclamp Bolt = M5 X 15-25mm X 1.25 pitch
Odyssey Monolever Brake Bolt = M6 x 20mm x 1.25pitch
Odyssey Monolever Brake Nut = M6 x 15mm x 1.25 pitch
Odyssey Monolever Brake Lever Bolt = M6 x 15mm x 1.25 pitch
Brake Mount Bolt = M6 x 15mm x 1.25 pitch
Profile 14mm Hub Nut = M14 X 28TPI
Sprocket Bolt = M8 X 10mm x ???TPI
Profile Racing/DJ Crank Flush Bolt = Countersunk - 25mm x 3/8” x 76TPI
Odyssey Intac Seatpost Bolt = M6 x 25mm x 1.25 pitch
How do you meassure nuts and bolts?
Bolts: General
There are three types of bolt that are commonly used in the BMX industry
Hex Bolts
Countersunk Bolts
Button Head/Tapered Bolts
Bolts: Measuring Diamerter
Bolts are measured by shank diameter, thread pitch and shank length. They are classified by head type. The 'shank' is the long, skinner part of the bolt. The bolt 'head' is where the allen key or wrench fits on. The shank is divided into threads and 'grip'. The 'grip' is the non-threaded part up by the head. Shorter bolts will usually be threaded all the way to the head, longer bolts will have some grip. The amount of grip varies and is most of the time irrelevant. The shank is measured first by it's "major diameter" (hence the 'M' in the first part of a bolt description). Common sizes for BMX bolts are M5, M6, M8 and M10. Next comes the thread pitch which usually corresponds to the major diameter. M5 bolts usually have a .8 thread pitch, M6 bolts usually have a 1 thread pitch, and M8 bolts usually have a 1.25 thread pitch. Finally, there is the overall length of the shank. Measure grip plus thread but don't include the head. This will give you all the dimensions for a common bolt type.
Bolts: Measuring Length
There are specific ways of meassuring the length of a bolt dependant on the type of bolt.
Hex Bolts
Countersunk Bolts
Button Head/Tapered Bolts
Bolts: Measuring TPI/Pitch
Measuring Thread Count and Thread Pitch is normally measured using a Thread Gauge.
Imperial - TPI stands for Threads Per Inch. This is simply a count of the number of threads per inch measured along the length of a fastener. TPI is used only with American fasteners. Metric Fasteners use a thread Pitch (see below). In general smaller fasteners have finer threads, so the thread count is higher.
Metric - Metric fasteners are specified with a thread pitch instead of a thread count. The thread pitch is the distance between threads expressed in millimeters (measured along the length of the fastener). For example a thread pitch of 1.5 means that the distance between one thread and the next is 1.5mm. In general smaller fasteners have finer thread so they have lower thread pitch.
Nuts: General
There are two types of nut that are commonly used in the BMX industry
Full Nut
Flanged Nut
Nuts: Measuring
There are several different locations on a nut where one can measure the diameter.The most commonly used diameters for the nuts needed in BMX are:
Thread Diameter (T). Also called major diameter.
Outer Diameter.
Flange Diameter (Flanged nuts only)
There are specific ways of meassuring the diameter of a nut dependant on the type of bolt.
Full Nut
Flanged Full Nut
Nuts: Measuring TPI/Pitch
Measuring Thread Count and Thread Pitch is normally measured using a Thread Gauge.
Imperial - TPI stands for Threads Per Inch. This is simply a count of the number of threads per inch measured along the length of a fastener. TPI is used only with American fasteners. Metric Fasteners use a thread Pitch (see below). In general smaller fasteners have finer threads, so the thread count is higher.
Metric - Metric fasteners are specified with a thread pitch instead of a thread count. The thread pitch is the distance between threads expressed in millimeters (measured along the length of the fastener). For example a thread pitch of 1.5 means that the distance between one thread and the next is 1.5mm. In general smaller fasteners have finer thread so they have lower thread pitch.
Does Titanium have a place in the BMX industry?
The answer is both, yes and no. Theres a place for everyting and anything in BMX its just a matter of what an individual feels is acceptable. Titanium is one of those 'grey' areas where some peope love it and some pele had it. Whats important is buying titanium products to lighten your bike is a last resort and an expensive one with the current global titanium market at present. What you have to consider is the cost-to-weight saving ratio. Do the maths and if it works out your saving a fair amount for a not too expensive price then its probably worth it, maybe its not, thats up to the individual. If you look after your titanium bits a pieces, that is you use Ti-prep when installing them to and every once in a while take the titanium bits off your bike to clean them, then the titanium you have used will last a very long time and work out to be a good investment in the long-run.
The titaium BMX products manufactured by companies are titanium alows, tat is pure titanium has been mixed chemically with other elements in the periodic table in different ratios to produce different types of Titanium alow each with it own unique properties and therefore uses. Some of the most common mixed elements are listed below.
Aluminum
Tin
Vanadium
Molybdenum
Chromium
Copper
The result is a titanium allow, some of the most common are listed below of which only a few have any use in the BMX industry.
Ti-2.5Cu
Ti-6Al-4V
Ti-13V-11Cr-3Al
Ti-5Al-2.5Sn
Ti-6Al-6V-2Sn
Ti-8Mo-8V-2Fe-3Al
Ti-8Al-1V-1Mo
Ti-6Al-2Sn-2Zr-2Cr-2Mo
Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al
Ti-6242
Ti-3Al-2.5V
Ti-15-3
Ti-6Al-2Nb-1Ta-0.8 Mo
Ti-8Al-1Mo-1V
Ti-5Al-5Sn-2Zr-2Mo
Titanium is 45% lighter than steel with comparable strength, and twice as strong as aluminum while being only 60% heavier, making titanium one of the strongest readily available metals.
What are the advantages of Titanium?
Light (Lighter than steel but heavier than aluminium)
Strong (Stronger than aluminium and same as steel)
Very corrosion resistant
What are the disaddvantages of Titanium?
Expensive
Requires proper installation and regualer maintaince.
Very subspetable to cold welding with other metals thatcontact over a period of time.
Where to buy Titanium?
There are two options available, both expensive but one more so than the other.
The more expensive or lazy persons approach is to buy itanium products made by BMX companies specifically for BMX parts. Admittably it is sometime inevitable that this is what is required as I have found out myslef with a certain company making funny sized products.
The less expensive and for me the much more enjoyable approach is to take some time to go meassure up your own parts to see what size titanium products you require. This isn't possible with things such as crank spindles or hub axles due to there uniquness in design but for most nuts and bolts its perfectly achievable. I myself and anyone else that goes down this path will find that you can save a considerable amount doing it this way.
If you are willing to spend some time researching what sized nuts and bolts you need then you'l need some palces to buy stuff from. Here is a list of places I buy my titanium stuff from.
Ebay - www.ebay.co.uk or www.ebay.com
Pro Bolt/Tasty Nuts - www.tastynuts.com
Common Titanium BMX product specifications/dimensions
Odyssey Elementary Stem Bolt = M10 X 40mm X 1.50 pitch
Odyssey Elementary Stem Nut = M10 X 1.5 pitch
Macniel Seat Bolt for Pivotal Seat Series =
Odyssey Mr ClampySeatclamp Bolt = M5 X 15-25mm X 1.25 pitch
Odyssey Monolever Brake Bolt = M6 x 20mm x 1.25pitch
Odyssey Monolever Brake Nut = M6 x 15mm x 1.25 pitch
Odyssey Monolever Brake Lever Bolt = M6 x 15mm x 1.25 pitch
Brake Mount Bolt = M6 x 15mm x 1.25 pitch
Profile 14mm Hub Nut = M14 X 28TPI
Sprocket Bolt = M8 X 10mm x ???TPI
Profile Racing/DJ Crank Flush Bolt = Countersunk - 25mm x 3/8” x 76TPI
Odyssey Intac Seatpost Bolt = M6 x 25mm x 1.25 pitch
How do you meassure nuts and bolts?
Bolts: General
There are three types of bolt that are commonly used in the BMX industry
Hex Bolts
Countersunk Bolts
Button Head/Tapered Bolts
Bolts: Measuring Diamerter
Bolts are measured by shank diameter, thread pitch and shank length. They are classified by head type. The 'shank' is the long, skinner part of the bolt. The bolt 'head' is where the allen key or wrench fits on. The shank is divided into threads and 'grip'. The 'grip' is the non-threaded part up by the head. Shorter bolts will usually be threaded all the way to the head, longer bolts will have some grip. The amount of grip varies and is most of the time irrelevant. The shank is measured first by it's "major diameter" (hence the 'M' in the first part of a bolt description). Common sizes for BMX bolts are M5, M6, M8 and M10. Next comes the thread pitch which usually corresponds to the major diameter. M5 bolts usually have a .8 thread pitch, M6 bolts usually have a 1 thread pitch, and M8 bolts usually have a 1.25 thread pitch. Finally, there is the overall length of the shank. Measure grip plus thread but don't include the head. This will give you all the dimensions for a common bolt type.
Bolts: Measuring Length
There are specific ways of meassuring the length of a bolt dependant on the type of bolt.
Hex Bolts
Countersunk Bolts
Button Head/Tapered Bolts
Bolts: Measuring TPI/Pitch
Measuring Thread Count and Thread Pitch is normally measured using a Thread Gauge.
Imperial - TPI stands for Threads Per Inch. This is simply a count of the number of threads per inch measured along the length of a fastener. TPI is used only with American fasteners. Metric Fasteners use a thread Pitch (see below). In general smaller fasteners have finer threads, so the thread count is higher.
Metric - Metric fasteners are specified with a thread pitch instead of a thread count. The thread pitch is the distance between threads expressed in millimeters (measured along the length of the fastener). For example a thread pitch of 1.5 means that the distance between one thread and the next is 1.5mm. In general smaller fasteners have finer thread so they have lower thread pitch.
Nuts: General
There are two types of nut that are commonly used in the BMX industry
Full Nut
Flanged Nut
Nuts: Measuring
There are several different locations on a nut where one can measure the diameter.The most commonly used diameters for the nuts needed in BMX are:
Thread Diameter (T). Also called major diameter.
Outer Diameter.
Flange Diameter (Flanged nuts only)
There are specific ways of meassuring the diameter of a nut dependant on the type of bolt.
Full Nut
Flanged Full Nut
Nuts: Measuring TPI/Pitch
Measuring Thread Count and Thread Pitch is normally measured using a Thread Gauge.
Imperial - TPI stands for Threads Per Inch. This is simply a count of the number of threads per inch measured along the length of a fastener. TPI is used only with American fasteners. Metric Fasteners use a thread Pitch (see below). In general smaller fasteners have finer threads, so the thread count is higher.
Metric - Metric fasteners are specified with a thread pitch instead of a thread count. The thread pitch is the distance between threads expressed in millimeters (measured along the length of the fastener). For example a thread pitch of 1.5 means that the distance between one thread and the next is 1.5mm. In general smaller fasteners have finer thread so they have lower thread pitch.
Does Titanium have a place in the BMX industry?
The answer is both, yes and no. Theres a place for everyting and anything in BMX its just a matter of what an individual feels is acceptable. Titanium is one of those 'grey' areas where some peope love it and some pele had it. Whats important is buying titanium products to lighten your bike is a last resort and an expensive one with the current global titanium market at present. What you have to consider is the cost-to-weight saving ratio. Do the maths and if it works out your saving a fair amount for a not too expensive price then its probably worth it, maybe its not, thats up to the individual. If you look after your titanium bits a pieces, that is you use Ti-prep when installing them to and every once in a while take the titanium bits off your bike to clean them, then the titanium you have used will last a very long time and work out to be a good investment in the long-run.