Has anybody tried to work with titanium. I would like to build a extension handle that screws into the rod butt. I was thinking about using an aluminum cylinder epoxied into the rod butt with a threaded hole to accept the extension. I was thinking about using a titanium rod for the extension. I can get 12" of threaded rod for about $25 or 12" of solid rod for about $10. My question is can I thread it by hand with ordinary HSS threading dies?
What diameter to choose. comes in threaded from 6/32 on up. For aluminum I would probably use 1/4-20. Does that sound about right for the titanium?

I am hoping to end up with a salt water travel rod that I can 2 hand or can take the long extension off and put a short one one when one handing. Any suggestions?

Bill,
I got a lot of pieces of titanium tubes from one of the rod manufacturers a year or so ago and have done quite a bit of experimenting with it, or maybe I should say just screwing around with it. I have found it to be difficult to work with. I cut it with a diamond blade in a chop saw, a hack saw is a waste of a lot of time and elbow grease. I also found it to be difficult to thread. I am not sure what alloy of titanium that I have but it is pretty tough stuff.

Here is a post on someone who did the same thing as you want to . Not sure what material he used though, gotta read through it.

[www.noreast.com]

Commercially pure titanium is 110+ HB (Brinell)depending on the alloy composition it can easily reach 400. Not to get to technical that means it's pretty hard stuff. It can be machined using HSS and carbide both coated and uncoated. Machining must be continuous to prevent work hardening. Threading is difficult because the material tends to gall (pull and stick). Tuff stuff. GOOD LUCK

I deal with Titanium at my real job at least ones a week. The stuff doesn't turn and thread too bad on a full CNC machine. The sfm used to machine Titanium is on the slow side with all carbide tooling. It would take forever with HSS, but possiable. If you had even a metal lathe of some sort and a good coolant supply, I would say go for it. By hand......spend the extra money.

Bill,

Forget the Titanium - you are just asking for trouble, plus you do not need it.

My friend just built an extension like you are discussing, but he used a stainless steel threaded rod for the connection. Copy and paste the following link into your Address/Location Window and read all about it

[www.noreast.com]

My Friend Dick Meirowitz just caught 3 Yellowfin Tuna, all over 200 Lbs on this rod. Search the posts on Rodbuilding.org for the article.

John Mantele (aka: @#$%&)

@#$%&, I guess you didn't read the responses before you posted, huh? lol.

Guys rather than re-invent the wheel, take a look at teh link, as @#$%& stated, 3 200#+ Tuna have been caught this past week on teh extended rod, with the @#$%& Rollers.