how do you tell if titanium is titanium?

[wookiee]

As per the title, not so much frames but other components such as stems bars bolts etc? Is there an easy way of telling??

Cheers

doug

 

[ADH]

http://mrtitanium.info/2008/03/17/how-t ... -titanium/

Primarily, it's non-magnetic.
hope the link helps.
Al

 

[wookiee]

http://mrtitanium.info/2008/03/17/how-to-tell-if-a-piece-of-metal-is-really-titanium/

Primarily, it's non-magnetic.
hope the link helps.
Al

yeah it is non metallic but then so are alloy/alu bits too...thanks for the link although I don't fancy scratching it to find out and I dont have a accurate way to weigh its mass in water! Thanks anyway tho...

...one of the parts in question is a handlebar stem that is from a 1999 S Works it looks titanium coloured, non magnetic and light....

 

[oliverracing]

my method is first a magnet - if not magnetic at all I get a softish steel bolt as attempt to scratch - if it scratches easily - not Ti, if it take a lot of force to scratch - quite likely Ti

You can also pass voltage through in a baking soda solution it to see if it changes colour (AKA - anodise it - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVhRPfFLvqo)

 

[ADH]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=257257

Does it look like the one in the link?

 

[wookiee]

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=257257

Does it look like the one in the link?

Hmmm no it is a matt finish...

 

[Rampage]

Magnet is the easiest way.

Titanium bolts are generally machined very nice.
Stainless bolts normally look like they have come out of a jelly mould.

 

[oliverracing]

does it look like this? - is if does them I'm pretty sure it's aluminium

 

[wookiee]

does it look like this? - is if does them I'm pretty sure it's aluminium

Ahhh yes thats the one!

 

[oliverracing]

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=152428 - described as pewter colour - but nothing about Ti :|