Titanium versus chromoly.

Does anyone know the equailvant of say 1 inch .065 chromoly to 1 inch titanium. Is there some kind of chart that would tell you what the wall thickness would be in titanium. trying to build a set of wheelie bars so some help is appreaited . Thanks

 

stay with chrome moly, titanium will break

 

titanium

Plus titanium has memory mine looked liked pretzels!

 

The flex and the memory is the problem with Ti wheelie bars. You would need to make the bars weigh more in Ti than the equivalent performance in 4130 for an upper bar. We learned this with the pro stock trucks, and with the pro stock cars.
You can use ti as a bottom bar, but not a top.

 

on one of pat austins funny cars he had ti- wheelie bars and we welded them all the time they would break way to much also when you weld ti you need to purge the aera you are welding ..like a tent..Dave

 

Used to use allot of Ti years ago when cars needed to be lighter. Very difficult to work with and needs to be fabricated and welded properly as said already. Biggest problem is when something happens and you need to make a repair.
To answer your question, 1" is too small for most wheelie bars. And Ti comes in odd wall thickness's ie .061 is common. Best to go up one size in O.D. and also use the proper "grade of Ti" and welding rod, purge or chamber weld.
Best to make in 4130!!!!!

 

perry

Mike,

Yes you are right about that he is a shining star!

 

kirt thanks for the word I was looking for...chamber...not tent..lol did I say I was from Kansas..Dave

 

Thanks for all the great input . Think I'll stick to chromoly when I build my single wheelie bar!

 

Do you have a tubing source? .. With Ti in small lots like a wheelie bar a racer has to take whats available. Everything has to be thought through with Ti, but once you do that and have the proper welding/fabricating knowledge it is a very rewarding material.
Have fun

 

If you've got a mzillion dollars and need lighter wheelie bars. Carbon Fiber.

http://www.jerrybickel.com/wheelie-bars-and-components/carbon-fiber-wheelie-bars-gmm-cwb-85.html

less $$$ too

http://www.aaronsipple.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=9&Itemid=36

 

If you think Ti is hard to repair, just wait till carbon bars fracture...oh boy.

 

I thought the process was just like fiberglass repair except you use carbon fiber clothe. Have I been misled?

 

My short answer....yes. That repair process works fine for most body issues, but, not a structural grade of carbon tube. If the interface of the metal/carbon area were to fracture, you may be able to make a "glue" repair...depending.