Spork knife?

[Simon Harding]

I may have missed this, but has anyone experience with sharpening an edge of a titanium spork for use as a knife? I'd think given it is titanium, one would need to start with an angle or wheel grinder and then a file to get an edge on it. And I don;t know if a file would work on titanium. Maybe a stone instead. I like my wpork, and continue to use it in spite of having a plastic double ended spoon fork thing that likely weighs less.

Simon

[Neil Bender]

If I recall correctly titanium work hardens which is why it is so difficult to machine. Grinding it should work, but I also have heard that titanium is pyrophoric so it might give off a nice shower of bright sparks that burn in the air, not the usual red specks that grinding steel gives.

I think it's worth a try; I had the thought myself but just haven't gotten around to it.

[Roger Caffin]

> has anyone experience with sharpening an edge of a titanium spork for use as a knife?

I tried sharpening a titanium knife from a GSI cutlery set once. The result, *for the alloy they had used*, was pathetic. It was a bit like sharpening soft aluminium or soft stainless steel. I can only conclude it was a soft alloy or pure titanium.

I have also tried grinding a hard 6Al-4V titanium alloy. This stuff does grind, but you need to be a little careful as it does not behave like steel. Actually, it is as tough and hard as …

The sparks are not much of a problem in my experience.

Cheers
Roger Caffin

[Roger Caffin]

> If I recall correctly titanium work hardens
Not as far as I know – which may be limited.
The good 6Al-4V alloy does not *need* to work harden … but it WILL crack if you try bending it cold.

[Jason Klass]

Don't you run the risk of cutting your lip if you make an effective knife edge on your spork?

[Dan Bigley]

I was just thinking the same thing. That would be a little too dangerous for me. Personally, I rather carry a Ti knife than run the risk of slicing my lips wide open on a trail.

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