Titanium screws and other cool little parts.
 

Just ran across this site in a search for something unrelated.

But after I started perusing I realised, that some of these parts could go along way in special applications to increasing durability and decreasing weight in some cases.

Or in some cases, it might increase weight, but the increased strength may be worth it.

Has anyone else used this site, or know of a site that sells similar products?

http://store.rc4wd.com/Titanium-and-...rews_c_38.html

They also sell billet rod ends in sizes that our RC cars use.

I'm purchasing a set of billet M3 rod ends to use as the shock ends on my Losi 8ight.

Once you said, "rod ends", I thought to myself- RC4WD.com! Then I read the link.

Here's the thing with titanium- A 5 pound slab of titanium will be stronger than a 5 pound slab of aluminum. For the same weight it is stronger.

Now, a 100mm x 200mm x 3mm thick piece of aluminum will be heavier than a 100mm x 200mm 3mm thick piece of titanium, but which one is stronger really depends on the application.

On any r/c scale the weight savings and or gain in strength are negligible. You are just paying a premium to be able to brag about the exotic material you used.

I've seen more bent and ruined titanium skid plates off of maxx trucks than I care to admit. In my opinion they were no better than any aluminum skid. Honestly the spring steel r/c solutions made their skids out of worked better than titanium or aluminum.

Ti is cool and all, just not implemented well in the r/c world.

I whole-heartedly disagree with this statement. BUT I do agree that going with much cheaper 12.9grade screws are easier to come by if you lose some and are cheaper/stronger.

I looked at the aluminum ends from them but ended up using some bigger plastic ofna ends for my other project, But I think the bottom of the shock ends in aluminum would make a great cure to the stretching of the pastic! :smile:

Some people love their ti skids. I ruined them just as fast as aluminum.:yes:

Not quite true.. Titanium will always be heavier than aluminum if you look at the density.

My bad. People just assume it will be stronger and lighter for every application. My point was that it's not quite that simple. Just because it is Ti doesn't mean it is better.

I wish it were cheaper and easier to machine.

Titanium comes in many different grades just like aluminum. In fact there is no pure titanium it is all alloy of some type.

Titanium though will always be denser and thus heavier than aluminum at a specific given size. Like anything the right material in the right application is best. Titanium like all metals has its strengths and weaknesses.

RC4WD typically makes good parts but some people have had shipping issues ordering direct. I would go to an RC4WD authorized vendor to order. I will not name names out of respect to Mike and RC-Monster though.

I have both, skids and a titanium chassis for my Maxx I really like and am sure they are better than Aluminium for the application.

I understand that 12.9grade steel is best for screws when strength is most crucial. That is all I use.

I had issues with TI screws snapping on the shock mounts of my SCR...

I would have to agree and disagree with some of the above statements. Ti is VERY strong compared to aluminium and even steel, BUT as stated it's an alloy and it's strength is largley dependant on the mix and grade of said materials. Ive noticed alot of the ti in recent years has been crap. Not sure exactly why but just my experience. Honestly the weight savings is negligable unless your repalcing a large steel part like a turnbuckle. Yes the screws add up but shaving of 10g or so isn't much in the grand scheme of things. Aside from turnbuckles I've given up on RC grade titanium for the most part. Lunsford has always made good stuff but the set of hinge pins I bought for my rc8 was the worst investment ever. Threw them all out after a race night and they were all bent. No hard crashes either. I race pretty clean but I was done with them after that experience. My cars are pretty light as it is so I rock the steel screws cause they are cheap and fairly strong. Just my opinion fellas.