Has anyone played around with titanium? I love the sound of stainless steel and was wondering if titanium sounds similar or totally different. Basically, I don’t want to spend the $55 just to find out 
Thanks,
Tom
Is there one available, or are you considering making a prototype?
Could be great for backpackers.
Just fooling around, mostly. I’ve made and bought some fipples I like and have been just throwing different tubes on them (aluminum, stainless steel, brass, etc) to find out which sounds I like. Titanium is just a little too expensive.
I guess I’m just asking if anyone can compare the sound of Titanium to other whistles out there.
Thanks,
Tom
I only have experience with titanium model helicopter parts. It was used to replace soft steel rods. There is (for lack of better description) a flexable memory in titanium making it harder to machine.
Are you using it just for whistle tubes?
Probably sounds similar to Aluminum they are both lightwedight alloys. Now my name is on all three boards as last to make a response 
If anyone wants to experiment, here is one source: http://www.smallparts.com/products/descriptions/tt.cfm
Rod
Titanium is the hardening alloy in T-8 Aircraft Aluminum tubing. Used, for example, in ultralight aircraft. Most sources of this tubing can give you information on high Titanium content aluminum tube.
Silicon bronze is another relatively rust free alloy for whistles and is easy to machine on the lathe. It is commonly used as “boiler pipe”. It polishes to a beautiful gold. Generation whistles use an alloy of bronze, not brass, for their whistle bodies. Annealed Bronze,Brass and Aluminum can also be “spun” into fancy candlestick shapes from thin sheets or tubing. This method is used in the manufacture of silverware candlesticks etc.
If you must have “pure” Titanium, I suggest you search for it in aircraft scrap yards for a cheap source. Most engine turbines are full of it.
I have a titanium whistle made by Pat O’Riordan. It is very sweet and a lot like my Burke. I believe this was a prototype.
Liz
That’s acutally where I’ve been getting the tubes from. I love the sound of stainless steel, but not aluminum. I’ve worked with titanium in other situations, so I think it should be a very clear, crisp, almost flutely sound. But, I could be wrong…
Thanks,
Tom
That’s the idea. I’ve been getting the tubes from “smallparts.com” and they offer a titanium one, but it’s a little more expensive. Just wondering if anyone had experience with it before I make the investment.
Thanks,
Tom
Someone gave me some inconel tubing once from the aircraft industry to try to make a high-D whistle. I still have to find equipment that can drill this stuff - it killed my coping saw blade and didn’t even scratch the stuff.
Arent these both Elements?
I think it would be a natural to play the Titanic theme on! 
Bob
Tom (Tharker)
Would you consider copper tubing? This material is easy to shape on the lathe,can be heat tempered in a small kiln and is a breaze to silver/gold/crome plate in a glass apple cider jug with the top cut off. Most modern “silver” flutes are german silver (nickel) plated copper.
If you dont want to mess with smelly plating, you could just apply common metal “leaf” to the exterior and coat it with clear acrylic(?)
Actually, copper was the first metal I tried and I love the sound. I just pick up tubes from Home Depot. They’re very easy to cut, drill out holes, and connect to different fipples. Getting involved with a lathe is out of my league I take the lazy man’s route.
Tom