counterfeit titanium in Boeing and Airbus jets

[coppice]

This is part of Russian propaganda. It is common in Russia, as it was in the USSR, to create myths about Russian greatness. When the country lacks a promising future and has little to be proud of in the present, they glorify the past, often fabricating stories.

That story has been widely reported in reputable media, citing people involved in the SR-71 program. The US set up shell companies in third world countries through which to purchase the titanium ore from the USSR without the latter finding out.

E.G. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20130701-tales-from-the-blackbird-cockpit

The idea of it being Russian propaganda is amusing, as its a story of the USSR being suckered, and losing out. Its interesting that the US had to do this, though. Today Russian sources 15% of titanium, China sources 30%. The rest of the world sources the other 55%. So, its seems the US had a number of potential sources they were not really aware of. I guess the limited demand for titanium, because of the immense energy costs to extract usable metal from a plentiful ore means people had not sought out many good mining locations by the 1960s.

[armandine2]

I've just gone for the Titanium option - a backwoods stove 

... surprised to see it.

[Gyro]

I've just gone for the Titanium option - a backwoods stove 

... surprised to see it.

It's amazing to see how Ti processing technology has moved on.


P.S. My, not very expensive, Citizen watch case and strap are made of Titanium. Unthinkable (material availability and precision of machining) back in the '60s.

[themadhippy]

- a backwoods stove

Just remember not to use hexi tablets in it ,well not in the uk at least,you dont want to be classed as a terrorist.

[jpanhalt]

- a backwoods stove

Just remember not to use hexi tablets in it ,well not in the uk at least,you dont want to be classed as a terrorist.

Not being a camper, I had to look that one up.
From Wikipedia:

[themadhippy]

Not being a camper, I had to look that one up.

Just our governments over the top knee jerk reaction.lets hope they never did the exploding custard powder experiment at school or the future of dessert is doomed.

[wraper]

Not being a camper, I had to look that one up.

Just our governments over the top knee jerk reaction.lets hope they never did the exploding custard powder experiment at school or the future of dessert is doomed.

https://x.com/mpsregentspark/status/974645778558980096?lang=en

[Gyro]

Not being a camper, I had to look that one up.

Just our governments over the top knee jerk reaction.lets hope they never did the exploding custard powder experiment at school or the future of dessert is doomed.

Step away from the custard or the pudding gets it! 

[SeanB]

Not being a camper, I had to look that one up.

Just our governments over the top knee jerk reaction.lets hope they never did the exploding custard powder experiment at school or the future of dessert is doomed.

https://x.com/mpsregentspark/status/974645778558980096?lang=en

Yes they do not want any unauthorised learning or home repair going on, you must let the Nanny State come around, in 15 to 30 years, to change your light bulb, or fix your broken door lock.

[David Hess]

- a backwoods stove

Just remember not to use hexi tablets in it ,well not in the uk at least,you dont want to be classed as a terrorist.

I got that reference!  (without looking it up)

[Stray Electron]

- a backwoods stove

Just remember not to use hexi tablets in it ,well not in the uk at least,you dont want to be classed as a terrorist.

   I never burn Hex fuel tablets, I have better uses for it.

[Stray Electron]

Not being a camper, I had to look that one up.

Just our governments over the top knee jerk reaction.lets hope they never did the exploding custard powder experiment at school or the future of dessert is doomed.

https://x.com/mpsregentspark/status/974645778558980096?lang=en

   Don't laugh, that stuff does get counted as "bomb making material".  A friend of mine's bitter ex-wife called the ATF and told them that he had explosives, machine guns, etc and they raided his house and took away 40,000 pounds of "bomb making material".   That included EVERY book in his house regardless of the subject, ALL of his hand tools and machine tools and even the wooden work benches. They took all of of his gun cleaning supplies and all of his reloading supplies and all of his guns except one, which I will get to in a moment. They also took every kind of cleaning agent or any other kind of chemical that they could find in his house. They also literally tore down the wall board in every room looking for any hidden martial.  Ironically the one item that they didn't take was his suppressed 45 caliber Ruger camp carbine. Since it was already Federally registered, it was deemed legal and they left it behind but they took all of his other legally owned but not Federally registered guns and all of his ammo and all of his reloading supplies included empty fired brass.

   They never found anything illegal and they never charged him with anything but it took months of legal wrangling about $15,000 in legal fees before the ATF finally returned all of his property. And another $25,000 in repairs to his home.

[David Hess]

Don't laugh, that stuff does get counted as "bomb making material".  A friend of mine's bitter ex-wife called the ATF and told them that he had explosives, machine guns, etc and they raided his house and took away 40,000 pounds of "bomb making material".   That included EVERY book in his house regardless of the subject, ALL of his hand tools and machine tools and even the wooden work benches. They took all of of his gun cleaning supplies and all of his reloading supplies and all of his guns except one, which I will get to in a moment. They also took every kind of cleaning agent or any other kind of chemical that they could find in his house. They also literally tore down the wall board in every room looking for any hidden martial.  Ironically the one item that they didn't take was his suppressed 45 caliber Ruger camp carbine. Since it was already Federally registered, it was deemed legal and they left it behind but they took all of his other legally owned but not Federally registered guns and all of his ammo and all of his reloading supplies included empty fired brass.

   They never found anything illegal and they never charged him with anything but it took months of legal wrangling about $15,000 in legal fees before the ATF finally returned all of his property. And another $25,000 in repairs to his home.

ATF and the agents will be immune because they thought they had a valid warrant, and the judge who signed the warrant has absolute immunity, but could he sue his ex-wife for damages?

[coppice]

It's amazing to see how Ti processing technology has moved on.

P.S. My, not very expensive, Citizen watch case and strap are made of Titanium. Unthinkable (material availability and precision of machining) back in the '60s.

There certainly appeared to be a big step forward with titanium processing about 30 years ago, when those reasonably priced titanium watch cases, and similar products, started to appear. Googling I couldn't locate a description of what changed. Does anyone know?

[TimFox]

By the way, titanium is not rare in nature.
In the Earth's crust, titanium ranks 9th at 0.565% (by weight), between potassium and hydrogen.
See  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abundance_of_elements_in_Earth%27s_crust
(Other sources list titanium at 10th.)
Commercial production (again, by weight) is almost as high as for silicon (2nd in rank).
Refining titanium is more difficult than other popular metals, such as aluminum, iron, and copper.
Like most metals, the pure substance is not common for mechanical purposes requiring strength and appropriate alloys are used (just as steel instead of iron).

[paulca]

For some reason, this funky supply chain issue reminds me of a scandal with an industrial food manufacturer that at some point was selling products containing horse meat whereas it was advertised as beef.
 

You get a few cracking horse burgers at motorsport events in ireland.  The other popular name for them is "ball burger", cause you know the meat is going to be whatever was left over.

Still tastey AF though with some fried onions, cheese and red sauce.

[paulca]

- a backwoods stove

Just remember not to use hexi tablets in it ,well not in the uk at least,you dont want to be classed as a terrorist.

Not being a camper, I had to look that one up.
From Wikipedia:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-measures-targeting-bomb-making-materials-come-into-force

Terrorists win again.  Impacting our freedoms terrorising people with security threats.  When do we fight back instead of giving them what they want?

Actually.  All joking aside.  Do check the list of chemicals they are now enforcing "no sell" on.

Newly reportable explosives precursors:

Sulfur
Newly reportable poisons:

Metal sulfides and polysulfides 
Metal phosphides 
Sodium hypochlorite solutions (above 6% available Cl).

Newly regulated precursors: 

Hexamine 
Hydrochloric acid (over 10% w/w) 
Phosphoric acid (over 30% w/w) 
Ammonium nitrate (over 16% N)
Newly regulated poisons:

Aluminium sulfide 
Sodium sulfide 
Calcium sulfide 
Magnesium sulfide 
Calcium phosphide 
Zinc phosphide 
Arsenic compounds 
Mercury compounds
2,4- dinitrophenol (DNP) and compounds including sodium dinitrophenolate

I'm pretty sure I have some of those, maybe not in pure form, but in or with something else.

[SeanB]

Don't laugh, that stuff does get counted as "bomb making material".  A friend of mine's bitter ex-wife called the ATF and told them that he had explosives, machine guns, etc and they raided his house and took away 40,000 pounds of "bomb making material".   That included EVERY book in his house regardless of the subject, ALL of his hand tools and machine tools and even the wooden work benches. They took all of of his gun cleaning supplies and all of his reloading supplies and all of his guns except one, which I will get to in a moment. They also took every kind of cleaning agent or any other kind of chemical that they could find in his house. They also literally tore down the wall board in every room looking for any hidden martial.  Ironically the one item that they didn't take was his suppressed 45 caliber Ruger camp carbine. Since it was already Federally registered, it was deemed legal and they left it behind but they took all of his other legally owned but not Federally registered guns and all of his ammo and all of his reloading supplies included empty fired brass.

   They never found anything illegal and they never charged him with anything but it took months of legal wrangling about $15,000 in legal fees before the ATF finally returned all of his property. And another $25,000 in repairs to his home.

ATF and the agents will be immune because they thought they had a valid warrant, and the judge who signed the warrant has absolute immunity, but could he sue his ex-wife for damages?

Yes the one to sue is the ex, as she did it deliberately, you can sue her for weaponising the police against him, and SWATTING him, knowing he has done nothing wrong, and that none of this was true. Sue for the costs, the repairs, and the legal costs, and then go after her for the same amount for trauma, plus a restraining order forbidding her to come within 300 feet of him or his possessions.

[David Hess]

Yes the one to sue is the ex, as she did it deliberately, you can sue her for weaponising the police against him, and SWATTING him, knowing he has done nothing wrong, and that none of this was true. Sue for the costs, the repairs, and the legal costs, and then go after her for the same amount for trauma, plus a restraining order forbidding her to come within 300 feet of him or his possessions.

I suspect it comes down to the ex-wife being judgement proof.  It does not matter what the civil penalty is if she cannot pay it.

[Stray Electron]

Don't laugh, that stuff does get counted as "bomb making material".  A friend of mine's bitter ex-wife called the ATF and told them that he had explosives, machine guns, etc and they raided his house and took away 40,000 pounds of "bomb making material".   That included EVERY book in his house regardless of the subject, ALL of his hand tools and machine tools and even the wooden work benches. They took all of of his gun cleaning supplies and all of his reloading supplies and all of his guns except one, which I will get to in a moment. They also took every kind of cleaning agent or any other kind of chemical that they could find in his house. They also literally tore down the wall board in every room looking for any hidden martial.  Ironically the one item that they didn't take was his suppressed 45 caliber Ruger camp carbine. Since it was already Federally registered, it was deemed legal and they left it behind but they took all of his other legally owned but not Federally registered guns and all of his ammo and all of his reloading supplies included empty fired brass.

   They never found anything illegal and they never charged him with anything but it took months of legal wrangling about $15,000 in legal fees before the ATF finally returned all of his property. And another $25,000 in repairs to his home.

ATF and the agents will be immune because they thought they had a valid warrant, and the judge who signed the warrant has absolute immunity, but could he sue his ex-wife for damages?

   I can't say for certain but I sort of doubt it unless there is some way to Prove that she did it knowing that the information was false and that she made the claims with malicious intent.  Otherwise she can claim that she believed that was all of her claims were true when she reported them to the FBI/ATF. And she can still point the finger of blame at the FBI/ATF since they're the ones that actually inflicted the damage.

   Events didn't go this far but I know of several other cases where men were kicked out of their homes and all of their guns were seized based on claims by vindictive ex-wifes.

[SeanB]

Yes the one to sue is the ex, as she did it deliberately, you can sue her for weaponising the police against him, and SWATTING him, knowing he has done nothing wrong, and that none of this was true. Sue for the costs, the repairs, and the legal costs, and then go after her for the same amount for trauma, plus a restraining order forbidding her to come within 300 feet of him or his possessions.

I suspect it comes down to the ex-wife being judgement proof.  It does not matter what the civil penalty is if she cannot pay it.

True, but does entirely scupper any attempt by her to ever claim any sort of benefit from him, as he can always cite the case as proof of her duplicity.

[coppercone2]

lol that is going to be one dedicated terrorist to pull that off. I think they seem content to stab people at the moment.


I bought two titanium tweezers for etching PCB as a result of this thread


I am certain that the british chemical industry is dead though. Who the hell would even study professional chemistry unless you can play with chemistry set?

That kinda thing has far reaching applications. Like when they need to mail out things because there is no one interested in or doing electroplating. You know, to finish simple goods at a reasonable price.

England hates everything that is not white collar lol

[xrunner]

I bought two titanium tweezers for etching PCB as a result of this thread

Well why not - I see several kinds for sale on Amazon so I got me two pair. Who else on the block has titanium tweezers. 

[coppercone2]

I had titanium tipped for a long time but not full titanium. The ones that close by themselves might be useful for picking up cards or metal plating and even in the ultrasonic cleaner.


It seems that there is a market for chemistry handtools that does not really exist. They make the tools because their either non magnetic for MRI (super $) or poor thermally conductive for soldering jewels. But you need various tools to work on chemical baths.

There is some fishing tools, but these would need to be designed for easy washing. no pivots. The only one I think might be good is tweezers and a slip joint pliers with a nut  you can unscrew.

Also useful for rust removal and brush electrolysis (the future of metal working process IMO, fuck grinders)

https://www.amazon.com/WEDO-Lightweight-Non-magnetic-Die-forged-Petrochemical/dp/B09LL9P25F?th=1

its a bit much but there is no other metal tool you can dip in a chemical bath. plastic pliers are icky

but some people are into ECM machining, electroforming and other fairly 'heavy' processes that can actually do work. even dealing with problems for EDM might mean dipping pliers in water

[ArdWar]

Actually.  All joking aside.  Do check the list of chemicals they are now enforcing "no sell" on.

Surely those aren't outright ban right?
Like "no sell if no valid use case", or "sell but record everything", or maybe just UK's being UK needing license for everything.

I mean, some of those chemicals are very common. Maybe not random dude in a suburb apartment randomly need it kind of common but common enough that a farmer or small business may need it.
For example H₂SO₄ is battery acid and surely no one aren't going to distribute that entirely in diluted form. NaOCl is bleach, (NH₄)NO₃ is fertilizer etc. etc.

Also LOL at that poor handyman who got mugged by police...