ltwguns.com

I have 3 titanium builds at the shop where I am really pondering the Tripp Carbonization on the rails. I spent a little time on the phone with Virgil -Outstanding Gentleman by the way - and he seems to have sold me on the application.

I figured I would stop in and ask the smiths here for a little insight...any suggestions or comments?

Thanks in advance.
Bob

Bob, I'll be looking to you for info on this one-- I was not aware of the finish.

But I do share your impression of Virgil, I've had many an enlightening conversation with him.

I forgot... the carbonization is not an overall finish, it is just embedding carbide into the frame and slide rails to keep the Ti from galling and reduce the friction ratio. He says it isn't pretty on the application, but makes the action "act" like it isn't Ti on steel or Ti on Ti.

From what he says, you can hard chrome over it on the slide, and teflon coat the bottom and all should be good.

Does anybody know who will chrome Ti?? I talked to Virgil and Accurate Plating. Neither does this. My father owns one of the Ti frames and he keeps telling me he wants it chromed.

Take care and thanks for the quick reply Ned.

Bob

You all will have to help me with this one. There is a bullseye gunsmith, Ed Masaki that has been welding the rails of stainless bullseye guns for years. I think he told me he TIG (?) welded some metal on to the rails of the frame. When he tightened the frame to slide fit, there was less change of galling.

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Lester Wang

I know of Masaki, and his ability to build a good wad gun, but not sure if he is welding carbon steel into the stainless. Some smiths do frame welding to tighten the fit, but that is a difficult process. I have done a little welding on my personal guns to correct some galling marks durring fitting.

This is off topic for the intended thread though.

Sorry,
I forgot to mention. I heard that Ed has done those for titanium frames also.
Lester

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Lester Wang

George Smith at EGW has had this process applied to a bunch of guns and it has always worked out well for him. I know George pops in here from time to time so he might chime in, if not you could shoot him an e-mail and ask him what he thinks of it.

I swipped this picture of the 1911 forums of a Nighthawk Ti frame with Tripp carbided rails.

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"Domari Nolo"

That is what I wanted to see....and Virgil was right, it is ugly. Does anybody have any firsthand knowledge of the fit and performance after the application is applied?

Sorry if I rubbed you the wrong way Lester, I didn't mean to come off that way.

Man, that looks bad, but if it works, it works.

Does EGW offer this application too, or does George have Tripp do it for him?

Thanks in advance.
Bob

As I said George thinks very highly of the process.
Tripp.

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"Domari Nolo"

I've had Tripp do it to Ti frames and I think it's worth while. The fit wasn't changed and it ran slick.

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shop.HarrisonCustom.com
www.HarrisonCustom.com

The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for.

Thats what I wanted to hear. Thanks for the insight guys.

Bob

I had it done at Virgil's suggestion. It all crumbled out like sand after 50 rounds, though.
-R