Soldering/Brazing non-ferrous to Titanium?

[Shyningnight]

Hi!
Relatively new poster... Have had to take a bit of break from my various metalworking hobbies (Knifemaking included) to pay the bills...

I've been itching to get back to MAKING stuff!

Been daydreaming of various things and a couple items on eBay caught my attention;
Titanium rings, many with non-ferrous inlays (gold, silver, and even a couple with copper-nickel silver Mokume).

I've machined a couple parts from Titanium, and remember failing miserably trying to solder/braze Titanium to STEEL with the solders and fluxes on hand ("the usual" types for general work...).

So what exactly does one use to solder or braze silver, gold, copper, nickel silver, brass, etc to titanium?

Heck.. I don't even know if this is the best forum to post this question!

Back to watching the (bad!) news of the evening... and ruminating about cable damascus, and where I can re-set-up my forge and tools after a "hiatus"...

Thanks in advance for tolerating a potentially off topic question!

Paul F.

[tom mayo]

I dont know much about this subject, but I seriously doubt if you can solder anything to titaniuim.........the flux used ETCHES the materials, and I dont think ti will etch..........nothing touches that stuff except acids that you dont want anywhere near anyone you know.

[Shyningnight]

I had sort of thought the same thing... but then how/why is there such a thriving trade in 6al-4V Titanium rings with strips of gold, silver, platinum, and Mokume of various compositons inlayed and APPARENTLY soldered or brazed in place?

Maybe it's a process too difficult or requireing inert atmospheres and such, but it appears at least technically possible...

Of course... I could be wrong, and the inlays are glued in place or some such...

Paul F.

[Steve]

I'm sure Allen can help you:

http://www.elishewitzknives.com/