Why is Titanium so COLORFUL? - Making/Anodizing Titanium Chopsticks
Summary
TLDRIn this video, the creator shares their hobby of making titanium chopsticks, detailing the process from machining to achieving vibrant colors through heat or electrolysis. The tutorial covers lathe techniques, precision, and the science behind the colorful titanium oxide layers, offering a relaxing and educational experience.
Takeaways
- π¬ The video discusses various scientific projects, including a maglev laser table and a microfluidic flow cell, alongside the creation of titanium chopsticks for relaxation.
- π οΈ The presenter uses a metal lathe to create titanium chopsticks, emphasizing the importance of precision and the use of a carbide insert for ease and quality of cutting.
- π Titanium is highlighted as an affordable material for making chopsticks, with enough material for seven pairs costing around $50.
- π The chopsticks are not only aesthetically pleasing but also serve as great birthday presents, with some being sold for over $100 a pair on Etsy.
- π The process involves mounting titanium, using a live center for support, and careful turning to achieve the desired taper and shape of the chopsticks.
- βοΈ The importance of maintaining a true and steady lathe operation is stressed to ensure the quality of the turning process.
- π¨ The video explains the science behind the vibrant colors seen on titanium chopsticks, which involves the growth of a thin layer of titanium dioxide through heat or electrolysis.
- π¬ Thin-film optics is introduced as the reason for the colorful appearance of the titanium, where the thickness of the oxide layer affects the interference of light, creating different colors.
- π₯ Two methods for achieving the colors on titanium are presented: using a blowtorch and electrolysis, each producing different visual effects.
- π οΈ Electrolysis offers a more controlled way to achieve specific colors by adjusting the voltage, with the oxide layer's thickness determining the color through light interference.
- π¨ The final product is a durable and permanent coloration due to the hardness of titanium dioxide, which can be removed only through sanding if a different color is desired.
Q & A
What are some of the projects mentioned in the script that the speaker has been working on?
-The speaker mentions working on cold fire, rainbow gecko tape, a frosting robot, microfluidic flow cells, a maglev laser table, and a hobby of making titanium chopsticks.
Why does the speaker find making titanium chopsticks a relaxing hobby?
-The speaker finds making titanium chopsticks relaxing because it is not only a creative process but also provides a moment of Zen, especially with the new metal lathe.
What is the cost-effectiveness of making titanium chopsticks according to the script?
-The speaker states that titanium is not very expensive, costing around 50 dollars for enough material to make seven or more pairs of chopsticks, which is a great value considering some people sell them for a hundred dollars or more a pair on Etsy.
What is the importance of maintaining precision when making multiple pairs of chopsticks?
-Maintaining precision is important to ensure that the chopsticks match in terms of size, shape, and design, which presents a greater challenge when making more than one pair.
What is the role of a live center in the process of making titanium chopsticks?
-A live center is used for tailstock support to prevent the titanium, which is a very bendy metal, from flexing while carving the pointy end of the chopsticks.
How does the speaker ensure a smooth and even surface finish when cutting the chopsticks?
-The speaker suggests slowing down the cutting process, especially for the last pass, to maintain an even speed and achieve a better surface finish.
What is the significance of adding grooves to the chopsticks for extra grip?
-Adding grooves provides extra grip to the chopsticks, as titanium can be slippery, preventing the Raman (chopsticks) from being dropped.
How does the speaker ensure that the two chopsticks are identical in their design and measurements?
-The speaker uses a pair of calipers to regularly take measurements and make sure that the tapers, grooves, and lengths are the same for both chopsticks.
What is the science behind the vibrant colors that appear on the surface of the titanium chopsticks?
-The colors are a result of thin-film optics, where a thin layer of titanium dioxide forms on the surface. The thickness of this layer, comparable to the wavelength of visible light, causes light to interfere with itself, creating the vibrant colors.
What are the two methods mentioned in the script for achieving the colors on titanium chopsticks?
-The two methods mentioned are using a blowtorch and electrolysis. Both methods involve the formation of a thin layer of titanium dioxide, but they differ in their application and control over the color formation.
How does the electrolysis method for coloring titanium chopsticks work?
-In the electrolysis method, a piece of titanium is connected to the anode and another piece to the cathode, both placed in an electrolyte solution. As voltage is increased, an oxide layer forms and grows until it reaches a thickness that causes interference of light, resulting in the appearance of colors.
What is the advantage of using electrolysis over the flame method for coloring titanium chopsticks?
-The electrolysis method allows for more controlled color formation, as once a desired color is achieved, the voltage can be kept constant to replicate the same color on multiple pieces. It also avoids the risk of burning fingerprints into the pattern.
How does the speaker ensure the permanence of the colors on the titanium chopsticks?
-The speaker mentions that the titanium oxide is an incredibly hard material and is very attached to the surface, making it quite permanent unless intentionally scratched.
What is the final step in the process of making the titanium chopsticks before coloring them?
-The final step before coloring is sanding the chopsticks to break any sharp edges and to remove scratches, which also helps in achieving better color results.
Outlines
π§ Crafting Titanium Chopsticks: A Break from Intense Projects
After engaging in complex scientific projects, the creator takes a respite by delving into a more relaxing hobby: making titanium chopsticks. This activity not only serves as a calming pastime but also results in beautiful, personalized gifts. The process involves using a metal lathe to shape the chopsticks, which requires precision and careful handling of the material. Titanium's affordability and the potential to create multiple pairs from a single purchase make it an attractive material for this craft. The video promises an in-depth look at the science behind the vibrant colors that can be achieved on the titanium surface, hinting at the fascinating interplay of science and art in this endeavor.
π¨ The Art and Science of Coloring Titanium Chopsticks
This paragraph delves into the technical aspects of crafting and coloring titanium chopsticks. The creator discusses the process of shaping the chopsticks on a lathe, emphasizing the importance of maintaining precision for a uniform appearance. The video covers the steps of cutting, tapering, and adding decorative elements like grooves and bud shapes. The science behind the coloring of titanium is explored, explaining how the formation of a thin layer of titanium dioxide through heat application leads to the vibrant colors observed. The interference of light waves as they reflect off the titanium surface is described, revealing the optical phenomena responsible for the colorful patterns. The creator also touches on the use of electrolysis as an alternative method for achieving these colors, providing a scientific yet accessible explanation of the process.
π Achieving Iridescent Colors on Titanium and Gifting Chopsticks
The final paragraph of the script concludes the process of creating colored titanium chopsticks and discusses the gifting aspect. The creator explains the use of a blowtorch and electrolysis to achieve the desired colors, detailing the voltage ranges and the resulting hues. The video highlights the permanence and durability of the titanium oxide coating, which makes the colors resistant to wear. Additionally, the creator demonstrates the creation of a chopstick rest from Delrin, a material known for its durability and ease of machining. The script concludes with a reflection on the educational value of the project and an invitation for viewers to engage with the creator's work on social media, emphasizing the joy of sharing knowledge and craftsmanship.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Cold Fire
π‘Frosting Robot
π‘Microfluidic Flow Cells
π‘Maglev Laser Table
π‘Titanium Chopsticks
π‘Carbide Insert
π‘Live Center
π‘Compound Angle
π‘Thin-Film Optics
π‘Interference Pattern
π‘Electrolysis
Highlights
The creator has been working on a variety of challenging scientific projects, including cold fire, rainbow gecko tape, a frosting robot, microfluidic flow cells, and a maglev laser table.
This month, the creator plans to work on even harder projects that have been in progress for years, but also takes a break to explore a hobby of making titanium chopsticks.
The hobby of making titanium chopsticks is described as a moment of Zen and a way to maintain sanity amidst intense scientific work.
Titanium chopsticks are not only visually stunning but also serve as great birthday presents, and the material cost for making multiple pairs is quite affordable.
The process of making chopsticks involves using a metal lathe and maintaining precision to ensure that each pair matches perfectly.
A detailed guide on how to safely and effectively work with titanium on a lathe is provided, including the use of a live center for support.
The importance of achieving a true run on the lathe before starting the turning process is emphasized for quality results.
The creation of a compound angle is crucial for shaping the chopsticks, with the choice between one or two degrees affecting the taper's elegance.
The art of cutting titanium involves taking slow and careful cuts, especially when developing the taper for the chopsticks.
Adding extra grip to the chopsticks is discussed, with a technique described for creating triangular impressions for better handling.
The necessity of matching the angle and measurements on both chopsticks to ensure they are identical is highlighted.
The process of rounding out the pointed end and removing the divot with a file is explained to refine the chopstick shape.
Decorating the chopsticks is presented as a personalized step, with examples given such as carving a flower bud.
The coloring process of the titanium chopsticks is explored, revealing the science behind the formation of vibrant colors through heat.
The use of a blowtorch to achieve color on titanium is described, detailing the progression of color changes and the science of thin-film optics.
An alternative method of coloring titanium using electrolysis is introduced, offering a controlled way to achieve specific colors.
The permanence and durability of the titanium oxide coloration is mentioned, noting that it is hard and resistant to wear.
A final touch of creating a Delrin chopstick rest is added to complete the set, showcasing additional craftsmanship.
The video concludes with gratitude to the channel's supporters and an invitation for viewers to engage with the content and follow for more.
Transcripts
over the last couple of months we've
done a lot of really hard science we
made real cold fire rainbow gecko tape a
frosting robot microfluidic flow cells
and a maglev laser table and later this
month I've got some even harder projects
I'm finishing up that I've been working
on for years frankly I needed a break so
this week is gonna be a bit different
and hopefully a little bit more relaxed
today we're gonna look at a hobby I used
to stay sane which is making titanium
chopsticks I've made a lot of artsy
things over the years and while wood was
my go-to material of choice ever since
we got the new metal lathe chopsticks
have become my moment of Zen I
especially love them because they're not
only stunning but they make for
incredible birthday presents for my
friends and Titanium really isn't that
expensive 50 bucks worth and you get
enough material to make seven or more
pairs of chopsticks and considering I've
seen people sell these for a hundred
bucks or more a pair on Etsy that's
great value it's also great machining
practice as anytime you've got to make
more than one of something the challenge
to maintain precision so that they match
is far greater so first I'm gonna take
you through the process of making these
and then we're gonna talk in depth about
how I get these incredible colors
there's actually a lot of surprisingly
interesting science that goes into how
those colors are formed which we'll talk
about later let's hop right in and get
started for all the work you'll see
today I'll be using a fresh half-inch
carbide insert steel can cut titanium
but carbide just makes this much easier
and I find gives a nicer finish if
you're careful after mounting some
titanium in my three jaw Chuck we're
gonna start with the facing cut for now
you don't need a lot of the titanium
sticking out an inch or so is plenty
titanium is a very bendy metal so when
we go to turn it we have to add a live
Center for tailstock support so that way
we can carve the pointy end of our
chopsticks without it flexing out of the
way after the facing cut I mounted my
drill chuck and Center drill in to the
tailstock this was used to make a small
divot that the live Center can seat into
with that done the titanium can be
extended much further out of the Chuck
and the live Center is added it's
important that you get everything
running as true is physically possible
before you start turning so if there's a
bit of wiggle when you turn on the lathe
stop adjust the tailstock and retighten
everything once you're happy with how
things are running we can set our
compound angle for my lathe this is done
with two bolts and I typically set the
indicator to either one or two degrees
for chopsticks two degrees goes faster
and is very usable but one degree
we'll give a longer more elegant taper
choose whatever you feel most of this
process is done by how you're feeling
about the piece so make it your own and
adjust however you want lock your angle
in and then we can start cutting cutting
titanium especially a piece this thin
and bendy is best done slowly I usually
take no more than 5,000 slowly develop
your taper when you're getting close to
having your whole taper established
you'll want to change how you take your
cuts normally for the first few I'm
pretty aggressive with how quickly I'm
moving the carriage back and forth to
take my cuts but that doesn't give a
very good surface finish for the last
pass you'll want to slow down how fast
you're moving everything and try and
maintain as even of a speed as possible
my lathe doesn't have power feed to cut
tapers so it takes a bit of practice to
do this by hand and get good results if
it's not perfect that's okay we'll be
sanding and adding other ornamentation
in a moment but the better this is the
less work you have to do later for this
particular pair I felt like adding a
little bit of extra grip as titanium can
be slippery and no one likes dropping
the Raman you'll want to reposition your
cutter to be pointing directly at the
metal so that it leaves nice triangular
impressions move the cutter to line up
with the end of the chopstick and then
set your dial on your horizontal control
wheel to zero so that you have a
reference then advance the wheel by some
increment here at Joe's five divisions
and take a light cut by plunging the
tool into the titanium slowly then back
out the tool move another five divisions
and repeat now because we need to make
two identical chopsticks we need to do
this whole same process to the other one
before we do anything else this makes it
so that our angle will be identical as
we haven't moved the compound and will
let us make any necessary adjustments to
the back ends afterwards it can be a bit
tricky to make things match so take your
time and use a pair of calipers to
regularly take measurements make sure
that your taper is the same length and
that the grooves line up properly and
then you have the same number of grooves
before we work on the back ends move the
chopsticks to be much further into the
chalk so it doesn't flop around and use
a file to round out the pointed end and
remove the divot we added earlier now
for the back ends we start by making
sure that the pair are the same length
when you order titanium they don't cut
them all will be perfectly the same
length so we need to make a few small
adjustments before we carve the rest of
the ornamentation on the back stay in
both chopsticks up on a piece of
mechanically flat metal there's lots of
parts on the lathe that fit this
description but use whatever you have
then figure out how much you need
to remove from one of the pair to make
them even with those adjustments done we
can go back to decorating I'm gonna
carve a little flower bud on the end but
you can use whatever you feel like round
them out carve rings it's art so there's
nothing mandatory at this point I
adjusted the compound angle to be 20
degrees and with just a small amount of
the end sticking out of the Chuck I
started taking passes I stopped when the
end wasn't a sharp point but still had a
small blunt tip remaining I adjusted the
angle of the tool to cut the right sort
of triangle to complete the lower part
of the bud shape and after lining up the
tool I just plunged it in slowly when
the shape was basically how I wanted it
I moved on to adding two more grooves
below this again I set my dial to zero
but this time I took a larger step of
about 20 divisions again the tools
plunged into the work to make a groove
this is repeated a second time to make a
second groove the same way at this point
all that's left is to use the file to
round out the edges and to make the ends
dome didn't get the shape I want repeat
this with the second chopstick and tada
you've got a beautiful pair almost ready
for color room the last step is sanding
because I chose to add this grippy
texture I need to go in with some folded
sandpaper and break all the little edges
so that it isn't sharp when you put it
in your mouth then just general sanding
on the rest of the piece to remove any
scratches and get it all looking shiny
and nice the better job of this you do
the better the colors will be in a
moment so be sure to take your time and
do a good job don't forget to turn the
piece around and get the back end as
well after that I rinsed the chopsticks
off camera and gave them a little wipe
with some isopropanol to remove any oils
that we contaminate the surface at this
point it's important not to touch the
metal as any oil from your hand will
either mess with the color formation or
burn a permanent version of your
fingerprint into the pattern which if
that happens you'll probably need to
resend everything and start the coloring
process again
so you'll notice I handle everything
with a paper towel to prevent that or
only grab areas I don't intend to add
color to now there's two ways to get the
colors that chemically do the same thing
but in two different ways they give
different looks fire and electricity
we're going to start with my preferred
method which is a blowtorch but we're
gonna come back to electricity in a
moment as it has a lot of advantages
over the fire method but also some
downsides it's really a dead simple
process and you just aim the torch at
the metal and let it rip you want to
keep the torch moving as heating one
area too fast will make the colors
appear too quickly and often you end up
overshooting the color you were aiming
for
the colors always appear in the same
order and we'll talk about why in a
second it starts with a light yellow
then gets more bronze than pinkish and
purple then vibrant blue once you hit
blue it'll start to lighten past that
point and eventually it'll hit a silvery
white if you keep going you can get
another round of colors but they're
usually muted comparatively so what's
happening here and why is titanium so
magically colorful all of a sudden well
we're really just growing a thin layer
of titanium dioxide which has
interesting optical properties titanium
isn't actually the only metal that will
do this and steel works as well by
growing a thin film of iron oxide on the
surface of steel it can also be made to
have a fantastic blue color though
titanium usually has more vibrant colors
and it's easier to get this to work the
reason this works is because of
something called thin-film optics with
both titanium and steel the powder form
of the oxides are just a solid opaque
color white for titanium or red or black
friar and respectively
but in these thin layers they're
actually reasonably transparent the thin
films that grow also happen to be just
about as thick as the wavelength of
visible light which gives rise to really
interesting optical effects to
understand this let's first think about
what happens when you shine a light beam
into water when the light changes
mediums that is goes from propagating in
air to propagating in water the beam is
bent at a specific slight angle this is
known as refraction and is why when you
put something like a chopstick in water
the bits sticking out of the water
doesn't line up with the image in the
water at the same time some of the light
doesn't actually enter the water at all
and it's just reflected off the surface
the other important thing to know is
that the amount that the light is bent
is also dependent on its color we can
see this when we shine a white light
through a prism and is wide light
spreads out into a rainbow different
colors are bent different amounts when
they're refracted through the same
material the same thing is happening
with the titanium dioxide films but with
the titanium the layer of super thin and
has the wonderfully reflective backing
of the titanium metal now when a light
beam hits the surface some will be
reflected immediately while some will
penetrate and be reflected off the
titanium this introduces a very slight
time delay between the light that's
reflected immediately and light that had
to go all the way through and back out
light has wave-like properties and as
such it can interfere with itself
picture this sort of like ripples in a
pond in areas where too
Ripple's overlap they can either get
bigger or smaller depending on how
they're lined up if two Peaks line up
you get a bigger peak for a moment
that's the sum of both if two valleys
line up you get a value that's deeper if
a peak and a valley line up you may get
Stillwater for a moment
you can actually see this happen with
light really easily and this was first
demonstrated with the classic double
slit experiment the idea is that when
you shine a light through a pair of thin
slits it behaves just like the pair of
ripples on a pond in areas where the two
waves add constructively together you
get a bright spot and in areas where
they add together destructively you get
darkness
this gives the characteristic
interference pattern of lines one
interesting thing to notice is just like
the refraction example this behavior
changes slightly by color so using
different colored lasers you can see
that as you move through the spectrum
towards blue the pattern compresses and
would continue to get smaller as you
approach UV light or if you use a white
light you get rainbow bands where red is
further out and blue is closer to the
middle for the same reason with our
layers of titanium that time delay
caused by the light having to go through
the titanium dioxide makes the light
behave in the same way as if there were
two beams interfering as the layer gets
thicker there's this sweet spot where a
particular color of light always happens
to bounce and add together to be
constructive while everything else adds
together to be destructive so to us this
looks like the metal being a specific
bright color this is actually the same
reason why soap bubbles and oil films
look iridescent sometimes and if you
want to see this for yourself all you
need is a tray of water and some thin
oil that will spread over the water
nicely
I found that bacon grease happens to
work especially well for this you want
nice soft light not direct light and a
small drop of oil on the tip of a skewer
or glass rod when you stand at the right
angle and touch the rod to the surface
of the water the oil will spread out and
for a moment that thin film effect is
obvious the colors are changing because
the thickness of the oil is changing as
it spreads out which adjusts how the
light is interfering with itself in this
case though the second reflection
happens at the boundary between the
water and oil instead of bouncing off
the titanium with bubbles it's the inner
and outer surface of the liquid that are
the two reflective layers in this case
so long as the layer is the right
thickness you can select for any
particular color you want which is
actually the basis for things like
dichroic mirrors that we've used in
previous videos so now that we know it's
the thickness of the oxide and
interference of light that controls the
color a more controlled way to do this
is to use electrolysis let's set up a
little electrolysis cell to see this in
action here
using a solution of sodium carbonate
also known as washing soda I didn't use
any particular amount and I literally
just threw some in the electrolyte
doesn't even really matter and this will
work with just about anything that I
would avoid things with chloride in them
not because it'll interfere but because
you run the risk of releasing a bit of
chlorine which is definitely not good
for you
hence the choice of sodium carbonate
I've prepared a piece of titanium by for
sanding and cleaning it and then
connecting it to the anode which is the
positive wire of my power supply I'm
using another scrap piece of titanium
for the cathode and both are simply
placed into the electrolyte solution
when we turn on the power very quickly a
layer of oxide will form on the titanium
but once that oxide layer forms it very
quickly stops growing as the layer
itself inhibits the reaction to grow a
thicker layer we need to increase the
voltage as we do this we're providing
more energy to the reaction to overcome
that passivating effect of the growing
layer once the layer gets thick enough
and the voltage is high enough we start
seeing colors form the nice thing with
this is that once you've dialed in a
color you like you can keep growing the
same color on piece after piece of
titanium by leaving the voltage
unchanged between runs this chart shows
a rough approximation of what color
you'll get at which voltages and it's
reasonably accurate but keep in mind
it'll vary based on the electrolyte you
choose and the concentration so you will
have to experiment a little bit but
let's walk through the whole spectrum as
with the flame method it starts yellow
at around 5 to 15 volts slowly getting
more bronze until you get purple at
around 25 volts by about 30 my power
supply maxed out but it's more than
sufficient to get a beautiful blue color
to get the higher voltages I'm using the
DC 2 DC voltage converter from my gel
electrophoresis setup it can't do low
voltages so it skips pretty quickly to
the second yellow as I continue to crank
the voltage we eventually get this
phenomenal red color and then as we pass
a hundred volts we eventually get a
really gorgeous purple and then finally
a dark green one thing that's really fun
is to crank the voltage really high and
then dunk the part and slowly pull it
out to get a rainbow effect it takes a
second for the oxide to grow so if you
remove part of the metal only the bit
that's still in the liquid will continue
to grow and if you're ever not happy
with the color you can always just sand
it off and try again
the best part is unlike a dye or a stain
or paint titanium dioxide is an
incredibly hard material and it's very
attached to the surface so it's quite
permanent unless you really go out of
your way to scratch it and at that point
you're scratching the metal itself all
in all no matter what technique you use
the end result is going to be a gorgeous
set of chopsticks which anyone would
love is a present
they require only the most basic tools
if you've already got a metal lathe and
are an especially good first project as
you will learn a lot to go with this set
I also whipped up a little chopstick
rest out of my favorite material Delrin
a few minutes with a file to give it a
flat bottom and the set was complete and
ready to be given to my friend so thanks
for coming on this journey through my
little hobby I know that was probably a
lot more information than you thought
you were going to get when you clicked
on the video but if you made it this far
thanks for sticking around and I hope
you enjoyed I'd planned on it being a
much shorter video but when it came time
to talk about how the titanium colors
worked I realized it was a much deeper
rabbit hole than I'd originally intended
as always I need to say a huge thank you
to the patrons and supporters of the
channel who make these videos possible
if you've enjoyed be sure to subscribe
and ring that bell to see when I post
new videos and if you're looking for
more the art to your things I do then
leave me a comment or follow me on
Instagram to see these sorts of projects
more often that's all for now and I'll
see you next time
Browse More Related Video
The Cutting Edge of F1 | The Machine Shop | How It Works βοΈ
Metal Lathe Basics Tutorial | How To Use A Metal Lathe
Titanium - Periodic Table of Videos
EKSPERIMAN!! MEMBUAT HUJAN PELANGI DARI MINYAK GORENG..
Design for Manufacturing Course 8 Part 1: CNC - DragonInnovation.com
CNC Mill Tutorials - 5 - Drilling, Reaming, Tapping and Boring
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)