Tapered Ti Mallet Shafts

Submitted by maxwell on July 20, 2010 - 2:32pm

For sale

These were made as testing samples from a tubing company. They are 105 mm long, and tapered over about 20 cm in about the same fashion as a ski pole. They are made from 3Al/2.5V (or grade-9, if you're in the aerospace industry) seamless tubing, tapered, then annealed, giving them the same qualities as the tubing you find in high-end Ti bikes. They are the nearly the same thickness and diameter as an MKE pole, but due to Ti's higher density, they are slightly heavier. They have a tensile strength that is 1.5 times that of 7075-T6 tubes, and about 3 times that of 6061 alloys, the shear strength is comparably as high. In addition, they have a much higher elastic modulus, making them stiffer and more responsive...

...bla bla...bla, I know. I have to sell them for cost, as the money I was going to use to get the prices down and make a production run has since evaporated.

$60+shipping via paypal, will get you what you need!

July 20, 2010 - 5:49pm

Zachary-Blmgtn

Bloomington Bike Polo

So they're $60 per shaft?

July 20, 2010 - 7:03pm

ArenFry

Minneapolis Hardcourt Bike Polo

Wow that's expensive. Have they been tested at all? How do they hold up?

July 21, 2010 - 12:28am

Doug D

Send me one. I'll test it, photograph it before and after, then write and post a review.

Doug D
Brooklyn, New York
hardcourtbikepolo+gmail+com
hardcourtbikepolo.com

July 21, 2010 - 6:29am

retrodirect

Edinburgh

Tapered ti = good, which company made them up? was it an overseas job?

July 21, 2010 - 10:48am

maxwell

Yes, $60/shaft. It is VERY expensive when you consider that most people can get ski-poles for almost nothing, or they could order heat-treated varieties (albe'em untapered) from industrial supply or aerospace supply companies for around the cost of MKE or 1/8" shafts.

It's expensive because it's Ti, is I think the best way I can put it. The last few years hasn't been very kind to the price of Ti either (check the price of a Brooks Ti-railed saddle!). It is very difficult (unless you get very lucky, as a few people here have found!) to find a better price on this grade of Ti alloy in a reasonable length/diameter of straight-gauge tubing, let alone getting a taper rolled into it and having it post tapering annealed.

So, yes, it is expensive. It is also far far more durable and stronger than any alloy of aluminum.

In terms of polo properties, they are currently being tested...so far, so awesome!

July 21, 2010 - 11:25am

Rik

Berlin

could you please tell the weight of one of the shafts?

Rik
Berlin Bike Polo 2010
London Bike Polo 2008 - 2010

July 22, 2010 - 12:38pm

maxwell

All gone! Thanks for the support! I hope to have lighter, thinner shafts made as soon as my income stabilizes again. Hopefully we can work out a pre/group-order dealy.

July 22, 2010 - 1:45pm

eh jackal

East Van Bike Polo

overkill.

referees if necessary, but not necesarily refereeing

November 20, 2010 - 8:50am

camiloko

Barcelona

Got some more?

_______________________________________________________________
El Vaquilla hubiese jugado Bike Polo.

November 22, 2010 - 4:24pm

#10

polojoel

How bad do you want one? I'm holding on to one but not using it. Oakland Max may have another -- I could ask. Morgan may also have one he's not using, but I don't see him much. They were expensive to acquire and shipping to Europe....

These things are heavy. Cutting and drilling is a challenge. Aluminum is so much cheaper and readily available I can't see why titanium would ever be worth the time & money.