Sold/Expired Pre-payment thread for titanium 3pc SF-III. ENDED!

[ArsMachina]

Henk,

I had the very same thoughts especially because to knurl Ti is such a bad business.
The risk to completely destroy the look of a light with a bad knurling is quite high...
And until now I did not see a picture of a knurled Ti SF III that would make me really happy :-(

Remember the Titanium LionCub.
TNC tried to knurl these lights and failed.
So someone decided just to add some grooves to the lights and finally that was much more than a poor compromise...

Here a picture of my Ti LionCub with the extra long tail showing the nice grooves:

The head of the SF III already has these nice, deep grooves.
Why not taking up this pattern and making some more, light grooves to the head and batterytube ???

But you are right, even without any more grooves the light looks awesome !!!
Probably here again counts the rule "less is more"

@ Mike: What are the news about the knurling of the Ti SF III?
Is there already something decided or even done?
Would it be possible to get my Light just plain without any knurling?

Jochen

 

[arewethereyetdad]

Frankly, I like it plain. Seeing the pics makes me wish I'd've signed up for this one. :candle:

 

[Henk_Lu]

I opt for a plain one as well! :thumbsup:

I just had a look at my titanium lights, most of them have actually no knurling, custom manufacturers who are used to titanium don't seem to like knurling, they mostly work with bigger higher and lower surfaces or just go plain...

There's enough grip on this beauty without a knurling!

 

[ArsMachina]

One thing making that unbeatable charisma of the classic SF III is for sure it's wonderful fine and smooth knurling.

And I definitively had that knurling in mind when Mike started to talk about a reproduction of his classic three piece SF III

Probably I did not want to accept the truth that this knurling will never be possible with Titanium.
As a proof we saw the first try of TNC with a rolled on knurling what totally failed and the milled knurling which will give a totally different look to the light - and I have to admit that I do not like it too much.

It is crazy that we needed to see the pictures of a plain light to realize that it will look best without any knurling, but that is what I feel today.

Jochen

 

[arewethereyetdad]

Well, if you end up going with knurling, take a tip from Henry (HDS). His titanium Ra lights have some of the best knurling around. Maybe he's got the answer. Also, Tom Anderson (Artistry in Titanium) never seemed to have a problem with knurling:

My Tom Anderson Stubby Kubatons in 6AL-4V Ti:

 

[donn_]

Enrique (Muyshondt) also turned out some pretty nice Ti knurling.

 

[ArsMachina]

Uhh, that Ti knurling is really looking phantastic !!!
But Tom is really an absolute specialist when it comes to machining Titanium.
From all what I know TNC is not and he will probably not be able to produce such a perfect Ti knurling...

Jochen

 

[gjg]

But Tom is really an absolute specialist when it comes to machining Titanium.
From all what I know TNC is not and he will probably not be able to produce such a perfect Ti knurling...

Jochen

It may be worth Mike's time to contact Tom about the knurling - in the long run it could be less costly than having some expensive, machined pieces of Ti ruined. Plus, it could increase customer satisfaction:thumbsup:.
gg

 

[ArsMachina]

I agree with gjg, a perfect knurling would increase the customer satisfaction a lot ;-)

Mike stated before that TNC wants some extra money for the knurling.
I do not want to discus TNC's business culture here but I would be willing to spend some extra money for a really perfect knurling.
And with really perfect I mean something like Dad showed us from Tom Anderson and not what I have seen from TNC regarding Titanium knurling so far.

If that is not possible for any reason I would prefer to get a completely unknurled light.

Jochen

 

[chipwillis]

I like it plain also, I would like knurling if it was perfect.

 

[cmacclel]

Mike stated before that TNC wants some extra money for the knurling.
I do not want to discus TNC's business culture here

You have no idea what arrangements Mike and TNC had. If "I" as a machine shop quoted a job as I have done in the past and it turned out much more diffucult I would just say....Sorry I cannot do it for the quoted price. The fact that around 20 lights have all already been paid for is a completely different subject. I feel sorry for Mike and wish I could be of some help but I would not even attempt to knurl 6al-4v titanium.

Mac

 

[luxlunatic]

If it comes down to the milled diamond pattern or plain, I would rather have a plain smoothie.
Looks really good plain IMO.

 

[calebra]

the smoothy looks absolutely gorgeous Mike...

 

[TnC_Products]

Well, if you end up going with knurling, take a tip from Henry (HDS). His titanium Ra lights have some of the best knurling around. Maybe he's got the answer. Also, Tom Anderson (Artistry in Titanium) never seemed to have a problem with knurling:

My Tom Anderson Stubby Kubatons in 6AL-4V Ti:

Those look really nice. Now about the knurling.. Were they machined on by a lathe or were they rolled on by a grinding shop? The same way threads are rolled on by grinders. Also, those are not on a smooth body, the knurling is on a raised diameter. Unlike the rolled knurling on the original SF-III aluminum lights.

 

[easilyled]

Those look really nice. Now about the knurling.. Were they machined on by a lathe or were they rolled on by a grinding shop? The same way threads are rolled on by grinders. Also, those are not on a smooth body, the knurling is on a raised diameter. Unlike the rolled knurling on the original SF-III aluminum lights.

I guess a PM to Tom Anderson would answer these questions pretty quickly.

 

[Henk_Lu]

It would be nice to hear what the actual plans are here! :candle:

I admit that I can't really stand the long term silence...

 

[chipwillis]

 

[ARC mania]

Will have an update in the next 24 to 48 hours.

ARC mania

 

[ARC mania]

Sorry I haven't received anything from TNC yet as he was having a really difficult time with the knurling on the standard grip. The combat grips are finished and TNC mentioned he would send pictures by Friday.

I don't know if there would be anyone interested in a SF-III titanium combat grip but there are three spares available which will be machined once the standard grips are finished . Will need $1150.00 each.

ARC mania

 

[ArsMachina]

Mike, are now all standard grips already knurled or is it possible to get the light without any knurling?

Jochen