r/metalworking • u/_Hashtronaut_ • 2d ago
What could I potentially do with these?
Hey everyone. I was recently presented with an opportunity to take home a bunch of old blades from a large gas turbine. Since I have many interests and hobbies and have a hard time saying no to free things that I find slightly cool, I now have a bucket of blades that I dont know what to do with quite yet.
Im not positive on their composition, but from a few quick searches it seems like they are probably made of inconel or a similar alloy. I figure I will find a use for them eventually, but I wanted to ask if any of you have any ideas for what I could do with them. Ive never personally worked with this type of alloy, but I know it can handle high temps and is difficult to machine so my options are probably limited. Thanks in advance for any input
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u/nocloudno 2d ago
six hydrocoptic marzel veins so fitted to the ambient lunar wayne shaft that side fumbling was effectively prevented
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u/carloseloso 2d ago
You could fluxambulate a pretty nice turboencabulator with all those
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u/violet_sin 2d ago
That's rad!!! I also have a hard time saying no to interesting objects, mostly metal. Pile of stainless exhaust parts, copper and brass, it's ... A liability lol.
But turbine blades sound like an upper eschelon kinda random scrap 🔥👏 congratulations
Seems like you could make a couple rings and neat letter opener from the blade part, small hammer head from the base.
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u/_Hashtronaut_ 1d ago
I feel you on that front lol. Ive got piles of all kinds of metal, wood, random bits from equipment, fittings, old 3 phase transformer, etc. Running out of places to make new piles
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u/madphroggy 2d ago
A lot of scrapyards and most precious metal dealers have an xrf gun these days, might be worth calling around and asking if someone can hit them with one just to know the composition. To my knowledge turbine blades shouldn't be made out of anything hazardous, but working in a scrapyard I saw enough weird alloys made for specific use cases that it's worth knowing for sure, just on the off chance that something in the alloy requires specific working precautions or PPE
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u/Agouti 2d ago
- As someone else said they'd make great trophies or parts of a sculpture.
- You could potentially build your own small scale turbine with them for a hydro generator.
- They might make decent palm knives with a wooden handle around the tang/key.
- Water feature obstacles
- Shelves for miniatures
- Sell to be melted down and reforged. Inconel and Titanium both fetch good scrap metal prices.
- Surfboard fins? Someone might like the idea of having them made from metal instead of the usual plastic.
- Possibly useful for a glassblower or such?
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u/justin_memer 2d ago
Aren't these made from high quality titanium?
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u/_Hashtronaut_ 2d ago
Some are, these ones are pretty hefty and were from an industrial gas turbine. Titanium ones are more common in aircraft/aerospace from what I understand
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u/Rantlers90 1d ago
Yea the compressor blades in gas turbine engines in aircraft are usually titanium. These days the turbine blades are generally a nickel based superalloy (titanium can’t handle the heat in the turbine stages) and are pretty hefty, but they have holes for cooling/weight reduction. Are they magnetic?
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u/jecstir2112 2d ago
Hahaha i was thinking you could DIY something like that... its like analpgy of turning on stove to boil water but if you trace it back to it's source... they're only boiling water too
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u/Holehoggerist 2d ago
Hmmm i’d guess probably not as exotic as you think. Looks like frame 5 or 6 from a steam compressor unit. Probably 403/410 SS.
Neat and all but really not too useful or valuable.
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u/Fuzzy-Finance-48 1d ago
Inconel is a superalloy. If they ARE inconel, there isn’t a whole lot you can do with them. You could forge them, but you have to keep it between 1700-2200 degrees or it will crack or lose its properties. It isn’t even a good metal for knife blade. I’ve never tried to machine it, that I know of. But who knows, I’ve machined a bunch of unknown metals. I do know it welds really nice, with tig. With stick? Not so much… not easy or fun at all unless you enjoy swimming in flying volcanic fire meteors.
You could probably use them for skids on a home use snow plow or something that sees a lot of moisture and salt, it’s fairly resistant to rust. 🤷♂️
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u/_Hashtronaut_ 1d ago
Kind of hoping its not inconel so I can have more options to play around with them at this point.
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u/mr_teapotts 17h ago
It’s not inconel (I have direct experience in the field), these are from the compressor side of the turbine, not the combustion side that has to uphold a higher temp. Likely a version of stainless steel.
It Is possible they are all the exact same hight if they are from the same stage, so you could layout a cool coffee table or a couple side tables with these near the top. Slot the table top to nest and secure them, or like others have said, etch them and find an eclectic restaurant, that would be cool
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u/_Hashtronaut_ 11h ago
Awesome, thank you for the info. Im not very well versed in turbines and the differences in blades, so this was helpful. Im assuming that I have blades from multiple stages as there are a few different sizes varying from ~3" - ~6". I also have some smaller ones (like 2" tall) that feel like they are a different material, but Im not sure if they came from the same unit.
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u/Top_Historian4539 1d ago
If these are from a gas turbine, they are from the compressor section, not the hot section.
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u/OkConsideration8605 2d ago
Those look like they came from a blade blending class room. We had similar when I went through that class. Practiced on real blades
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u/Which_Initiative_882 2d ago
Personally, I would see if hitting them with a torch could get some bluing going. If not, turn them into trophies/table art. If they do, turn them into COOLER trophies and table art.
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u/OilPsychological9372 2d ago
Gas turbine, look at it this way, you already have the blades so may as well finish the job right 🤷♂️
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u/Proton_Energy_Pill 2d ago
Those look like compressor blades, not turbine blades as they have no cooling holes. They're probably titanium or some lightweight steel alloy.
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u/_Hashtronaut_ 1d ago
Yeah, all I was told was that they were off of a turbine. Not sure what its use was, but they are quite hefty for their size.
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u/Penne_Trader 1d ago
The face these kinds of metals make when you try to work them...
I would try everything i could think off but be prepared to be rewarded only with experience 😅
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u/Critical-Advisor8616 1d ago
Time to buy that fancy laser engraving machine and put cute cat pictures on them then sell them at art shows.
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u/sorestgore 1d ago
If reddit taught me anything this weekend it's that whatever facility manufactured these blades does not allow people to use and carry ballpoint pens.
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u/HoIyJesusChrist 1d ago
If they are inconel, it's no fun to machine, assemble them as they are into lampshades or something
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u/popmuzik01 1d ago
Everything is a butt plug if you are brave enough. Seriously tho, they look like they would make great blades in a water wheel for a hydro power project I am working on.
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u/Born-Work2089 1d ago
Those blades are very hard to work with, special tooling required. Sell for scrap but such a small quantity won't bring much.
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u/Erki82 2d ago
You can calculate density by measuring weight and volume. Volume is best measured with water method. Titanium is about half the iron density, so you could make sure are they titanium or iron alloy.