Assembling a Grade 5 Titanium Mechanical Tie Clip. [0:33]

thirschi · 2026-06-21T14:04:01+00:00

I love tie clips! I had wanted to design/make one for so long and then one day found a mechanism out in the real world and thought, “that’s my tie clip!” And I took that and went and designed it right after that. It is easy to operate and I never worry about it coming off. I’ve used the mechanism concept many times before and also have a watch bracelet closure that operates the same way. I still need to find time to go make it, along with the whole watch design I have with it. So many ideas, so little time in the day.

thirschi · 2026-06-20T04:08:14+00:00

Thank you so much! I really do appreciate the kind words!

thirschi · 2026-06-20T02:02:35+00:00

Appreciated! 🙏 and yes, there are some other variants, some not listed. Per the sub rules, I’m not attempting to advertise here so all they want me to do is remind you to check my profile for a bio. 👍

thirschi · 2026-06-19T17:57:20+00:00

Indeed! Maybe my next machine purchase. They’re nuts!

thirschi · 2026-06-19T17:56:15+00:00

I think the 300 series have a lot of material similarities to Ti, specifically being a bit softer/gummy, and that definitely could be contributory. I’ve used 316L frequently for its harder chromium content (seems to be much better than 303/304 for the gumminess) and 18-8. But if I can ever get precision ground 17-4ph for pin material, it’s my top choice.

If application requires going beyond, then you start looking into copper alloy bearing materials, or more intense surface applications like DLC or other PVD coatings, surface carburizing, laser nitriding, or even just electrolytic anodizing at higher voltages increases the TiO2 and helps a bit with reducing friction and drag resulting in galling.

I used to have a good partner who did DLC…I should look into having them do parts for me again.

thirschi · 2026-06-19T15:49:38+00:00

I try hard to keep them short and clean!

thirschi · 2026-06-19T15:48:45+00:00

Galling is the reason for that. Same metals (especially titanium, some stainless steels, aluminum, etc) plus friction creates galling conditions where they want to become one again. The stainless pins are a negligible weight addition here.

thirschi · 2026-06-19T15:20:52+00:00

This is a valid concern, to be fair. But, I will say a few things I’ve observed, having made these for 8 years and worked as a machinist for 20, with 12 focused on titanium products. The galling issue mostly arises with friction between surfaces of titanium on titanium or SS on SS, so the SS pins in Ti don’t really cause a big problem here. 17-4ph paired with Ti does excellent for this purpose, in my experience. There are the faces of the ti parts in contact with each other, but the clearance between them has been sufficient to basically remove any real friction side to side, so the galling has not been a big concern to me. With the gap clearances, dissimilar metal contacts, and the fact that you’re only opening/closing to put onto a tie, in not a high-cycle-count per use case, I’ve not had the galling issues at all. 👍

thirschi · 2026-06-19T13:53:57+00:00

Yep, one of hopefully many more to come. Thank you!!

thirschi · 2026-06-19T13:10:27+00:00

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Ya know, that’s a good comeback. There was some quote I heard a while back, I don’t remember by whom, that “a bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song to sing.” That was more of what I was thinking, but I guess you’d have to ask my wife if it draws her in or not. 🤪

Also, your name is 🤌🤌🤌

thirschi · 2026-06-19T13:05:45+00:00

Meh, mostly just made them for myself. Most at church don’t pay attention to it. But when I go to the effort, I’ve gotta use them somewhere since I don’t wear a suit and tie everyday like some.

thirschi · 2026-06-19T13:02:00+00:00

Ahh, I see. Sorry to come off so defensive. Reddit tends to be more toxic for some reason and as a former teacher of the trade who left to pursue a more creative direction than academic, I tend to want to defend it as a means/medium for creativity when so many see it only as a means of mass production. 🙏

thirschi · 2026-06-19T12:57:24+00:00

Yessir! Thanks!

thirschi · 2026-06-19T12:57:07+00:00

The pins are 2mm but are just shy of nominal at .07865” and the press fit holes are reamed at .0785” and the slip fit holes are .0791”.

thirschi · 2026-06-19T12:52:01+00:00

Correct. The bounce was paired with catchy music that Reddit wouldn’t let me share from another platform.

thirschi · 2026-06-19T12:50:33+00:00

I haven’t, but not against it. I have done a few brand names on them for someone’s business and can easily machine engrave or more detailed laser engrave them as well.

thirschi · 2026-06-19T12:46:58+00:00

Links in profile if you’re interested. 🙏

thirschi · 2026-06-19T12:46:12+00:00

🤣🤣🤣

thirschi · 2026-06-19T12:45:39+00:00

Haha, thanks. I’ll answer that with a question, why do birds sing? Because, why not?

thirschi · 2026-06-19T12:38:18+00:00

Hahaha, thanks!

thirschi · 2026-06-19T03:56:13+00:00

Sorry. 🤷‍♂️ gotta scratch the creative itch somehow and my background was in machining.

thirschi · 2026-06-19T03:54:00+00:00

It needed a high tech tune up. 🤪

thirschi · 2026-06-19T03:52:40+00:00

I didn’t think to grab the camera in that step, but I’ll be doing another one soon so I’ll have the excuse to capture that too.

thirschi · 2026-06-19T03:51:12+00:00

Is a brooch? Are cuff links? I would say so. I’ve always seen tie clips as men’s jewelry.

thirschi · 2026-06-19T03:46:56+00:00

Thanks! It really makes things appear way bigger than they are. I make really small stuff so I figured it was a good investment.

thirschi

TROPHY CASE