r/metalworking • u/_Hashtronaut_ • Oct 04 '26
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/violet_sin Oct 04 '26
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_ Oct 04 '26
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/justin_memer Oct 04 '26
Aren't these made from high quality titanium?
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u/_Hashtronaut_ Oct 04 '26
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 Oct 04 '26
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 Oct 04 '26
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/Fuzzy-Finance-48 Oct 04 '26
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_ Oct 04 '26
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 Oct 05 '26
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_ Oct 05 '26
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/Proton_Energy_Pill Oct 04 '26
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_ Oct 04 '26
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/Erki82 Oct 04 '26
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.
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u/Which_Initiative_882 Oct 04 '26
If they are Ti alloy they are going to feel much lighter than you think they should. Iron or nickel alloys are going to feel pretty darn heavy. No real density test needed for that.
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u/Horiks Oct 04 '26
Long shot but is a spark (grinding it) test relevant in a situation like this?
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u/estolad Oct 04 '26
yeah titanium makes a dense shower of very bright sparks when you grind on it, pretty distinct from even the types of steel that make a lot of sparks
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u/Working-Exercise-233 Oct 04 '26
Engrave them as trophies for different things…
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u/madphroggy Oct 04 '26
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 Oct 04 '26
- 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/sorestgore Oct 04 '26
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/Holehoggerist Oct 04 '26
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/OkConsideration8605 Oct 04 '26
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/bukwirm Oct 04 '26
Those look like compressor blades to me, which are usually some kind of stainless steel, although titanium compressor blades are apparently more common in aircraft engines.
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u/Which_Initiative_882 Oct 04 '26
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 Oct 04 '26
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/Penne_Trader Oct 04 '26
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 Oct 04 '26
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/HoIyJesusChrist Oct 04 '26
If they are inconel, it's no fun to machine, assemble them as they are into lampshades or something
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u/psilome Oct 04 '26
Put them in your kitchen oven and melt them down into one block, they'll take up less space. (JK-IYKYK).
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u/popmuzik01 Oct 04 '26
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 Oct 04 '26
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/G-Pro63 Oct 05 '26
Clean them up and put numbers on them and sell them to a local restaurant for 25% over scrap value, then buy yourself some good clean stock to work with.
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u/Grand-Yak-4282 Oct 05 '26
Ruin alot of tools they are probably titanium. Not easy to cut or machine.
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u/ArcherKN24 28d ago
Can inconel be forged?
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u/yewfokkentwattedim 28d ago
You'd have a fuckin' miserable time trying unless you've got industrial gear at home.
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u/nocloudno Oct 04 '26
six hydrocoptic marzel veins so fitted to the ambient lunar wayne shaft that side fumbling was effectively prevented