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One-Off Titanium has been making titanium rings along with our bicycle frames since 1986, far longer than any other ring company. I made the first titanium ring at the request of a bicycle frame customer while I was one of the owners and running the shop at the then fledgling Merlin Metalworks. Now, many years later we find we have competitors. That is fine, there is room for us all, but we do object when we find other ring makers spreading misinformation.

"What alloy of titanium do you use?"

We have been getting this question from customers more and more. The quick answer is that, just like all the other titanium ring makers, we have access to all the different alloys. At first I was confused as to why anyone would ask or even care about the alloy. The different alloys of gold are actually of different value. But, unlike gold, the different alloys of titanium do not cost the manufacturer more. The materials cost for a titanium ring is minimal, no matter what the alloy. I have now seen competitor's descriptions of this issue and I am compelled to straighten out some deliberate misinformation. First of all, what are the differences between CP (commercial pure grades 1 through 4) and the higher strength alloys? The difference in strength, though fairly significant when making bolts of bicycles, is absolutely unnoticeable to the ring wearer. The difference in machinability is very slight. To claim that aircraft grade titanium is harder to machine is also a myth. Some machinist even prefer the stronger alloys for production runs because they are less gummy. None of these subtleties are relevant to making or wearing a ring from titanium. The difference in hardness, could conceivably be noticeable if one did a side by side comparison test, but for the ring wearer, there is just about no way they would ever be able to tell. They all cost the same and are all readily available . To charge more for 6-4 or 6-6-2 is a marketing gimmick. To claim that "true aircraft grade" titanium rings are unavailable elsewhere is a lie. To charge more for aircraft grade titanium and to claim it is more desirable than other alloys is simply dishonest. So to answer the question, "What alloy do you use?" We use titanium. All our rings are guaranteed never to rust, and to be light, strong and made to the highest standards. Mike Augspurger