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You can turn titanium on a small home lathe. I have done it on mine (12x36" Enco). Use a slow cutting speed (around 20 feet per minute for high speed steel cutting tools, up to 100 fpm for carbide tools) and relatively high feed rate (>20 mils/cut minimum). And use lots of coolant while you cut.
I tried it for the first time right after the competition last year, making a friend's wedding ring. I was worried about all the "mystery" of working with titanium, but it turned out to be very easy. It cuts and finishes very nicely, and seemed easier to work with than a lot of steels. Have fun!
-dave
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All opinions expressed herein are the result of too much time with too little to do.
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