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Titan Gold
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X-Pole's Titanium Gold Poles have an ‘Electrostatic coating’ on top of Chrome. The process uses a vacuum chamber with charged coating particles which are projected towards the parts and then applied using a powerful electrostatic charge.
X-Pole has always advised on our web sites and brochures since we started that T-Gold, as it is often referred to, is an electronic coating that enhances grip. We have never said that the poles were actual Titanium material. The name was picked up 8 years ago when we introduced the finish. It was the name given to the colour range by the supplier and it stuck!! In hind sight maybe we should have given it a different name at the time but we in turn have always explained in all our promotonal material that it was a coating.
In the early days of X-Pole we did discuss the use of Titanium as a material due to its lightness and durability but were advised, at that time, that it would be expensive and difficult/costly to produce as it needed special tools to machine.
Have seen the Titanium material price comments on Veena that has intrigued the development team and so we have already gone back to the factory to ask the questions once again and see what the situation is now.
One may suppose that like many materials volume is a key factory and the use of Titanium in aircraft, electronic goods, dentistry etc., may have driven volumes up and prices down compared to 6~7 years ago.
As advised above we are asking the question and will reply when we know more. That may possibly be a while as it’s Chinese New Year next week and so the development centre at the factory will be closed for 10 days.
Please bare with us and we will reply soonest.
X-Pole Tech Team
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Just piping in, my husband's wedding ring is titanium and cost us $45. Mine is white gold and was $200-some. (As of now, 3 years later, it's still quite "white.")
I mentioned this to him and his completely non-professional perspective is that titanium itself is dirt cheap, but it's also really difficult to work with and handle, requiring special tools and processes. That's where the manufacturing cost comes from, not the raw material itself.
Normally I really dislike yellow gold in terms of jewelry and stuff, but I LOVE my TG X-Pole! I named it "Goldeneye" when I got it. 🙂
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Interesting…I have danced on TG's that have faded and found the grip to be a bit better than chrome – placebo effect? lol!
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Yes, that is the issue with titanium…it is definitely more difficult to work with. You cannot size a titanium ring like you can size gold (melting point of Ti is about 1650C, whereas gold I think is about 1064C). But is is an extremely durable metal.
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Our experience with TG is that it can fade or discolour but the grip always stays. We believe it must be the pigment in the coating that fades whereas the coating itself does not and remains.
We have a TG that is 5 years old and in places almost chrome coloured but it’s still really grippy.
Now we will have our own centre for development we will be able to test and experiment daily. If anyone one is in UK/London at any time (once we are fully open with our offices downstairs) you are more than welcome to come and play. Your product thoughts and opinions are invaluable to us.
X-Pole The Team
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