Frame building
As a summer project I intend building my own frame most likely out of steel but even considering having a dabble with combining it with carbon fibre. I will probably cheat a little copying the dimensions (BB, seat post, h'bar positions) of my current bike but aside from my own vision of what i hope to build, can anyone give any advice or point me in the direction of good sources of info. Has anyone built there own and can recommend good suppliers of tubing, lugs or carbon fibre at reasonable prices? Any tips or help at all would be useful.
I know that walking into a LBS with £500 would be easier but im an aero engineer stuck behind a desk, itching to get back on the tools!
I know that walking into a LBS with £500 would be easier but im an aero engineer stuck behind a desk, itching to get back on the tools!
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Do you know the method of welding you will be using? TIG, MIG, fillet brazing, silver soldering?
Here are some links that may be of assistance, its taken me a while to trawl the internet to find stuff but it is there.
http://www.ceeway.com/Columbus%20Tubing.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/racine/framebuilding.html
http://www.timpaterek.com/tpmanual_pdf.htm0 -
I built my own frame many years ago. I used what was new then, Reynolds 653 tubing and Cinelli lugs and BB shell. Campag drop outs. I spent a good few weeks working out the required geometry (mainly from copying from established frame builders). Made a 1/2 size drawing, the took to my shed with materials and silver soldering kit and came out week later with fab frame.
Anyway, to start, see if you can get a copy of the imaginatively titled book DESIGNING AND BUILDING YOUR OWN FRAMESET by Richard P Talbot. Published by The Manet Guild ISBN0-96024-8-3-3. My copy was 2nd ediiton. I believe now out of print, I ordered my copy through my local library.
You might also try TOURING BIKES by Tony Oliver, The Crowood Press ISBN1 85223 339 7, again an invaluable source of information - materials, design, method etc.
Thirdly, look at the Frame Forum as suggested by Woolieferkins. Everything you need to know, and more, is there.
Try this fabulous website for information:
http://modikoso.com/nav/documents/cover ... erpage.htm
An extraordinary fellow doing fabulous work.
For simple jigs look here:
http://www.instructables.com/id/The-sim ... could-com/
If you want to have a practice I have a set of 653 tubes, some cast lugs, stops, bosses, dropouts etc I no longer need that I'd be pleased to sell on.0 -
If making a steel frame then it might be worth considering one of Dave Yates courses.
There is Downland Cycles as well.
The advanatages of a Dave Yates course are that you have access to his tools fixtures etc and his vast knowledge and experience to guide you.
A usefull book on brazing is by Tubal Cain.
Youtube has a lot of stuff on it Taylor Brothers etc.
In the youtube video of Jack Taylor. You see him hammering one of the head lugs, when Norman is heating/ brazing the lug , to close the gap. Something like that only becomes obvious why after you have built a frame.......... or several hundred.
If using Reynolds tubes:
http://reynoldstechnology.biz/assets/pd ... s_list.pdf
Some usefull info also here
http://www.nimbuscycles.co.uk/html/cons ... iques.html0 -
Hammering the lower head lug
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMA8X5pk2kI
Pair of pliers to squeeze the lower head lug, is to close up the gap that you can get.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AMfK1OS ... re=related
rodcycle.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXxJj28l ... PL&index=9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gb6TKNqS9Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrC5xlwbFQc
Titanium
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tt5ZxrCwc0
Carbon Fibre
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAdVO8Rk ... re=related
http://www.carbonology.com/carbon-fibre ... ao3mm4u5b70 -
Many thanks to you all for the advice and links, really appreciated!
Its 25 yrs since I did welding during my apprenticeship but I cant help giving it another go. Just out of interest, could I arc weld 0.6mm thick tube to a lug or cleanly mitrered assembly of tubes (bottom bracet area) as I have an arc welder?
If not, I will watch youtube and have a go at TIG welding. How much would you want for the set of tubes etc proto?
again, thanks to all for the replies0 -
"could I arc weld 0.6mm thick tube" that is one of those if you need to ask then......
probably not
MMA (manual metal arc) is no use for bike frames.
Lug (curiously) a word used as bike slang for capillary fitting.
Capillary fittings are used when brazing or silver soldering.
If using thin tubes such as Reynolds 653 then silver soldering might be best.
If Tig welding then capillary fittings not relevant.
Tig does require practice.
Have a look at
http://www.daveyatescycles.co.uk/
courses0 -
^ if you want to practice brazing lugs, you could always get an old gas-pipe frame (I will have one for sale in the near future) and braze it apart and then braze it back together again.0
