| Total Views: 205 - Total Replies: |
|
| POSTED BY: Gabe on 01/18/2008 | 07:39 AM |
|
Are ya'll out there? Do you braze or TIG? Steel or somthing else? FS or SS? Hoby or Pro? Smokebikes wants to know.............we are a couple of hacks who ain't scared to heat up some pipes. I know there are ideas out there so let it flow....
--------------------------------------------------------------
Smokebikes..........mountain fixies
|
|
| POSTED BY: Mickey on 01/18/2008 | 10:06 AM |
|
I wish I could braze or Tig, but everything I do looks like popcorn. I suck at it...
--------------------------------------------------------------
I don't remember...
|
| Back To Top |
|
| POSTED BY: Gabe on 01/18/2008 | 10:24 AM |
|
I bet with practice and some limited instruction you can lay it "smooth"......all it takes is a clean miter and about 1200 degrees.  It's cool when you start to see an improvement and the fillets flow. When we started it was not so pretty but despite the lumps the fillets were strong. Now all it takes is a little Pink Floyd in the background, plenty of fuel, and some inspiration.....resulting in something that rocks and can take a Pisgah style beating. It be cool to "form" a clan of homies that build and roll thier own...................... 
--------------------------------------------------------------
Smokebikes..........mountain fixies
|
| Back To Top |
|
| POSTED BY: Blarshon on 01/18/2008 | 12:33 PM |
|
Gabe- I met Thad at last year's PMBAR. My partner rode the fixie he raced on. I think you and I have crossed paths sometime too. I'd like to come by yall's shop sometime and check it out. I remember asking one of you guys what shop experience you had when you started building frames. The reply is etched in my mind 'cause it is one of the funniest things ever.... I hail your entrepeneurial spirit 
|
| Back To Top |
|
| POSTED BY: Mickey on 01/18/2008 | 02:24 PM |
|
Gabe, you should start a Blog about the process you apply to building you custom frames. I for one would really like to see the whole process with details and photos... that would be really cool to see. Where do you get your steel from, some local supplier?
I've been wanting to learn how to weld for quite some time. I've got a rod welder that I use for fabricating bike racks for my Jeep. I've actually got a project I'm working on now to build a bike rack for my swing away tire rack, you can see it in my blog: http://mtbpath.com/riders/blog/view/id_2/title_the-jeep/ I need to give the rack mounts some more thought so I can get the bike low enough to get through the garage.
--------------------------------------------------------------
I don't remember...
|
| Back To Top |
|
| POSTED BY: sthrnfat on 01/19/2008 | 07:39 AM |
|
Yeah - I'm really interested to hear how you got started and how you get materials to build with.
I worked in shop back in the day, and snagged a broken warranty frame that was headed to the dumpster and tried to repair it. I used the correct rod and prepped like I should, but with my stellar welding skills it ended up looking like I had wrapped a big wad of chewing gum around the tube.
I painted it (with Krylon's finest) and got some stickers made up and the bike officially became 'The Rump Shaker'. I rode the bike for years as my beater bike and really abused it. It was a great bike to have when I was between bikes or something was screwed up on my main bike - like old reliable. It eventually broke again - right next to my beautiful weld. Guess I weakened the area when repairing the first time around and it finally gave up.
I really liked the fact that I was able to bring it back from scrap into something that was actually a pretty good ride. Building something from scratch would be pretty cool.
|
| Back To Top |
|
| POSTED BY: Gabe on 01/19/2008 | 09:41 AM |
|
It's definately gratifying to create your own bike. It takes a small investment (relative I know) and some time and patience but once you figure it out you are empowered.............
I have started a "blog" with the intention to post pics and such of things going on in the shop........http://smokebikes.blogspot.com/
As far as sources and such, the internet provides much information as ya'll know. We get our tubing from Nova Cycles, Henry James, CeeWay, and AirCraft Spuce. At the Nova site you can find some pretty cool kit options for under $100.......I particularly enjoy working with new unused tubes but early on I chopped up a few frames to create my "Suicycle" and practice brazing.
A good way to start is to go the lugged route and attempt to build a frame that uses lugs through-out, that is.....drop outs to head tube and every thing inbetween. By doing it that way you can avoid having to buy an oxy/air torch and use a simple MAP gas set-up which run about $30.............
If ya'll are ever in the neighborhood of Bent Creek and u want to talk shop over a few brews stop on by.............
--------------------------------------------------------------
Smokebikes..........mountain fixies
|
| Back To Top |
|
| POSTED BY: Gabe on 01/19/2008 | 09:47 AM |
|
--------------------------------------------------------------
Smokebikes..........mountain fixies
|
| Back To Top |
|
Howdy folks,
How much interest do y`all think there would be in getting possibly a separate
forum for 'Homebuilders" Garage Shop" builders etc.
We have always thought it would be way cool to encourage a regional development of just average folks,average riders( kinda like Gabe and myself) to learn to build their own frames.
It does take some $ for equipment but not as much as one would think. If a group of good friends in your area,say 2-3 people commited to learning through trial and error an investment of no more then $750-1000 per person would get you the equipment to get going on. Good steel( True Temper,Columbus,etc)
and drop-outs ,etc will cost you about $150.00-$180.00 per frame and a lot of your time.
I still have and can ride the first frame i built. The lugs,braze joints are a thing of ugly, the frame was`nt straight and the geometry was off from what i intended. I made bad mistakes that i wouldnt do now but thing is i rode and beat the f out of that frame same as Gabe did on his first one.
Like Gabe said it is empowering and very liberating "rolling your own".
We really are not about being "custom framebuilders" out to sell frames. We are more about building and riding our own frames and would really love to encourage more folks to get into it, especially in this region...then we can have a "homebuilders" gathering,showcase...and drink beer...
|
| Back To Top |
|
The concept rocks, put me down!
I have always wanted to learn how to roll my own. So tell me, once you learn this skill can the same be applied for welding Ti?
|
| Back To Top |
|
|
