The bicycle thread

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I've been wanting to start a bicycle themed thread for awhile now. If any of you guys do any frame building or custom assemblies, it would be cool to see them. Post 'em up! I'll be giving an inside look into how I do it here as well.IMG_0189 by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrIMG_0126 by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrIMG_0201 by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrIMG_0220 by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrIMG_0260 by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr
Reply:Very nice work, I went through your flickr I like it.Miller Maxstar 200 SDPiperliner #10 Gold
Reply:SSSHHHHhhaaaWwwing!200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:Does this count?  One of my high school autobody students built this from a 20" bmx for SkillsUSA competition. Attached Images
Reply:Here's my bike that I built back in 03'.You are way beyond my attempts Zank, very nicely done.Awesome fixture by the way (I forget the name, Paragon maybe?)I made some for my friends too.Here's a link to my photobucket bike pics.http://s174.beta.photobucket.com/use...postlogin=trueBuy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:zankIt's about time that someone like you showed up; new -  but old school.Second to fourth photo, you left a lot out.No pun intended, but flame the forum with your technique.Opus
Reply:making a start on a chopper style bike with kids next week.got a load of bikes they have grown out of or accumalated over years were going to use.been looking on the atomic zombie site at some of their ideas.
Reply:Great Work Z.  I enjoy looking at bicycle frame work. I have much respect for bicycle frame builders.  I built a track frame 1996.   Raced it at the 1996 olympic trials at Trexlertown PA.  Used Combination Of Richard Talbot "designing and building your own Frame set"   and Tim Patarek  Framebuiling manual.    I have fabbed a coulple of recumbents.  Look forward too seeing post from frame builders.
Reply:Awesome job Zank, it looks amazing.I'm also interested in seeing your method. This has been along time interest of mine but not really knowing were to source the materials has made it tough, that and time, hah. I had met a local guy who builds custom bikes but he was not to thrilled on telling me were he sourced his material from. He was kind of a dick to be honest.One of my first interviews as a welder was at Seven Cycles but, lack of experience pretty much knocked me out of competiton.
Reply:Years ago I always wanted to build a BMX frame.  Pretty straight forward fixturing wise (if you only want to make one and you're not in a rush).  I never got around to it.  Closest I came was repairing a couple old Stardard Trail Bosses w/busted seat stays. I reached out to the builders at FBM and they proscribed a process. They stayed together.  I was impressed with their willingness to share info with a harmless stranger. Very cool.Lugged road frames and Ti is a whole nother world!  Great stuff.Syncrowave 300Maxtron 450, S-52E, 30A
Reply:I'm so excited that there is interest in this thread. I love reading the stories. Funny how there are already a few stories showing the spectrum of how willing (or unwilling) some builders are with helping people who are interested in the craft. I've always wanted to give back. I guess it just depends on a person's personality and how confident he is with his business. We'll just leave it at that.I'll definitely get more info up on the brazing. I am working on videos too. I generally build the front triangle first and make sure the alignment is where I want it before adding the rear end. The copes are the same as if it was a welded frame. Fit up is just as important with lugs. Any gaps and the frame will pull. After I dry fit the front end and make sure everything is how I want it, I clean everything extremely well, coat everything in flux, assemble it back in the fixture, and then do a small tack braze on all joints. Then I pull it out of the fixture and check the alignment. I can still make some corrections if I need to. Then I braze it fully and recheck. Here is what I am shooting for in terms of alignment. IMG_1748 by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrIMG_1749 by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrIMG_1750 by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrIMG_1751 by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrIMG_1752 by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrIMG_1754 by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrI was pretty happy with that one. Mick, the extra flux just makes it a lot easier to soak off and clean. It really saves me a ton of time in the long run.
Reply:Neat. Whos surface plate?  I've never seen one what wasn't contiguous.  The white band looks cool provided it certs every year.Syncrowave 300Maxtron 450, S-52E, 30A
Reply:Nice work, Zank.  Nice Anvil fixture too.
Reply:Pretty incredible work Zank. Very nice to see others who care about the zeros on the other side of the dot .0001 and have nice equipment to do so. Here is my old bike back when I had a regular 9-5 and no kids.
Reply:Damn that's sweet. You DH guys get all of the cool tech.
Reply:for the bicycle thread, rat rob. Just a little welding to widen the lower frame to fit the bigger tire. Attached Images
Reply:Beautiful work.
Reply:Beautiful bikes Mr Zanconato, what tubesets do you use?Although I am what you would call a weightweenie when it comes to bikes and love lightweight carbon stuff, I still have a thing for brazed lugged bikes.Here is one of my bikes, heavy by proper standards, but light for a steel bike @ 8kg
Reply:Originally Posted by taz00Beautiful bikes Mr Zanconato, what tubesets do you use?Although I am what you would call a weightweenie when it comes to bikes and love lightweight carbon stuff, I still have a thing for brazed lugged bikes.Here is one of my bikes, heavy by proper standards, but light for a steel bike @ 8kg
Reply:Amazing work Zank! This one i built from plans from a site called Atomic Zombie, and some scrap frames.
Reply:That's a very stunning craftsmanship! I'm speechless. I can't make a huge project like that! It's an impressive piece of work!PlasmaCam CNC cutterLathe and Band SawClamps
Reply:Zank, what flux and rod are you using?
Reply:I'm not a bicycle builder, heck, I'm not even much of a bicycle rider Zank, but I absolutely love your precision, your attention to detail, and your nice clean shop! Beautiful work!-Dan
Reply:Dan, thanks for the kind words!Kaz, I use a 48% silver rod from a company called Cycle Design. Flows really nice. They also sell a flux from Superior that is really nice. Has a really long active time and rinses very easily. Great stuff.Last edited by zank; 03-21-2013 at 07:37 PM.
Reply:Taz, I generally use Columbus for road and cyclocross bikes and True Temper for mountain bikes. Each company has their strengths.Sweet Colnago. I've loved that paint job for ages.Thanks...I'll have to look into that.  I'm actually an avid mountain biker, along with enjoying metalworking.  I really want to build a a bike frame, even something really simple to get started.
Reply:I love the choppers and the 'bent being built from other stuff. Very cool.
Reply:Originally Posted by kazlxThanks...I'll have to look into that.  I'm actually an avid mountain biker, along with enjoying metalworking.  I really want to build a a bike frame, even something really simple to get started.
Reply:Originally Posted by zankYou could do a lugged road or cross bike. Do you weld? That would open up more options.
Reply:Originally Posted by Donoharmhere's one for ya
Reply:Originally Posted by sqznbyDo they make any "kit form" bikes? Thanks
Reply:Originally Posted by sqznbyDo they make any "kit form" bikes? Thanks
Reply:Here's my fillet brazed polo/commuter. Half lug at BB/Chainstay only. Satin Black Pearl powdercoat.650B wheels. Attached ImagesLast edited by Brazin; 03-23-2013 at 01:30 PM.SqWave 200Millermatic 190Airco 200 ACHypertherm PM45Boice-Crane Band SawVictor O/A
Reply:Originally Posted by chopped58No kit bikes that I know of, but they have pretty good step by step instructions.
Reply:Originally Posted by Donoharmhere's one for ya
Reply:awesome thread Zank, love the precision.Millermatic 251Century 180 migSpectrum 625 Syncrowave 250DX
Reply:Bike we built on out spare lunch brakes at work. Took like 2 months. Cause we only had 1/2 hour brakes to work on it...Bought a bike motor kit on eBay. And built it into the design pedals are still on the bike so it can still be used on the streets as a bicycle. Finished product (before attaching chain)...but we would up changing to color to flat black and lowering to front handlebars. Over time we didn't like the metallic red. I don't have an update pic tho.
Reply:That's pretty slick. Did it handle pretty well?
Reply:Matt S by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrMatt S by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrMatt S by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrMatt S by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrMatt S by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrMatt S by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrMatt S by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrMatt S by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr
Reply:Matt S by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrMatt S by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrMatt S by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrMatt S by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrMatt S by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr
Reply:Your work is outstanding, no question. Did you attend NAHMBS this year?I *might* get a booth at Interbike this year, but i haven't decided just yet...Motorboating...in the Cleavage of the Tetons
Reply:Thanks!I did NAHBS Richmond and Austin. I've decided there are better avenues to spend my marketing budget. Are you planning on selling through shops? If not, I don't know if Interbike is the best bang for the buck. If you decide to go though, let me know so that I can stop by your booth.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749I take it your lugs are cast Ti?Never seen this done, ever. Always wondered how it was.Again, really sweet work.
Reply:I'm an open book. Fire away with any questions!I do both powder and wet paint depending on the customer and bike style. The road bikes are generally wet paint whereas the mountain bikes are mostly powder. The cross bikes are more split between the two depending on what the client wants. Powder is a bunch less expensive.
Reply:I don't do any paint work myself. It all goes out.Last edited by zank; 03-29-2013 at 10:36 AM.
Reply:Are you doing the Z in each lug by hand with a file? They look remarkably consistent for that method.
Reply:Nah, I have a guy who does the engraving for me. I'd go crazy doing all of those by hand.
Reply:Originally Posted by zankThanks!I did NAHBS Richmond and Austin. I've decided there are better avenues to spend my marketing budget. Are you planning on selling through shops? If not, I don't know if Interbike is the best bang for the buck. If you decide to go though, let me know so that I can stop by your booth.
Reply:Very cool! Good luck with everything!Now knowing a little more about what you are hoping to get out of Interbike, I don't think having a booth there would be the best strategy. Everybody is so distracted. It's tough to hold anybody's attention there for more than a few minutes. Plus, the marketing folks are not out walking around much. They are stuck in their own booths. You might have better luck attending the show as a non-buyer (about $500) and setting up appointments with some targeted potential clients before you get to Vegas. It's a great opportunity to have a lot of marketing people in one place. But I know how busy those 5 days are. Anyway, that's just a thought.
Reply:Yeah, that's why i am being a little ambivalent. I have attended interboke on/off for 20 years (since Anaheim?). All it takes is one project to make it worth it, and it gives a TON of credibility for follow up proposals and contacts. (I would be displaying larger piece examples of industry work, it will be quite eye catching)Most of my 'work' would be done riding with folks I know at On Dirt, lunches, after hours, advocacy bowling, etc...full shmooze mode.Motorboating...in the Cleavage of the Tetons