Anyone fabricate a bike frame before?

admin

I'm looking for some good info on welding a bike frame.
Reply:What kind of frame?  I make bicycle chopper frames. Maybe I can help you with that.
Reply:bicycle, motorcycle, etc?***************************************Lincoln AC225 stick welderLincoln HD100 WeldPak flux core wire feed welderThree of the cheapest grinders money can buy
Reply:I was more thinking of bicycle frames, road, mountain, recumbent, etc. But, I wouldn't mind learning about motorcycle frames as well. I'm sure they would share some general principles I would think.Last edited by The Apprentice; 10-13-2006 at 03:50 AM.
Reply:Wellllll, a bicycle frame and a motorcycle frame are similar in that they both have two wheels, but they -are- different machines.Bicycle - human powered, so that works out to about 1/4 horsepower or so, machine plus rider/operator weight somewhere between 150-300 pounds typical.Motorcycle (street bike, not racer $$$$$) - engine powered, maybe 30-150+ horsepower, machine plus rider/operator weight 400-900 pounds (full-dress cruiser with 'beefy' rider and passenger would go maybe 1500 pounds).To weld a frame, take the pieces and weld them together using the appropriate methods and materials.  To DESIGN a frame, figure out the loads, stresses, deflections, material choices, material strengths, fabrication methods, jigging and fixturing, geometry, costs, etc.The welding is just part of the process from idea to final product.
Reply:I have two books I used when I built my first bicycle.  The first is a manual that will tell you everything you need to know about building, jigging and tooling.  The second book is more specific for one frame.  Both have great information.The Paterek Manual for Bicycle Framebuilders by Tim Paterek and Designing and Building Your Own Frameset by Richard Talbot
Reply:http://www.atomiczombie.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by The ApprenticeI'm looking for some good info on welding a bike frame.
Reply:x2 Owner - Certified Welding & Fabrication / 22yrs in businessSteamboat Springs, Co(970) 879-5491AWS structural shopHMI 70t iron worker2 field trucks specailizing in structural steel, aluminum and stainless steel
Reply:See....you think like I do. loads, stresses, deflections, material choices. HOWEVER, in the real world you will find very successful shops that build things all the time and take none of that into consideration. I have one across my parking lot. I ask that guy certain questions that I KNOW are pertinent questions and he completely blows me off and says "Who's shop is this?" So I leave. Which is what he wants. Then his employees come over at their lunchtime and tell me the inside scoop on how he screws things up. People risk their lives riding in vehicles that he builds all the time, every day. And I have to wonder who will be the unlucky one that meets their fate at the hands of his incompetence? I can tell you one thing. It will not be me. Along those lines, did you ever see the Orange County Chopper guys discuss any of these details? No. they just weld up a frame and off they go! Some of their rides seem cheesy to me, but hey, they are famous, right?So nobody questions them.I would love to look at those books on framebuilding myself. Might have to look for them. Originally Posted by MoonRiseWellllll, a bicycle frame and a motorcycle frame are similar in that they both have two wheels, but they -are- different machines.Bicycle - human powered, so that works out to about 1/4 horsepower or so, machine plus rider/operator weight somewhere between 150-300 pounds typical.Motorcycle (street bike, not racer $$$$$) - engine powered, maybe 30-150+ horsepower, machine plus rider/operator weight 400-900 pounds (full-dress cruiser with 'beefy' rider and passenger would go maybe 1500 pounds).To weld a frame, take the pieces and weld them together using the appropriate methods and materials.  To DESIGN a frame, figure out the loads, stresses, deflections, material choices, material strengths, fabrication methods, jigging and fixturing, geometry, costs, etc.The welding is just part of the process from idea to final product.
Reply:Originally Posted by Joker11See....you think like I do. loads, stresses, deflections, material choices. HOWEVER, in the real world you will find very successful shops that build things all the time and take none of that into consideration. I have one across my parking lot. I ask that guy certain questions that I KNOW are pertinent questions and he completely blows me off and says "Who's shop is this?" So I leave. Which is what he wants. Then his employees come over at their lunchtime and tell me the inside scoop on how he screws things up. People risk their lives riding in vehicles that he builds all the time, every day. And I have to wonder who will be the unlucky one that meets their fate at the hands of his incompetence? I can tell you one thing. It will not be me. Along those lines, did you ever see the Orange County Chopper guys discuss any of these details? No. they just weld up a frame and off they go! Some of their rides seem cheesy to me, but hey, they are famous, right?So nobody questions them.I would love to look at those books on framebuilding myself. Might have to look for them.
Reply:About the OCC guys, well anyone should be able to tell you that show is about making entertainment out of bike building.For the longest times I do not think they even fabriacted thier own frames, that bought frames from an outside source.It's a TV show about a company that build custom bike ....not really a show on " how to " build bikes. All the " put the viewers to sleep " boring stuff is discussed off camera.I know of two people in Maryland who own OCC bikes, they went up to order the bikes and said the reality of OCC is not all you see on TV.We are going to get into custom bikes however we are NOT going to be building framesets, instead we will buy rolling chassis from frame builders or tear down and existing bike and rebuild from fram up.Last edited by harcosparky; 10-27-2006 at 04:01 PM.
Reply:Seems to me that if you don't build your own frame you are not building a custom bike. You are simply assembling someone else's work. I put it in the same category as all the parts on my dads ford truck being made in Mexico and then shipping the parts back so someone here can assemble them. Now Ford calls it American Made. Phooey. I understand that most people are installing the Harley powerplant in their frames and that is somewhat acceptable. Much like buying a crate motor for my dune buggy. But since I can't cast an engine block......well, so what.I dunno. I get that OCC is just a show. But do you think Pauley or Sr. know anything about the metallurgy or just showmanship? Lastly I will apologize because my posts contributed NOTHING to the original question. That is my bad.Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:not sure, but don't they also own/started a steel yard? and paul sr start building his own frames?I have been in the bicycle industry for 10 years and have been close to frame builders of bikes and can say that 98% of the real custom, and off the shelf frames are built to tight toleranes. At Bontrager, and Ritchey, every tubeset that was ordered, say tru-temper 853 was stress tested, hardness, pcm/preheat, etcOwner - Certified Welding & Fabrication / 22yrs in businessSteamboat Springs, Co(970) 879-5491AWS structural shopHMI 70t iron worker2 field trucks specailizing in structural steel, aluminum and stainless steel
Reply:http://www.ifbikes.com/building2/index.shtmlI have never built a bike frame, but these guys certainly can.  A steel frame from these folks (Independent Fabrications, Somerville, MA) will run you $1,550.  To some this may seem absolutely crazy, but these bikes are beautifully made.  Just like any hobby, golf, skiing,guitars, ect: You can really go crazy with the high-end equipment.The website goes through all the steps.Enjoy,Andy
Reply:If you're anywhere near the north west corner of N. Carolina (or want to visit), Brew at Brew Bikes offers courses in building bicycle frames. http://www.brewracingframes.com/Here's a graduation day pic from one of his classes...That's Brew third from the right in the back row. I have some buddies that have taken his welding clases and can't say enough good things about the experience. It woun't get you (or me) any discount if you tell him Gazza from QCB sent you, best it could do is get you a beer, but probably not.GazzaLast edited by Gazza; 10-28-2006 at 03:47 PM.
Reply:can someone put this issue to rest for me..i have tried many times to weld bicycle frame tube/lawn mower handles,for a project with my AC225 on it's lowest possible setting..always consistently burns a big,ugly,nasty hole all the time..what if anything is my problem here????
Reply:It is really hard to beat a good brazed lug bicycle frame.  They are strong and reasonably light weight.Most bicycle tube sets are designed for lugs, but some are designed for welding.A good set of tubes are double butted, the wall of the tube is thinner in the middle than the end.  On a set of tubes designed for welding, the ends have to be much thicker.For Huffy or any other cheap mass produced bicycle, the tubes are thick at the ends and thick in the middle also which makes for a very heavy and cheap frame that is easy to weld.Luckily bicycles have been around a very long time, if you get a decent tube set, good lugs, and braze it right, you don't have to worry about strength unless the rider is huge or your design is really wacky.It would be hard to match the strength and weight of a good brazed lug frame.  It could be done but it would require much more technique than brazing.In my opinion it is hard enough to get the geometry of the frame right on a brazed frame, welding heat will probably result in some warping which might throw off all of the work you do to make it straight.I have brazed a bicycle frame and I have welded lots of other things, but I wouldn't weld a bicycle frame unless I had to.
Reply:Wow, this thread has kind of taken off. Good! I found this school in Oregon that has a frame fabrication class.http://www.bikeschool.com/frame.htm
Reply:I am gearing up to build some early style Cushman Eagle frames except they will be brought up to todays standards not like the 40's and 50's period they came from...BobBob WrightSalem, Ohio  Birthplace of the Silver & Deming Drillhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/southbend10k/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sawking/1999 Miller MM185 w/ Miller 185 Spoolmate spoolgun
Reply:Originally Posted by The ApprenticeWow, this thread has kind of taken off. Good! I found this school in Oregon that has a frame fabrication class.http://www.bikeschool.com/frame.htm
Reply:I think Reynolds makes an air tempering CroMo tube that takes well to welding.  Otherwise, brazing and lugs is the way to go.
Reply:As I recall not just anybody can purchase the upper line of Reynolds tubing.  You have to somehow qualify.  I think you have to send in test coupons, also.
Reply:www.novacycles.com Supplier bicycle tubing and framebuilding components.They used to sell a grab bag of drop cromoly for practicing.
Reply:Originally Posted by tapwelderAs I recall not just anybody can purchase the upper line of Reynolds tubing.  You have to somehow qualify.  I think you have to send in test coupons, also.Check out "Bicycle Builder's Bonanza" book by Brad Graham. I think someone already gave his web site. He builds out of electricial conduit (which is cheap) to build his bikes. And he is well known!
Reply:I build one, I also posted some pics awhile ago...
Reply:Originally Posted by aametalmasterI am gearing up to build some early style Cushman Eagle frames except they will be brought up to todays standards not like the 40's and 50's period they came from...Bob
Reply:Originally Posted by Noa'zarccan someone put this issue to rest for me..i have tried many times to weld bicycle frame tube/lawn mower handles,for a project with my AC225 on it's lowest possible setting..always consistently burns a big,ugly,nasty hole all the time..what if anything is my problem here????
Reply:I doubt that Noa'zark is tigging with a 225 buzz box. i'm guessing he's using 6011 splatter rod . if so , that's ugly stuff for4 that job . even 6013 is probably lousy , i wouldn't even try that .[SIZE="5"Yardbird"