After a bit of a late night she rolls. Just in time to go to a design show tonight to test some GoodShot ‘precovery’ drink. Just got to keep it clean all day! Fingers crossed for a dry day.
Powder Coat Close ups
Nice job
Nice Powder
Well after much faffing I finally got these two down to the powder coaters (at Armourtex in Hackney).
It made a pretty cautious trip as the frame was wider the bars so filtering was an act of faith – remember the frames, remember the frames………
And then the most difficult bit – which colour to choose?
New Tools
Commitment!
Frame number 2
First forks
Closet mitrerer
Frame number 1
So first frame (not on a course). Fairly basic cromo pipes, in case it all goes horribly wrong, geared roadie frame to replace my slightly well used Kona Deluxe. Initial jig setup was done by putting the old frame in and building to that shape. I was desperately trying to curb the urge just to build something with enough practice and some level of measurement and design. Boy did I warm those tubes up though!
Job (nearly) done. The head angle is an optical illusion courtesy of the iphone (honest). Just need to ream and face it and sort some paint. Roll spring time.
Baby frame
When I got my home brazing gear I needed something to test it with so bought some practice tubes, cut them all in half to make some cute little frames. Half lugged, half fillet brazed. The other one was half fillet brazed, half lugged! This was using oxy/propane which took a little getting used to from practicing with Acetylene. It heats up differently. Well that’s my excuse – just need some practice really.
New tubes
Frame jig
Having checked out the price of commercially available jigs I decided to build my own to help with trying to get things straight. RS components stock these aluminium sections. I made the attachments to hold the bottom bracket, seat tube and head tube on the lathe. Lots of adjustment for frame size and angles.
Bespoked 2014
First frame
This was m,y first frame built on the Downland cycles frame course. I wanted to try as many braze on’s as possible, so it’s got canti mounts, disk mount, bottle bosses and internal cable routing for the rear brake on the top tube. It’s made of Columbus Spirit tubing and weight in around 4lbs.
Next job was to go on the fork course and sort some of those out for it.
I wanted to try a uni-crown disk fork, as the most likely thing i’d want to repeat in the future. Pretty chunky but happy with the look of those.
Spin London
Blog rider
Well here’s my first post, in my first blog. Hello (e)bike world.