With my own two hands.

I've been wanting to build my own frames for a long long time.

It's all finally come together. Using basic hand tools in my garage and lots of reading online and it's almost ready to ride.

http://shirk.smugmug.com/Frame-1/i-5...P1070254-S.jpg

http://shirk.smugmug.com/Frame-1/i-7...P1070268-M.jpg

http://shirk.smugmug.com/Frame-1/i-V...P1070242-L.jpg
Make the 38mm dt fit a 36mm ht.

http://shirk.smugmug.com/Frame-1/i-c...P1070245-M.jpg

http://shirk.smugmug.com/Frame-1/i-p...P1070272-M.jpg

http://shirk.smugmug.com/Frame-1/i-n...P1070277-M.jpg

http://shirk.smugmug.com/Frame-1/i-x...P1070293-M.jpg

http://shirk.smugmug.com/Frame-1/i-9...P1070299-M.jpg

http://shirk.smugmug.com/Frame-1/i-Z...P1070333-M.jpg

http://shirk.smugmug.com/Frame-1/i-L...P1070337-M.jpg

http://shirk.smugmug.com/Frame-1/i-w...P1070367-M.jpg
Jig? Don't need no stinking jig.

http://shirk.smugmug.com/Frame-1/i-8...P1070388-M.jpg

Last night I put on the disc tab and this morning I finished the brazing.

Tonight I'll silver on the cable guides, and if all goes well it will hit dirt on Saturday.

FUCK YEAH MOTHER FUCKER!!!!!

i love it, absolutely love it, well done sir!

much respect

Awesome!

What's the geometry?

I can only assume you made it for 27.5" wheels because otherwise, why bother.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by toast2266

27.5" wheels because otherwise, why bother.

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Because I gots 26 fork and rims still in service life.

Geo is calculated with a 150mm RS Revelation and DHF 2.5 EXO's

ha 67
sa 73
cs 420mm
reach 419mm
stack - forget off the top of my head but I think it's 580mm

Tubing is
Down tube - 38mm - .9/.6/.9 butting
Top tube - 31.8mm - .8/.5/.8
Seat tube - 28.6 - 1.2/.6/.9 external butted for 27.2 seat post
Head tube - 36mm - 1.1
Chain stays - oval 30mm/18mm - .9/.6
Seat Stays - single taper 16mm/12.3mm - .8

Projected frame weight is 4.6 lbs.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shirk

Because I gots 26 fork and rims still in service life.

Geo is calculated with a 150mm RS Revelation and DHF 2.5 EXO's

ha 67
sa 73
cs 420mm
reach 419mm
stack - forget off the top of my head but I think it's 580mm

Tubing is
Down tube - 38mm - .9/.6/.9 butting
Top tube - 31.8mm - .8/.5/.8
Seat tube - 28.6 - 1.2/.6/.9 external butted for 27.2 seat post
Head tube - 36mm - 1.1
Chain stays - oval 30mm/18mm - .9/.6
Seat Stays - single taper 16mm/12.3mm - .8

Projected frame weight is 4.6 lbs.

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Looks and sounds like a sweet rig!

That's awesome.

Nice - that sounds like it'll be a ton of fun.

How did you get the carbon to look like metal?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by forty

FUCK YEAH MOTHER FUCKER!!!!!

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This......

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Conundrum

How did you get the carbon to look like metal?

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I know eh, a non carbon bike in 2014, like wtf.

That's awesome! What's the plan for paint?

I have a TIG-welded tandem frame hanging on a wall that I threaten to clear coat and build up whenever my wife complains about her road bike. I think the file marks and joints look sweet.

It will get rattle can matte black. Not much effort will go into making it look pretty, it's going to have a short life.

The wheels are already spinning in my head for the replacement. My long goal is several hardtails for skills practice and then a single pivot fs.

muy bueno

I like the vice shaping the DT

So metal! I tried this one and only got as far as the first three tubes...

Nice work there Shirk!

Very cool. Where did you get the tubeset and dropouts? How much $$ in materials?

These are the two common suppliers in N.A.

http://www.cycle-frames.com/bicycle-...ubing/home.php

http://henryjames.com/

Bad ass, dude.

Well done B. Must be satisfying

Good on ya, that's awesome. How much time do you have invested in it thus far?

Very cool project. I look forward to seeing it built up.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's pretty sick looking.

shirk, if you like brazing and plan to do more frames, you may want to check this out: Meco Midget Torch which should be paired with the Ultra Light Weight Hose set found here.

super light weight, gives you huge dexterity which would help if you're not using a big jig with its ability to swing the frame around while brazing.

awesome. this is something i've been wanting to do for awhile and finally have the garage space to make it happen. few questions.

did you have welding experience prior to this?
what is your welder setup?
did you use the paterek manual or find other resources?

Way bad ass, tick that one off the bucket list for sure!

That's awesome, nice shirk!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by creaky fossil

shirk, if you like brazing and plan to do more frames, you may want to check this out: Meco Midget Torch which should be paired with the Ultra Light Weight Hose set found here.

super light weight, gives you huge dexterity which would help if you're not using a big jig with its ability to swing the frame around while brazing.

---

http://shirk.smugmug.com/Biking/Fram...IMAG0499-L.jpg

My rig.

I am running oxy/propane with an oxygen concentrator. There is an amazing resource thread posted by Doug Fattic over on VSalon laying the knowledge on using the concentrator. I got mine from a medical supply at a huge discount due to some scratch in the cover.

Torch is a Uniweld 71, it's a clone of the Victor J-28. Tips are multi fuel TEN type that are designed for the propane.

T grade hose from TinMan Tech. I figured I'd get a set of the ultra lightweight at a later date. Grand total of my brazing rig is about $350.

The 71 is pretty small and light, not as small as the Midget but miles better than what most people get from the local weld shop or Craigslist.

eesh, shouldn't you have a super duper angle gauge that measures to .1 degree like the pros instead of some commie made bevel gauge?

hope you enjoy it! :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shirk

http://shirk.smugmug.com/Biking/Fram...IMAG0499-L.jpg

My rig.

I am running oxy/propane with an oxygen concentrator. There is an amazing resource thread posted by Doug Fattic over on VSalon laying the knowledge on using the concentrator. I got mine from a medical supply at a huge discount due to some scratch in the cover.

Torch is a Uniweld 71, it's a clone of the Victor J-28. Tips are multi fuel TEN type that are designed for the propane.

T grade hose from TinMan Tech. I figured I'd get a set of the ultra lightweight at a later date. Grand total of my brazing rig is about $350.

The 71 is pretty small and light, not as small as the Midget but miles better than what most people get from the local weld shop or Craigslist.

---

Thanks. Just started reading that thread. Little bit of overload but tons of great info. Propane seems to be the way to go for a number of reasons.

Forty summed it up, this is fucking RAD!!

Wow, I have always wanted to do this. You sir,are my new hero. Both for this and the closest thing to a positive post I've seen from Hugh...

very cool work,

I got a chance to do this 2 falls ago. was a great course, and nice to have all the right jigs, and instruction.

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...die?highlight=

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mntlion

very cool work,

I got a chance to do this 2 falls ago. was a great course, and nice to have all the right jigs, and instruction.

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...die?highlight=

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I had forgot that you did Paul's course.

Last winter I went out to one of his open houses, made my first tower of brass blobs there.

Did you guys use a dynafile to initially shape your fillets? Or all by file? I don't think I am going to spend a tone of time making the fillets pretty. Rough em in and then rattle can it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by smslavin

awesome. this is something i've been wanting to do for awhile and finally have the garage space to make it happen. few questions.

did you have welding experience prior to this?
what is your welder setup?
did you use the paterek manual or find other resources?

---

I missed this last night.

Yes I did get a copy of the Paterek manual. It's helpful, but it really depends on your shop skills on how much you really need it vs reading all the available info online. I didn't read it cover to cover, I've read bits and pieces and referred to it to see his process vs what I had in my head or read online.

Resources:

As much as Empty Beer can bagged on some of the little technical sub forums have great info. It's mostly home builders and a few pros, the pros used to post more a few years back, but if you search it's all in there.
http://forums.mtbr.com/frame-building/

VSalon is mostly Pros posting, it's pretty road bike centric, but the technique's are the same.
http://www.velocipedesalon.com/forum/f10/

Suzie has changed her site, I am not sure if it's all still in there but she has some great info for newbs.
http://www.littlefishbicycles.com/20...roduction.html

It's all out there floating on the net, just gotta search for it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shirk

I had forgot that you did Paul's course.

Last winter I went out to one of his open houses, made my first tower of brass blobs there.

Did you guys use a dynafile to initially shape your fillets? Or all by file? I don't think I am going to spend a tone of time making the fillets pretty. Rough em in and then rattle can it.

---

Started with power tools then hand file as needed. We can be as picky about them as we wanted to be.
I got my frame powder coated by a maggot in calgary. turned out nice, and now built up as a 29, touring bike.

WOW one of the coolest things I have ever seen on TGR. PROPS!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shirk

I missed this last night.

Yes I did get a copy of the Paterek manual. It's helpful, but it really depends on your shop skills on how much you really need it vs reading all the available info online. I didn't read it cover to cover, I've read bits and pieces and referred to it to see his process vs what I had in my head or read online.

Resources:

As much as Empty Beer can bagged on some of the little technical sub forums have great info. It's mostly home builders and a few pros, the pros used to post more a few years back, but if you search it's all in there.
http://forums.mtbr.com/frame-building/

VSalon is mostly Pros posting, it's pretty road bike centric, but the technique's are the same.
http://www.velocipedesalon.com/forum/f10/

Suzie has changed her site, I am not sure if it's all still in there but she has some great info for newbs.
http://www.littlefishbicycles.com/20...roduction.html

It's all out there floating on the net, just gotta search for it.

---

No worries. I've been reading the MTBR forums quite a bit the past few days. I'll dig around VSalon some more after I finish the acetylene vs propane thread. Getting some help from the 4x4 fab guys I know too. Hoping to start this in the next month or so.

Thanks for the info.

http://shirk.smugmug.com/Frame-1/i-x...O/P1070411.jpg

http://shirk.smugmug.com/Frame-1/i-c...O/P1070412.jpg

Built up for it's first ride yesterday.

The sizing and geo feel spot on. Rides great.

It's been a couple seasons since I rode a ht so I need to remember how to do technical climbing. My power delivery and weight shift timing were way off. Descending was good on it. Need to mess with my fork setting, I think I had it pretty stiff when it was on my fs.