I am a frame builder AMA

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Is fillet pro really that amazing?

And when brazing the ST and DT onto the BB, do people generally do it in one sweep leaving a little bit of seat tube not brazed round, or do it in sequence and re flow the seat tube fillet?

any recommendations / preference for tube mitring between these

and these:

and these:

I would have thought tungsten carbide and carbide would be pretty similar, but it is the second one that is "recommended" for steel.
I just saw them recommended on novice framebuilder and thought I might add to my christmas list.

I use only files on all my mitres but I'm told a higher tooth count is better when it comes to these kids.

@coldharbour, do you deal with Paragon MW by any chance?

I'm needing a 22.2 - 31.8mm handlebar shim and they do one and it's reasonably priced. Paying for shipping for that alone won't be though and I'm doing what I can to resist looking through their site and finding other stuff I don't really need to make up an order worth placing.

I only use coba (the white ones) anything else is a snaggy pile of shit with thin walled stuff.

Yes, but not until the new year, too late? Alteratively just email peter at ceeway, he probably has it in stock. He carries most PMW stuff now.

Cheers. I’ve actually remembered I have a contact with a lathe so looks like I’m just getting one custom made now.

Good to know about ceeway stocking pmw stuff though.

Anyone used silicon bronze with a mig welder for "brazing". I've seen a few things about this online, but there must be a good reason why this isn't a commonly accepted method for frame building. Ruins the tempering of steel tubing?

I'm thinking of enrolling in the BYOB course on TBA next year, but should I start with a blowtorch + silver + flux and go to town on a training lug beforehand, or is that something that is not needed?

Also, will TBA teach you in what you need to set up a shed-shop in regards to tooling?

TBA = The Bicycle Academy

If your prepared to have a crack yourself I'd do that first. Think of all the tubes and tools you could buy for the price of the course! You might find that actually youd rather muddle though on your own. YouTube and the Internet are wonderful teachers, everyone is a renaissance man if they have a smart phone etc...

Thanks for the answer,

What do I need in regards to tooling when just starting out?

There's probably an explanation online somewhere but, how do I determine where mid fork eyes should go?

Depends what they are for? Soley guard duties, up to you. If it is for racks, it can be rack dependent. I can try and photo the relevant page from Paterek, if I can find it. I very rarely build forks so not sure off the top of my head.

What are you planning on building, and what method will you use to join the tubes?

Would be for a rack. Which might not be the wisest since they'll be done with silver. Actually, no I have some sifbronze that I can use with Mapp, that'd probably be better eh?

My Day One has a fork with mid eyes so I could just measure up from the centre of the axle?It's 700c and the fork I want to add them to is the 26" fork for my Surly 1x1 though. Shouldn't make too much difference should it, overall outer diameter of the tyre probably isn't much different.

If it is a tubus, they have data sheets so you can just use those.

Silver should be fine, just make sure you have a bit of a fillet around the boss.

Is there a book that details everything on frame building? I.e from tools/ materials all the way though to technique and all that stuff. Never welded or brazed but keen to try it out and always prefer giving it a go my own way rather than lessons. Thanks

Lugged bicycle construction book by Chimonas is a good book for a first frame, it is what I used.

Paterek manual for more involved stuff, but it is quite dated, even the updated versions.

Fantastic. I’ll have a look.

Seems like the market is missing book - perhaps a post-Isen project??

Tbh there is no need, the internet is at your fingertips. Don't search for frame building, but rather the specific task. Tube coping, brazing, tig welding etc etc there are untold amounts of demos and youtube vids for you to use.

Cheers.

Looking to get into frame building if anyone in or around London would like a weekend helper?

I'm a mechanical engineer of 17 years so I know a thing or 2 about machines and tooling, but my welding days are back in training school, so would need to learn from scratch really.

Anyone with any advice or needing any help from time to time please message me here.

Cheers,

Luke

Sifbronze or Cycle design LFB bronze rods?
diameter? 1.6mm?
beginners lugged frame construction (practice really)
(Is there already a sticky thread/post of recommended materials/suppliers similar to the "tester approves" thread? or should we start one in the Framebuilders forum?)

I'd like to build a straight fork with canti studs first that is joined via lugs and mapp brazed with silver.

Go easy at first I reckon, as I tend to just skip ahead and just be way over my head.