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@Jingle_Jangle
There are quite a few people on this forum - including me - who have aspirations of building their own frames.
Once you have overcome the basics of cutting, fileing and brazing metal, you will, at some point, inevitably have to face the confusing and expensive question of tooling.
I have recently acquired a frame fixture, or jig, from the Bicycle Academy. This particular fixture is aimed squarely at the ‘early learner’ i.e. me, and quite a few others on here.
Subsequently, I thought it might be helpful to document the fun one can have with a useless middle aged man, a box of bits and a very small front yard in South East London.
Three observations to kick off with:
First, The Bicycle Academy’s idea of ‘low cost’, and my idea of low cost are two different things.
That’s not to say I am unhappy, or that it isn’t value for money, but it would be nice if I could find an entry level jig for less than the £850.00 that this one cost.
Almost be definition, either it, or it’s user, is not going to be fit for purpose, and it will retire to the back of the shed or, (unlikely), I’ll pick it up like a duck to water, and will be looking for something better / more expensive by Christmas.
Second - it took ages to arrive. I think they sort of crowd fund these things. They take deposits, but don’t produce them ‘till they’ve got enough orders to make it worthwhile. I am pretty sure I waited a year, possibly longer.
Thirdly, unless you collect your fixture from Bristol - and pay an additional £150.00, the jig comes without four steel beams that are required to make it work.
For me, a London resident with a job and family, finding the time to sort out four bits of metal turned out to be a major pain in the backside.
Having said all that, I am happy with my purchase, and with the interactions I have had with TBA.
I am now the proud owner of four dirty, rusty metal beams, and the sun is shining.
I look forward to getting to grips with the contents of the very macho looking box (42kg’s) that’s been blocking up my shed for the past few months.
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