Brazing

The damage is that the top joint near the forks is loose, I wanted a project to building into a bike with say 3 or 5 gears, maybe racing wheel handles (this might look stupid on this frame???) brooks saddle and leather handle bar straps etc. Just to make it into a really nice bike, perhaps fixed wheel single speed eventually!

Really nice bikes cost money.

From the sounds of it I think you you'd be better off buying a complete bike like this one and fixing the bits that need fixing.

Also I think you need to do a alot more research - google, the search function here, sheldon brown

... but for starters here's a few tip / things I'd wish I'd know:

If you really want just a frame then try and get one with a headset + BB - all these little things add up.
Its prob cheaper buying 2 bikes, splitting and selling the excess. Look out for ugly ones in unpopular sizes than you can rape for parts. - this only works if you know what parts are good/easily salable.

Good luck.

Oh also I'm not saying buy the one in the link - just saying a complete bike is pretty much cheeper.

Well i actually bought this the other week, so maybe i'll work on this, I know its not a great bike but it'll do for me to mess around on as a start.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200359985658&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:GB:1123

Apparently it is an Astra from the 70s or 80s

Nick

R
... prob cheaper buying 2 bikes, splitting and selling the excess. Look out for ugly ones in unpopular sizes than you can rape for parts...

I never thought of doing this, great idea, mmnnngghhh

jazzythumper - that one is more like it - not a bad deal either.

I'm sure it will give you a good start into fixing up your own bikes. As I said before - read Sheldon Brown there is a page on here called mech/fixing websites - again full of useful info. Remember to read and UTS before asking questions.

@ Plastic Pedals - I can't claim credit - someone else on here suggested it, and I only found out a bit late. But will be my move for all future builds as I recon it will reduce the costs massively.

I have an old benotto 800, and need to get the rear stays re brazed, can any one help me out or suggest a good cheap place to get this done?

There's some companies doing brazing work mentioned above. I would imagine most custom builders (Mercian, Roberts, etc) would take on this work. Ring them for quotes.

i dropped by Sargent and Co last week...Rob there is able to undertake small braze repairs ( at least he offered to braze on some downtube shifter bosses for me...)....may be worth calling him to see if he can help...http://www.sargentandco.com/

Does anyone have some suggestions for people I can go to to have canti/V brake mounts brazed to my forks? I want someone good who will be neat

thanks

Same as JV, but cantis on the frame (possibly the forks too, but might just buy a new set)
Ideally london based.

Anyone got good experiences of canti placement?

speak to edscoble.

i thought the work done on scobles gangsta looked pretty sloppy tbh, hoping to get some more leads

I sent a frame away to Bob Jackson for a refurb, one of the jobs being to replace/reposition the fork canti bosses so they'd take a modern cross brake, rather than low-profile touring cantis.

Very pleased with what they did, very neat handiwork.

^thanks how much did it cost at bob jackson, and what was the damage to the paint work like?

It was about £250, but that was for a full strip and 3-colour re-enamel of the whole frame, plus application of custom details and moving the fork bosses.

If you were just doing the fork it'd be way less. Best to give them a ring, really.

Bike started out as a Super Galaxy bought from here, ended up looking like this:

http://i.imgur.com/fb5be.jpg

Ryan of Oak Cycles (http://www.oakcycles.com) will braze on canti mounts, he's out of the country until September though so it might take a little while for him to get back to you.

Alternatively I think Super Ted does them too

thanks. i think i will give oak cycles a try