Frame building in B'ham

Wise words about Gas welding equipment Perks..when i was at night school (over a decade ago) we where shown am Accet bottle that exploded..would not like to be near one..

Brings back memories that does..before we where even let near a Mig..Tig or Arc Welder we had to make damn good joints with gas welding and brazing..and test them by destruction.

I have a nice Tig set looming..very sweet ESAB invertor..not quite the rolls Royce like the sets at work, but for intended purposes, spot on.

Shame that Wednesbury Tech does not offer welding courses anymore, that was regarded as the best one in the country in its time. Excellent tutors.

Glad all thats over though..

I am well up for building a frame for myself/learning how to build frames/joining a company making frames in Birmingham. I have no experience, but am enthusiastic!

I found welding courses at colleges in Great Barr and Sutton Coldfield.

Im thinking of enrolling on one but it would mean riding up to great barr from mosely possibly multiple times every week.

One of the courses starts in March and ends in june, 3 hours per week.

Would you be up for something like this?

There's one (started in Jan, very likely repeated quarterly) at Matthew Boulton too.
Looked into it over xmas, was 3 months for £200, led to a qualification of some sort (eventually).

I dont think they do any welding courses at MBC, the most "enginneering" thing they have is electricians courses.

Welding stuff is a James Watt (great barr) and sutton coldfield campuses. If there really is one at MBC then great, but I dont there is (just been looking).

It was in a course prospectus I had, not online, don't have it now...

It was definitely at MBC

.

Googled and found the prospectus in pdf

It is at James Watt, I thought that MBC meant just the one in the city so all the courses in the MBC book were there, didn't read it properly, partly because I was half-assed about going to MBC (way too many weird young people).

So yeah, carry on...

(way too many weird young people).

So yeah, carry on...

I know what you mean. Im shuddering at the thought of sixth-form time warp feeling. Plus im sure the vocational courses like this are full of people who failed their GCSE's etc..

I think ill be doing one of them if it feasible. The courses seem to include some forms of ARC welding too.

where do you want to do that pic we talked about?

ahh, let me sleep on it broski.

I applied for the course at James Watt in september, and it was all booked up. the courses run for 6 weeks, every night and afternoon with IIRC 12 places on each course...so there is 120 places?... I was put on a waiting list, there was one for each course, friday evening had the shortest waiting list, 3 places, so went on that but no-one dropped out.
You'll only get on the course if someone has dropped out as each 'level' runs for 6 weeks and then you progress to a different type of welding, so most stay for a year and do all of them as its free if your a young-un i think.

Theres a level 1 starting in March I think.

contact a local gas or welding consumables supplier and ask what courses they recommend or know of.An introduction day or short course would be enough to cover the safety side and get you on your way.Being able to weld is only a very small part of learning how to build frames and the welding is only a small proportion of the complete job
try http://www.energas.co.uk or similar

Thats expensive for a 6 week course.....

I did know of a testing house that provided training...just got to remember where it is.

The standard of training would be superior too, as you cant walk in to a college, tech or Uni and obtain those skills/qualifications.

contact a local gas or welding consumables supplier and ask what courses they recommend or know of.An introduction day or short course would be enough to cover the safety side and get you on your way.Being able to weld is only a very small part of learning how to build frames and the welding is only a small proportion of the complete job
try http://www.energas.co.uk or similar

Yup, totally.

Thats the reason I was keen on watching an actual framebuilder at work. The actual welding seems to be common sense+practice.
But all the careful use of jigs to align pieces, working out all the angles/lengths, cutting and bending tubes etc. That seems to be where the clever part is.

Yup, totally.

Thats the reason I was keen on watching an actual framebuilder at work. The actual welding seems to be common sense+practice.
But all the careful use of jigs to align pieces, working out all the angles/lengths, cutting and bending tubes etc. That seems to be where the clever part is.

I totaly understand where you are coming from.Hyper came round at the weekend and I put a proposal forward that should suit everyone interested,I am sure he will chime in when he has time

Just to chip in, I'd be very interested in getting involved. No practical experience but fairly mechanically minded and very willing to learn/take instruction. My only problem is being in Leamington, not Brum...

also chipping in, i'd be very interested in learning how to braze properly. i've only done a small bit before when i had to extend an allen key for a stem with a recessed bolt, it worked fine.

don't have enough cash for a course, so am looking forward to hearing what's in store..

I was going to suggest www.ceeway.com for parts but I see the link above www.framebuilding.com also goes there. They are probably the best.

Reynolds will also supply direct. http://www.reynoldstechnology.biz/

Without a proper jig and some other really expensive bits you'll strugle to build a decent frame. If you're interested in doing a course. Martyn of http://www.downlandcycles.co.uk/Downland Cylces offer a 5 day course as does Dave Yates but there are currently no available spots but you can register interest incase someone drops out. Expensive but worth the money for your own custom frame and the skills to start building frames.

No available places with Dave Yates but there are at Downland Cycles.

is a jig absolutely necessary?

surely not for the main triangle at least?

you definitely dont need expensive tools or a "proper jig" to build a decent frame

(:

surely the tools you need are oxy-acet torch, files and some sort of home-made jig/alignment tool?

(:

surely the tools you need are oxy-acet torch, files and some sort of home-made jig/alignment tool?

• a decent vice and some quality engineering measurement tools,the expensive bits are bb tap,fork crown race cutter, seat and head tube reamers or a nice local bike shop/builder who will do all that for you.A jig should only be used for setting up and tacking the tubes and is absolutely not necessary to build a decent frame but will make it a lot quicker and easier.Not worth investing in for a once in a blue moon one off.
  

can you not buy BB shells that are already tapped?

if i ever choose to do it, i probably wouldn't do the forks anyway to be honest.