frame

Forget the fork in these photos.. I made a new one. Added this one to the 'remember' pile. My first fillet frame.. learning and learning and learning. All are for me and no one else. Not ready for 'prime time'

No delusions here Yo!!

shadetree fork making

The start... To build anything, one must have all skills available. layout, tool making, forming, filing, fit and hand work. Dont fool yourself.. if you cant even run a file or set up your torch... or even know what torch to use.. stop now step back and learn. I dont really care how you learn.. a few miles of shitty shop jobs or classes. Trust me, one or two classes aint gonna do it. Get over yourself and off the computer. Info like this dont fall off the electronic tree.. so to speak. I am leaving so very much description out of this process. To type it all out would mean volumes. I make mistakes.. yeah.. I have a fork and frame garden growing in my basement. there are errors then there are ERRORS!!.. Most of the time its the steel being just what it is and unpredictable in its minutia. I am learning about frame building which is its own vast specialty apart from basic steel working.

Here is some more.. dig the high tech method of preventing tube collapse during bending of the blades.

new fork for the recent frame

These are in sequetial order.. see the above post for pre- fit work

Equally bent blades.. sneak up on the curve if you dont have stops installed in the fixture.

2) ovalized TT bending lever with a 'soft' plactic insert to avoid kinking the blades when moving over the form.
I slot the blades after bending. With two wood blocks in the vice jaws to pad the steel, the blade lines up for better sight lines. This helps with hacking a centered slot to be finished with files.

Pinned and ready for brass

Nice, strait and true!! Both blades fall on center.. no turkey legging here Yo!!

fork and bridge

More coming once it all soaks for a bit to get all the crud out... Right Mr. G??? pics of whole frame coming up

Rear triangle.. lots going on but nothing you have not seen before if you have been following this diary of a frame fool. It all goes great until the brass.... I just cant read it. the temps are high, the color different and flux just dont tell me much... It goes fluid way before the brass is ready to flow. Silver/silver flux is easier to see.. It goes grey when the temperature is right and ready... Aaarrggg.. brass.... weird material when used with steel. Keep in mind that this is my own

"A-ha" moment to arrive at.. not yet though. The more I work with it the better. I think I am working too cool, so akin to the dynamic of silver that laying the heat on is counter to what I expect...

Moving on.. Here are some build pics along with the result.. sorry for the slop.

random stuff

barly held the flux but flowed with 50% silver. Its a good joint and minimal cleanup. nekkid joint for all to see and criticize..

the bits

Custom brake bridge, caps HT rings and ST sleeve. Walter 24mm round blade crown. Deda round oval round C-stays. Pacenti OS shell.

Dear Penfield... Its been a while

Its been a looooong time but #4 is on the table. As You can see its a fillet build. It was the intent to use brass but in my rush to get all parts in before vacation time... I forgot flux. So, this is made with 50% ag. I will post geos later.. for now.. Photos!

Sail on...
Creighton

bits and bobs

finally bringing it all together. Honjos are not an easy install.. not really difficult but one needs to be systematic.. Shimano needs to learn some style. The calipers are solid no doubt but needlessly chunky. I used because they were designed with. I want to find alternatives for long reach.

Gotta polish the badge and clean up a few other parts. Ready to ride this thing.. but gotta finish proper. More later...

Well... maybe a little more

New fork.. last one did not work out so well.. too long then too short. So I made a new one. Besides.. square shoulders tingle me! Plus a fender mounting boss in the seat stay. Finally time for paint. Just need to find a box to ship.

Aint gots no more!!!

Just need to slot the ST... Stacy is napping so I cant be pushing files and saws!

#3 is in the books! History will decide. Gonna use powder coat to finish and ride the crap outta this thing! See what shakes loose... #4 coming up.