Experimentation

So I’ve been monkeying around with the idea of building a gas-welded (not TIG’ed) aluminum frame. This would be one of those one-off experiments, just to see if it’s viable. I’m pretty sure I’d want to build a dozen or so, just to see if it’s a worthwhile endeavor. (Plus I get the R&D write-off on my taxes, right?) If any framebuilders out there have any commentary, opinions or insights on the matter, I’d love to hear from you.

Does this mean that I’ll be offering gas-welded aluminum frames in the future? I wouldn’t hold your breath. One of the points behind tinkering is to learn stuff. And one of the things that I don’t think people spend enough time doing, in-general.

When the time comes for titanium experimentation (and it will be coming), it’ll be with the intent of making titanium frames available to buyers. Due to the specialized equipment needs and the need for me to take a TIG welding class, that’s at least a couple of years away, yet.

Capping a Seatstay

I got asked how it is I create the fluted ends on my seatstays. I struggled to explain it in a 5-minute, spoken-only venue and struggled a bit. Seeing as just the night before I had photographed the process, I put myself in a position to write this post.

Starting out, I have a pair of seatstays. I find a piece of scrap tubing (you do save your scrap tubes, right?) that will become the caps themselves. Then, I figure out how I’m going to miter the seatstays to fit the caps and do it.