Hi! Sal here. Starting this thread as a place to document what I’m working on as I begin my framebuilding journey. I wrote a bit about my background in the introductions thread, but long story short, I took a brazing class fall 2021 and watch a lot of YouTube (shout out Paul Brodie) – constantly learning. I do infrequent aluminum TIG at work, have done maybe 1 hour of steel TIG total in my life, and maybe 50 hours of fillet brazing. Looking forward to a lot more of all of three.
I’ve built one frame and one fork. Currently in the mitering stage of build #2, which is a frame and fork for the PBE framebuilding scholarship. Jumping into the deep end here!
Started this build with a seat tube sleeve, as I’m not using an externally butted tube. Cut some slots on the mill and will finish shaping it by hand. Also made some head tube rings on the lathe. My day-to-day is mostly CNC and it’s fun to incorporate some manual machining into framebuilding. I have some other weird stuff planned, including a headset and brake cable hanger.
Very cool, Sal! You had me at custom machined head tube rings! Looking forward to seeing how this build comes together! I’m sure it’ll be beautifully done.
Front triangle is ready to tack now. I am doing this frame Paul Brodie style, taking some inspiration from his romax build series. Using a mix of Columbus Life and Tange Prestige. Suntour dropouts.
Frameset and stem are off to powdercoat! Now just the details left to work on. Got the build figured out, but trying to find time to make both the headset and head badge this week. Here’s some more process pics:
Interesting cable routing… should have gotten another diver’s head for the adjuster side here, but Paragon provided the little cylindrical things for this build, so asymmetrical it is.
All done and getting blasted tomorrow. Frame is under 4 lbs, fork is 875g with uncut steerer. Didn’t have a goal in mind but I like light bikes. This is a mix of Columbus Life (DT, ST), Zona (CS), Tange Prestige (TT, SS).
Awesome job on the mitering with the lathe! My good buddy jeff Lyon miters all his main tube with a dingus that allows holding tubing blocks on the compound.
How thick is the stem extension tube? That slot makes me a little nervous.
Hahn Rossman
it’s quite thick as I planned to machine it in this way and didn’t want much flex in the stem. it doesn’t make me nervous at all - and no one else has to ride it! certainly an experiment though - I’m not an engineer. it’s nice to make things that aren’t products for a change.
Very nice build.
I like the rear brake cable setup. Brings me back to the old days when I did a lot of experimenting with cable hangers and straddle cables on my BMX to get the most power out of it.
