Framebuilders - Just ordered from NOVA Cycles

Just ordered my first set of lugs, tubes, and dropouts. I didn't order a fork crown or blades, but those will be soon to follow.

I have a problem though having spent $130 dollars just to go cut it open to ensure that I got proper penetration. Is this just part of what everyone goes through learning, throwing cash down the drain?

Cheers!
Brett

If your goal was to get a custom frame on the cheap.....building it yourself isn't the way to go, in the long run it's cheaper to place an order with an established builder.
Before you braze up this new set of lugs/tubes, you should practice enough so that you won't have to cut up that first frame- at least not right away ;)

What do you suggest that I practice on?

I was told to practice on lugs, because practicing on sheet doesnt reallly compare to brazing lugs.
Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

If your goal was to get a custom frame on the cheap.....building it yourself isn't the way to go, in the long run it's cheaper to place an order with an established builder.
Before you braze up this new set of lugs/tubes, you should practice enough so that you won't have to cut up that first frame- at least not right away ;)

What do you suggest that I practice on?

I was told to practice on lugs, because practicing on sheet doesnt reallly compare to brazing lugs.
Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

You can practice on tubing that fits closely over some 4130 aircraft tubing, and some folks have seconds as practice lugs. Rive is said to have them, though I haven't ever asked myself

too bad they aren't making cheap bikes with lugs any more, when I started you could get a set of lugs for less than $10. Granted, that's probably $30 nowadays, but still....

I never rode my first frame, I don't remember why to tell you the truth, I'm thinking of digging it out of storage and making it into a commuter.

You could look for a lugged junker and grind out the tubes, I have done that. Then you could braze the shortened tubes back into the lugs.

You can practice on tubing that fits closely over some 4130 aircraft tubing, and some folks have seconds as practice lugs. Rive is said to have them, though I haven't ever asked myself
Great idea, get a length of 4130 (say 1") and get another length (1.125") the next size up with an .058" wall. You can cut your own "lugs" out of the bigger tubes and the .058 walls will give you a nice slip fit for brazing. Once you get the hang of flowing these joints, the lugs will be no problem.
FWIW, I can send you a lugset with bottom bracket for $30, if you want to practice on the real thing.

Nova and Ceeway both sell ultra budget lugs for practice.

Ceeway is in Kent, UK, so shipping costs to the U.S. might be be a consideration if you're in the U.S.

Nova is in Rocklin, CA, just northeast of Sacramento.

I fillet brazed a couple frames an learned how brass flows, then got a couple lugs and joined some 4130 with them, and cut them up.

Unfortunately to learn your going to have to destroy some stuff. It's all part of learning and building experience.

Yes, you really need to pull stuff apart. You need to do destructive checks on seatstays, chainstays, BB, and dropouts too. You need to know for a fact that your skills are up to par. Some people take to lugged construction quickly, others never really get the hang of it.

I silver soldered in a professional capacity (not bicycles) for years before constructing a lugged frame, but I still pulled it apart to make sure that I could do the job correctly.

Nova also sells aircraft tubing by the foot.

HenryJames sells practice lugs....

Nova also sells aircraft tubing by the foot.I think I might have this right. Len has some 4130 @.028

I hadn't noticed Serfy was from B'Burg. I grew up there, and made a few frames in the back of East Coasters Bike Shop way back when. Your tall bike is pretty nice looking.

Did you practice on this?
http://www.novacycles.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=597
http://www.novacycles.com/catalog/images/evr_lugs_road_cst.jpg

If so, don't screw up :)

those are purdy

Kmart- Your sig line is awesome.

Those Fleur-de-lis lugs from Long Shen are pretty, and not tough to work with, but they do require narrow diameter (or upside down) seatstays to fit the plugs. I used plug-in style dropouts and finding seatstays with the right diameter on both ends was pretty tough.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a101/Noel3006/IMGP1980.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a101/Noel3006/IMGP1981.jpg

Those Fleur-de-lis lugs from Long Shen are pretty, and not tough to work with, but they do require narrow diameter (or upside down) seatstays to fit the plugs. I used plug-in style dropouts and finding seatstays with the right diameter on both ends was pretty tough.


Sounds like a job for double taper seat stays.:D

Yes, but I learned -- first hand, and repeatedly -- that there are many different diameters of double taper seat stays. Nova even promised they had them and then sent me the wrong ones -- twice. Eventually Ceeway came through with some out-of-production Columbus stuff.

I may someday use those lugs again, but it will be with standard dropouts!