Framebuilders - Show me your lugged steel seat clusters!

I'm building frame number 1 (Columbus SPX with cast lugs) and have all of the main triangle miters completed; I'm currently cleaning up the lugs and should begin brazing early next week. Now my thoughts are turning to what is, in my opinion, one of the things that can visually make or break a bike -- the seatstay end caps. I will not be using "plug" style seatstay caps. Since this is my first frame, my inclination is to stick to something fairlly simple, probably a low angle miter with a flat end cap made out of thin plate stock, and perhaps do a semi-wrap sort of like Ebisu does (http://www.jitensha.com/eng/frame_allrnseatcl.html).

Would any of you care to share pictures of your seatstay end designs, as well as comments on tips, tricks, and difficulties encountered in implementing the design? I'm not looking to "steal" anybody's design, I'm just looking for inspiration. FWIW, at the other end, I'll be using socketed dropouts, and the lugs are a short point design (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31002853&id=1160592711).

Thanks!

Pete

In Tim Sanner's class, we used a low angle miter, but instead of a flat end cap we used a piece of cut off top tube to form a concave end cap.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/Sanner%20Framebuilding%20Class/CIMG6009sm.jpg

Another approach you might try sometime.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?399311-How-to-build-a-lugged-steel-frame-with-pics/page6

See post #82 in the thread.

I would go with a simple design on my first frame. Flat caps are a good idea. Wrap around and semi-wrap around are a little trickier. Maybe try that on the next one.

I used a fastback that rests on a tube that replaced the seat post bolt lugs on my first frame. The only problem was that I put the seat stays too close together, and cut through the stays when I slotted the back of the seat lug.


Another approach you might try sometime.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?399311-How-to-build-a-lugged-steel-frame-with-pics&p=6516456&viewfull=1#post6516456

See post #82 in the thread.

Fixed your link, click on the number above the post and you'll get a single post. I think there are two many moving parts in that design for a first build.

Yeah, cassave, that's a beautiful joint, but more than I can handle right now.

Followup question. I'm having difficulty finding 1.125" clamp front derailleurs lately (well, it's getting tougher but not impossible), so I'm thinking about going with a braze-on front derailleur. The problem is, I want to support a broader than normal chainring range for the front derailleur -- 53t would probably be max, but I'd like to be able to go as small as a 46t large chainring (both with a triple) as well. Does anyone make a front derailleur braze-on tab that has a larger than normal vertical range?

Thanks,

Pete

Pete, can`t you use a shim with clamp on FD for OS seat tube? Seems to me that would look just fine, give you all the adjustability you want, and be much easier to boot. I`m looking forward to seing pictures, BTW. Hope you`re enjoying yourself!

Pete, can`t you use a shim with clamp on FD for OS seat tube? Seems to me that would look just fine, give you all the adjustability you want, and be much easier to boot. I`m looking forward to seing pictures, BTW. Hope you`re enjoying yourself!

Hmmm...I wonder what it would look like if I brazed a cro-mo sleeve that took the OD of the front derailleur area to 31.8mm? Might not be too bad...

I like fastback style. :)

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m50/Nessism1/Red3.jpg

I like fastback style. :)

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m50/Nessism1/Red3.jpg

Me too .... Nice work

Here's mine (a little old & rusty :( )

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/dunncrew/MyBike3.jpg

just mitre {by hand**
and braze

just mitre {by hand**
and braze

That's beautiful.

Dazza, you're not helping here :)

Yeah take that to the pro forum...

Always wandered about all the wrap around the front designs, sorta like a tripod that mounts on the ceiling, load wise.

you mean triple triangle?

Wraparound on the randonneur. These are plugs, available from Ceeway.

135276

And some really funky plugs, also from Ceeway. British style fixed gear touring bike.

135277

Triple triangle on the cyclomuletisme (mule path bike).

135281

Triple triangle on the cyclomuletisme (mule path bike).

135281

Nice. It sorta reminds me of a GT frame.

Yeah, I had a bike shop owner (of great local repute) tell me it had to be a GT because they were the only people to ever do it that way, and they had it patented. I told him to look up Jo Routens -- my frame is a direct copy of a 1946 Routens -- but I kind of doubt it soaked into his carbon fiber addled skull...

How `bout this seat cluster- extra triangle that DOES NOT look like GT:

http://www.theracingbicycle.com/images/Baines_full2.jpg

On my fixed gear frame:
http://www.os2.dhs.org/~john/isc-1.jpg