Framebuilders - Stainless Steel

Has anyone built a stainless steel bike? (Aside from the Moultons)

I know that there are stainless steel Lugs, but I mean SS tubes also.

I am guessing that because the there probably isn't much of a selection of tubing, it would probably render a heavier bike, and there wouldn't be any real advantage, it probably hasn't been done. But I keep thinking it would be a really neat project. In the raw, with the brazing showing and not too polished.

http://www.kvastainless.com/bicycles.html

http://www.columbustubi.com/eng/4_4_1.htm

http://reynoldstechnology.biz/our_materials_953.php


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7258/7556835306_a2326c7f14_b.jpg

I have nothing to do with the bike,it was just the was the first one I found.

waterford does....and look for scooper's posts he has a waterford SS bike very nice

in fact, it's pretty common and lots of builders use stainless.

the frame pictured is the latest from Clockwork:
http://www.clockworkbikes.com/



http://www.kvastainless.com/bicycles.html

http://www.columbustubi.com/eng/4_4_1.htm

http://reynoldstechnology.biz/our_materials_953.php


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7258/7556835306_a2326c7f14_b.jpg

I have nothing to do with the bike,it was just the was the first one I found.

Lots of builders are using stainless tubes from Columbus, Reynolds, and KVA. At this year's NAHBS there were stainless bikes on display from Naked, Dave Anderson, Dave Wages (Ellis Cycles), Cinelli, and several others. I also know Carl Strong and Bob Brown build in stainless. As squirtdad says, I've got a stainless Waterford RS-22. These bikes are light and strong, and because they're corrosion resistant there's no need for paint (with its additional weight) to protect the bare steel. My 61cm frame weighs 1650g.

Thanks for all the responses, I didn't know about this. I guess this would be my "exotic" material of choice to build a frame. I must do more research on these now I know the exist.

Build likely TIG SS wire filler, or lug build, then silver soldered ..

brass and stainless tube, have issues trying to braze it..

My Waterford is lugged, silver brazed by Dave Wages (now building frames as Ellis Cycles (http://www.elliscycles.com/)).

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/Waterford%20B07014/B07014TopHeadLugmed.jpg

My Waterford is lugged, silver brazed by Dave Wages (now building frames as Ellis Cycles (http://www.elliscycles.com/)).http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/Waterford%20B07014/B07014TopHeadLugmed.jpgThat is one sexy lug.

That is one sexy lug.

Dave does really nice work.

One of the downsides of highly polished unpainted stainless (or chrome plated non-stainless) is that the highly reflective surface shows even the smallest flaws like file marks, uneven shorelines, or voids in the brazing. They stand out like a sore thumb.

I'd surely get it all greasy and obviously nasty if I ever tried to do any mechanic work on one of those.

I'd surely get it all greasy and obviously nasty if I ever tried to do any mechanic work on one of those.

Yeah, but the cleanup is easy. You can use solvents on bare stainless that would destroy a nice paint job.

Build likely TIG SS wire filler... <snip>

Even though my frame is lugged, the seat stays are TIG'd using SS wire filler. It was a double pass weld which was then dressed and polished. It gives the appearance of fillet brazing, but without discoloration or undercutting.