OK, finally got the frame back from the painters (Bryan @ Fresh Frame, he's only doing OEM now but I've known him for a long time). Without further ado:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._5096640_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7275039_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs596...._3605278_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4751960_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4808972_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...8_838459_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4856967_n.jpg

I cut the steerer, installed the headset, flex-honed the seat tube, Boeshield'ed the seat tube, down tube, and chain stays (all other tubes are sealed), and chased the threads in the braze-ons. I'll let the clear set for another week and then get it built up.

Very happy with the results :)

Pete

Very very nice!
I like that color. It must really pop in the sun.

This was number one IIRC? Great result first time out.

I'd love to know what it looks like in the sun, but it's been pissing down rain all day today :( And, yes, it was number one. Thanks for the compliments :)

Looks good! What did you use to indent the chainstays?

My thumbs.

J/k :P. That cyclex steel is tough stuff...the builder that helped me had a fixture to do it...aluminum block bored for 22mm chainstays, rectangular slot on one side. There's a third piece that is a "T" shaped piece of steel that fits in the slot (top of the "T" on the outside). Clamp the raw stay in a vise, tighten until you achieve the desired clearance. They're not indented much, but there's clearance for 35mm slicks...I normally run round 28's.

Pete

OK, got it built up, took pictures, and rode it around the block before the thunderstorms arrived:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4053641_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._5981294_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs534...._2326823_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2269030_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._8345126_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2184989_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._1804025_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...5_348136_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2051545_n.jpg

For a rehash of the complete saga, start here.

Pete

Well done Sir!!! So when are you going to start taking on customers???

Cheers,
Chris

It's in my 10 year plan. I'm in my 3rd career (1st: 9 years as a Navy submariner; 2nd: 12 years as a computer programmer) as a high school computer science teacher. Currently, I spend my summers working as a contract programmer, but as I spend more time away from programming, I expect the work to dry up. I hope to start "collecting" the major pieces of the puzzle that I still need -- frame jig, fork jig, torch, small milling machine, taps and facing tools -- and get a couple more frames per year under my belt, and eventually go into production of 8-10 frames per year.

Thanks for the compliments,

Pete

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/...ba6c75bb_b.jpg

most recent. campag c record delta group

some new paint coming out of the booth. All waterborn color.

unlike the road frame above, i did not metal work on this old rocky mountain, just the paint, hope it is alrighti post it here. Mostly water-color, base is ppg euro.

crankset paint.

Alchemy
 

This is my alchemy project bike - just a comfortable club racer type road bike that I can use for commuting when the urge strikes. James Flatman at Alchemy Bicycle Company provided the frame and inspiration. The paint scheme was my own. Spectrum Powder Works did the powder-coating and the engraved parts were from the folks at Purely Custom. The unmatched black and brown Ergo hoods were due to initial indecision on my part!

Dave VW

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=159465
In progress Front Wheel Drive (FWD) Tadpole recumbent trike.

I want that... :(

Cool video of a Haley Trike with Sara and Stephen in Philly.
I love these because the prototype was built in my courtyard in Savannah, GA when Stephen helped us restore our 1873 house.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NcGpc0w8vk
www.haleytrikes.com

Such amazing work here...

Have yet to build a complete frame but have been put to work at Arvon Cycles as an apprentice and was told that one day I will inherit the business... seems that we have really hit it off and working with a master builder is amazing.

:)

Arvon Stacey is 75 years old and has been building custom touring bikes, tandems, and single bikes for 30 years... he figures he has another 20 years to teach me what I need to know.

We do a lot of repair, restoration, and custom work in addition to building complete frames and bicycles (it pays the bills) and have been taking orders... my experience as a bike mechanic and fitter really helps and I know my way around a shop.

Yesterday I started modifying my vintage folder by adding brake mounts for cantis and today worked on refitting a vintage tandem with new brake mounts, cable guides, and new rear dropouts.

It is nice to know the boss trusts you to work on custom frames as I have been doing... expect that my first bike will roll out in a few months and until then will be working on whatever needs working on.

Most of the work we do is filet brazing...

You're going to have a lot of jealous readers, I think, at least judging by the number of folks around here who have asked about apprenticeships. Make sure to put up some pictures when you finish that first build.

Congrats 65!

All right here's my first build! Imperfections are too long to list (crappy shorelines, lumpy fillets, asymmetries, etc.), but I think everything is sound :) I'm missing a few braze-ons and a set of racks.

fuzzy shot
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/...7a0b6fc96e.jpg

bilams
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/...ec7bb8bbc1.jpg

the ''Herse'' stay attachment
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/...cb786bbae9.jpg

drops
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/...c9f15d412a.jpg

wow, that's an ambitious first build. Does a chain fit?

Well I thought I'd be good for practice to complicate the build. File, fit, file, fit, braze, file, repeat. While I haven't put a chain yet, there is plenty of clearance. It's a 6 speed cassette on a 7sp freehub.

Just doing some modifications of late...

Canti mounts, bottle braze ons, and a rear through cable guide... will be adding a spoke holder and will be building up a new stem too.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...rest21side.JPG

He's talking about the chain fit between the rear hub and crank...mixte's will have issues if the stay angle (viewed from the side as the stay goes from d/o to tt) is too shallow.

Fwiw, I too think this was an ambitious first frame- congrats for seeing it through, I'll bet you learned a lot! That said, I think you should fit the parts to see how things line up...and then go directly to frame #2. Maybe do a lot more fillet practicing in between.

Still, kudos for getting it done!

Thanks. It was a lot of work but fun. It's also nice to see one-self's brazing skills improving from one session to the other. But yes practice makes perfect. Hence the complicated build (I did practice before, but there's nothing like making a whole frame).

Anyway. I've been riding it for the last two days and no issues whatsoever with the chain or anything else (Edit: jinxed, I just put the rear brake (high profile XT) and there is potential for heel strike, I'll try a lower profile canti). Hey the thing even rides no hands :) Are you guys referring to the chain rubbing on the mid-stay in the top gear?

(PS are those fillets that bad?)