streetstomper

Would it be inadvisable to hire a welder with AWS D1.2 (structural aluminum) certification to TIG weld a frame or are the tubes too thin? I would be using 7005 since I don't want to deal with the hassles of heat-treating and alignment.

unterhausen

I don't think it would be worth it unless you just happened to find someone that was experienced with thin tubing

Scooper

Frank the Welder?

ksisler

Scooper; Agree with the reference... From what I have seen, Frank could weld two beer cans together and get perfect welds...

/K

streetstomper

Frank is out of my price range. Not paying $1900 for a frame. I've found some local welders who are certified. Haven't contacted them yet to see if they can handle thin wall tubing. They'd certainly be able to do a better job than I could after taking some welding classes. If I hand file the miters myself, the price would probably still be well under $1000 even with the welding services. The major problem is there wouldn't be any jigs to ensure alignment.

unterhausen

I assume this means you need something out of the ordinary, because it really sounds like you would be much better off with a production frame that meets your needs

there is no good way to get a discount custom frame except to go to a discount framebuilder. There are companies in China that apparently do a creditable job of building a frame. If you go to a local welder, it's likely that you will be paying to teach the welder how to build frames.

tuz

I don't think it's a good idea. Making a frame is a bit more involved than welding tubes together. And some welds are quite tricky (e.g. seatstay to seat tube). As you mention a welder will have no experience with the alignment tolerances, machining interfaces, etc... Moreover, I think that 7005 does have to be heat treated. It's a simple treatment but still. Mitring the tubing is an important part of the process, you'd need some practice to do it right.

nesteel 

As a fabricator, CADD designer, and bicycle enthusiast who will be attempting his own frame build in 2015, I can say there is one very good reason a custom frame isn't "cheap" or inexpensive; the experience of the person building it, who is also putting their name on, and behind it.

MassiveD

Really, it is going to come down to who you find. Give them, or show them some scraps, and see what the say. For the most part I agree with the reservations, but it might be possible.

Another problem is that with tig welding, fixturing is pretty important, and most guys are not going to have the fixtures

Further you have the whole measure, straighten, and framebuilding tools to cut seats and threads.

Davet

Tsunami Bikes Frames « Tsunami Bikes can build you exactly what you want for less than your budget figure. I've had one now for two years and it's been everything I wanted.

sulehoney

I think it isn't a good way ,or you need someone is good at it and can help you to solve it .

fietsbob

Steel is a simpler material to work with..