Originally Posted by
Doug Fattic
Back in the early 80's one of my friends asked me why bicycle frames were not TIG welded together. I replied that it must not be possible or someone would have been doing it. I did know that KHS (I think) made a TIG welded tandem frame but I assumed that was only possible because a tandem of that era used thick walled tubing.
In 1992 I took a TI welding class at UBI. It was the first one they offered with Gary Helfrich (one of the founders of Merlin) instructing. I''ve TiGed a few titanium and steel frames but making them is not really what I am interested in doing.
Gary H might be the biggest reason steel lightweights started to be TIG welded. Of course Teledyne Titan and the other Ti frames like Flema were TIG welded way earlier, but in steel, TIG was restricted to BMX. It was widely believed that TIG was inappropriate somehow for thin steel. Gary knew better, he was a skilled welder working for Chris Chance but not welding frames, until he convinced Chris to try one. Chris agreed and
AFAIK that was the first widely-available welded steel frame. Chris of course went on to make the popular Fat Chance bikes that were all welded. MTBs soon followed, with road not too far behind.