So I don't know of any frame builders per se, but am looking at the options of making a cheap cyclocross commuter from a steel frame bike. I'm sure I can find a welder locally who may give it a go.

The idea is to buy a cantilever front fork, then weld on the canti bosses on the rear stays, remove the brake bridge and install a cable stop to take it's place.

It's all just steel right? so with the right temps and alignment it should just weld on?

I've seen it done (pics) so I know it is possible. I know it's not ideal etc but i won;t be competitive anyhow, just having fun. And my commuter would then be a nice road frame.


Anyone know of any frame builder/hobby types in socal?

Ask the framebuilding forum. I would say though, if the rest of the frame is brazed, then welding is a bad idea.

Brazing is better. Welding is a lot of heat for such thin metal. Unless it's an old Schwinn.
Sheldon Brown's website has instructions for a nice alignment jig.

Nice idea, but I would not remove the brake bridge.

Darn, yes, brazed I guess, not welded.
I'll check out what's in that forum. Probably more trouble than it's worth but it may still save me a bundle.

Here's the pic of a Bianchi that has had this type of conversion done which inspired my questions. The brake bridge was removed and cable stop mig welded.

Reason for removing the brake bridge from a tight frame is that larger cyclocross tires may not have clearance to fit under the bridge.

For the OP, yes sounds like a reasonable plan. I am considering doing the same thing too for an old road frame. Braze the post on the back stays.

Don't take my word for this, but you might be able to get away with welding. Yes, it is higher heat, but for a much briefer period of time, and in a much more concentrated area. A skilled TIG operator could probably get a boss ina few seconds) and of course, only the area immediately around the boss is heated. You can run a puddle the size of a pinhead with a TIG and still get decent penetration.

Of course, purely theoretical, ask a real framebuilder. A lot of them seem more comfortable with brazing anyway.

You can have them welded. Frames tubes are much thinner than seatstays and they're welded. I have a cyclocross with welded canti/v studs. Make a fixture to hold them in place and have a skilled welder do it.

True, welding has come a long way in the last 20 years.

Still, your annealling the metal at a stress point. then again, maybe annealed metal wil be more likely to distort than crack.