paulkal

Since several years I wanted to build my own frame. This year I finally started building it.
Bought the tubing, lugs and braze on's.


Went on a welding/brazing course.


Finished the frame and got it straightened at a local bike shop.


Got a NOS Shimano 105 group,


And build up the frame. The fork is a Gazelle, which I bought at Stalen Ros. I'm still waiting for some rims, so I can build the wheels. The pedals I will replace later. The handlebar tape I will install when everything is correctly setup, it will be red. I am looking for a red saddle.


Later I want to have the frame painted red, and maybe some red decals.
Even though I made some mistakes during the brazing, I am still satisfied with the result, it was the first time I brazed anuything. Later this year I want to build another one, with nicer tubing and a Shimano AX group.

YoKev

Very cool on the brazing!

Looks interesting with the long rear stays and the steep head. How do you like the ride?

paulkal

Ther steep head angle is one of the mistakea I made, I was hoping nobody would notice it....
I kept the rear stays long, because I intended to make a kind of tourer and wanted clearance.
The ride is very nervous.

Giacomo 1 

You did a great job, especially considering it's your first effort.

Is the nervous ride dangerous in anyway, or is it that your just not used to a ride like this? With some practice and time, you might get used to the quick handling...

sloar 

ive been wanting to do this for a long time now. my only problem is the jig. what did you use? did you make one or buy one?

Italuminium

Paul, that turned out very nice! maybe you could try to find another fork with more rake to make the ride a bit less sketchy.

old's'cool

Very cool project.
Another way to reduce the twitchiness, if you have any leeway in the fit of the bike, would be an extra-long stem. You could compensate somewhat for the extra length by moving the saddle forward, if necessary.
From the size of the bike, I see that you're another one of those notoriously tall Netherlanders.

shoota 

Major props dude. Which tubing did you use?

paulkal

Do it, it is fun to and I learned a lot.
I did not use a jig, just worked careful and it turned out ok.

paulkal

Thanks, I used cheap thick plain gauge tubing. Which is good for the first time brazing.

RobbieTunes

You did what many, many of us want to do. Great job, and welcome to the forum.

Bianchigirll 

Great job!! Looks great so far.

I always loved the looks of this group, something about the Chorusish curve of that crankarm and the champagne finish

paulkal

Thanks, I used it today to cycle to work and it was ok, not to sketchy.

jhess74

That is a really cool project, and great job!
I'd love to do build one myself someday, but at the moment the idea seems a bit overwhelming. Can't wait to see pics when you've got it painted!

Sexy_Lugs

Wow Paul, that is an amazing looking bike you put together there, literally...

Do you plan on making any more? If so, next time will you use a jig?

Bikedued

An old school fork with a lot of tire and fender clearance, and rake, may correct the low front end issue. It might be a problem for the brake reach however? Since you have the experience now, you might be able to add on a brake bridge below the crown? Not too shabby for a first attempt, though. Not at all! I've been wanting to do this for years as well. I may start in a few months, if I can find the time.,,,,BD

noglider 

There's a chance that a fork with longer rake would make it more twitchy, not less.

cooperryder

What would be the down side to heating up head tube lugs to correct angle, clean up and braze again to what you prefer b4 painting?

Gary Fountain

You've got an interesting work station. It looks very professional. Are you a welder by trade? Also, did you "pin" the lugs and tubes before you brazed them? I would be interested to know how it handles on a fast decent - does it get the "speed wobbles" with the twitchy front end?

Like others here, I would like to have a go at building a frame but, in my case, putting words into action doesn't happen that often. Congratulations on your enterprising nature and drive to attempt such a challenging task. I really hope you end up as a master frame builder some day.

paulkal

The work station is not mine, but at the welding school I took brazing lessons, that is why it looks (and is) very profesional. Lack of good equipment kept me from starting earlier building a frame.
My profession has nothing to do with welding, I work as computer engineer, it was the first time that I was holding a burner. I did pin some of the lugs and tubes.
Finding a fast descent here in Holland is going to be difficult.
The ride is ok, just a bit more twitchy than I'm used to. I am satisfied with the frame as it is now.
I'm now planning my next frame, probably Columbus tubing with some nice long lugs, almost no braze-ons and a Shiamno AX group.

Michael Angelo 

That looks really good. Next time use Bike CAD Pro. I just used it on a frame repair I had done. I also would have used silver braze not brass.

paulkal

Thanks, I looked at Bike Cad Pro, but decided that copying a frame was easier.

Gary Fountain

Hahaha, I should have considered your location, Holland, when I asked about a fast decent - stupid me!

Your next build, using Columbus will be interesting too. The AX group will be a classic. I hope you post photos of that build as well.

paulkal

I used the frame for about 1 year now, it is still not broken, so I finally painted the frame yellow.
I still have not decided on the pedals, at the moment it has some platforms pedals. I do have matching NOS Shimano 105 look pedals, or maybe I will use Spd pedals.
Maybe next year I will make my 2nd frame (Columbus woth Shimano 600 AX).

obrentharris 

Nice job!

You might take some inspiration from this blog about another first frame, this one built by a man who went on to make a career of building custom frames.
can't we just get along ?

Brent