Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Framebuilders
Reload this Page >

Tube Notchers

Notices
Framebuilders Thinking about a custom frame? Lugged vs Fillet Brazed. Different Frame materials? Newvex or Pacenti Lugs? why get a custom Road, Mountain, or Track Frame? Got a question about framebuilding? Lets discuss framebuilding at it's finest.

Tube Notchers

Old 05-29-07, 04:47 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
jeremyb_nz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Posts: 90

Bikes: Giant TCR2, Santa Cruz V10, Scott Reflex FX15, Speshy BMX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Tube Notchers

So... whats everyone using for mitering? I'm looking at getting the "Pro racer economy model" from here:

https://www.cardwells.co.nz/Our_Brand...MenuId/20.aspx

Should do the trick I imagine, shipping to New Zealand from the states at ones I've looked at on ebay has been as much as the notcher itself!
jeremyb_nz is offline  
Old 05-29-07, 07:12 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Nessism's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 3,059

Bikes: Homebuilt steel

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2156 Post(s)
Liked 416 Times in 330 Posts
I've never used one but according to many on the framebuilders list those cheap copeing tools are junk.

If you are just a hobbiest consider using tubemiter.exe https://www.ihpva.org/tools/index.html It will print you a paper template which you wrap around the tube to get the miter angles you want. Touch up with a file to fine tune the proper fit. If you are going to be building a lot of frames consider getting a proper machine to make the miters such as a mill.
Nessism is offline  
Old 05-30-07, 04:46 PM
  #3  
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I use a "jiont jigger" similar to the ones you posted and it has worked for the 6 frames I have built with it, I work with .035" 4130. People will tell you that it works poorly for butted bicycle tubing which is thinner. Mine has definitely deteriorated and I wish I had money and space for a mill to replace it, but it served its purpose, which was to get me building quickly and easily. I have had to make many modifications and jigs to get it to accomodate streamline tubing and offset notches and some other silly functions. But in hindsight doing that really worked to my advantage because I know so much more now about what I want and need for when I do get serious.

If you want to start building soon (which is the only way to learn imo) you have nothing to loose by getting one of those, Good Luck!
slowski is offline  
Old 05-30-07, 07:18 PM
  #4  
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 37
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I've used one that looks similar to one in your link from Harbor Freight and build two recumbent bikes. One poster (on some site or another) suggested that you use a hole saw an eighth of an inch smaller than the desired hole and finish it to size with a file. That worked well for me - between the quality of the notcher and the quality of the job setup I didn't ruin any tubing and it is much quicker (for me) than printing the tube mitering template and cutting it all by hand. Here is a site that has plans for a tubing notcher that looks interesting https://www.rorty-design.com/content/CAD_plans.htm
Greg Fox is offline  
Old 05-30-07, 10:04 PM
  #5  
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,115
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
It depends a lot on the type of cutter you have. With the corect cutter those things can cut nice copes.

I personally prefer abrasive copers. The consensus for small pro shops seems to be some kind of milling machine, but for the guy making a bike per month or less, and possibly the pro, abrassive makes a lot more sense unless you want to have a mill for other things.
NoReg is offline  
Old 05-30-07, 10:38 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
jeremyb_nz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Posts: 90

Bikes: Giant TCR2, Santa Cruz V10, Scott Reflex FX15, Speshy BMX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by slowski
I use a "jiont jigger" similar to the ones you posted and it has worked for the 6 frames I have built with it, I work with .035" 4130. People will tell you that it works poorly for butted bicycle tubing which is thinner. Mine has definitely deteriorated and I wish I had money and space for a mill to replace it, but it served its purpose, which was to get me building quickly and easily. I have had to make many modifications and jigs to get it to accomodate streamline tubing and offset notches and some other silly functions. But in hindsight doing that really worked to my advantage because I know so much more now about what I want and need for when I do get serious.

If you want to start building soon (which is the only way to learn imo) you have nothing to loose by getting one of those, Good Luck!
Cool, what sort of frames you building? I'm keen to do some MTB stuff in 4130 but unsure of what wall thickness to look at.
jeremyb_nz is offline  
Old 05-31-07, 05:19 PM
  #7  
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by jeremyb_nz
Cool, what sort of frames you building? I'm keen to do some MTB stuff in 4130 but unsure of what wall thickness to look at.

My first two were choppers with mostly re-used tubing and a few pieces of .058" 4130 thrown in for good measure. Also two fixed gears with streamline rear ends, an observed trials frame, and a folding swing bike (currently un-finished) all out of .035" 4130.

I can't tell you what thickness tubing you should use but my advice to you is to go with a lighter, thinner wall and compensate with a rock solid design. Building a prototype is a good practice run as well as a confidence booster.
slowski is offline  
Old 05-31-07, 07:44 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
jeremyb_nz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Posts: 90

Bikes: Giant TCR2, Santa Cruz V10, Scott Reflex FX15, Speshy BMX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanks dude, any photos you'd care to share?
jeremyb_nz is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.