Hi Steve,

In all of my years of cycling, this is the best documented building of a frame that I have ever seen. Great job!

I won't even say anything about your stem height -- oops! Just kidding!

I hope to see this bike in person.

No headbadge?

Nah, no need. I know who built it and besides, it's heavy enough already.

Thanks Cleave.
I'm sure we'll see each other along the road somewhere before too long.

...actually, welding and brazing is different; welding involves melting the tubes being joined but brazing does not and is done at a much lower temperature.

Regarding Gas Flux, lots of professional framebuilders use the system for brazing lugged frames. Less clean up work which is important for some. Not positive but I think they smear a small amount of flux inside the lug before plugging everything together to make sure everything is covered before using the Gas Flux to protect the outside of the joint.

Just curious Steve but what kind of clear are you using? I assume PPG since you mentioned that before but what specific type?

The color is an RM Diamont metallic, the clear is Limco LC4200, both BASF products.

You are correct, I should have said "joining metals" "welding" was just easier, and I have been doing it for over 30 years. I have my own inline fluxing system that I mainly use for race car fabrication. I have never attempted to make a bike frame, but I would like someone to show me how to use my inline fluxer to assemble a lugged frame.

outstanding as well as steps and pictures of the build

I jumped over here from a link on an Australian cycling site...and I'm quite simply blown away. Fantastic from start to finish! It makes the task of framebuilding seem a little less daunting seeing every step documented so well, and the finished product is a superb looking bike that I'm sure is great to ride. I like the minimalist bottle cages a lot, they really suit a steel bike with the narrower tube diameters.

I wouldnt want to be standing near you the day you scratch it though...all that work marred by leaning it against a wall and having it fall over...I tell you, the air would be thick with cursing if that happened to something I'd put that much work into.

Thanks for the excellent post, and may you enjoy your ride for years to come.

Jim

You know, if he breaks it, he can always make another.

Thanks.
You're right about scratches and nicks, I hate'm but every bike gets them in time.
My commuter, built about 8 years ago has quite a "patina" by now. I just make sure to keep
some touch up paint handy.

Beautiful work. It's too bad you have no interest in building for sale. I have a feeling you've got a growing waiting list right here.

Jim

Thanks for putting this thread here, as opposed to on a blog (you probably ought to blog this as well). After all was built, did you end up with any problems? Anything redone? Anything that you' like to improve for the next build?

Thanks,
Danny

I saw it today in person. It is a very nice Blue color - remind me a car custom paint job.
And, as always, Steave is fast on this bike, especially now that he went for 10 speed gears.

No problems and nothing re-done. I've built enough of thses things that I know what I like. The geometry
matches my other two (current) bikes. You can always find things to improve on even if it's only
cosmetic but this bike will be ridden pretty hard so it's better to not be too picky.

It's truly beautiful and you should be very proud of it. I'd buy it from you in a split moment, if I could.

Danny

I just read through this whole thread and all I have to say is....WOW. This inspires me to try this myself (in the future and if I were a bit more mechanically inclined). The only thing I have to add is that I think it would look even more beautiful with some more white on it (bar tape, brake hoods, saddle) but other than that I am in awe.

this thread makes me want to cry. hot dang that bike is beautiful. you have inspired me!

If this thread inspires anybody to try building a bike it'll be icing on the cake.

Since this frame has rack bosses, it needed a rack.

This is not your usual Fred rack.

Made of 5/16" x .028" wall stainless tubing and a few old DT spokes...

Absolutely stunning. I especially liked that you made your own rack and bottle cages; it adds quite a bit to the uniqueness, IMO. I've wanted to try this myself since I was 15 years old, and I swear I'm going to some day...soon. Thanks for the great thread!

Wanna sell that rack?

No thanks. I'd just have to build another to replace it.

Amazing and inspiring! Now I'm confident I can buy a frame and everything to go with it and put it together. Now I just need to find the right frame.

Thanks for sharing!