Stainless Steel
#1
Thread Starter
canis lupus familiaris
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,254
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From: North Carolina
Bikes: En plus one
Stainless Steel
Has anyone built a stainless steel bike? (Aside from the Moultons)
I know that there are stainless steel Lugs, but I mean SS tubes also.
I am guessing that because the there probably isn't much of a selection of tubing, it would probably render a heavier bike, and there wouldn't be any real advantage, it probably hasn't been done. But I keep thinking it would be a really neat project. In the raw, with the brazing showing and not too polished.
I know that there are stainless steel Lugs, but I mean SS tubes also.
I am guessing that because the there probably isn't much of a selection of tubing, it would probably render a heavier bike, and there wouldn't be any real advantage, it probably hasn't been done. But I keep thinking it would be a really neat project. In the raw, with the brazing showing and not too polished.
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
https://www.kvastainless.com/bicycles.html
https://www.columbustubi.com/eng/4_4_1.htm
https://reynoldstechnology.biz/our_materials_953.php

I have nothing to do with the bike,it was just the was the first one I found.
https://www.columbustubi.com/eng/4_4_1.htm
https://reynoldstechnology.biz/our_materials_953.php

I have nothing to do with the bike,it was just the was the first one I found.
#3
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,484
Likes: 4,892
From: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, 86 De Rosa Pro, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
waterford does....and look for scooper's posts he has a waterford SS bike very nice
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Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
#5
Framebuilder
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 570
Likes: 0
the frame pictured is the latest from Clockwork:
https://www.clockworkbikes.com/
https://www.clockworkbikes.com/
https://www.kvastainless.com/bicycles.html
https://www.columbustubi.com/eng/4_4_1.htm
https://reynoldstechnology.biz/our_materials_953.php

I have nothing to do with the bike,it was just the was the first one I found.
https://www.columbustubi.com/eng/4_4_1.htm
https://reynoldstechnology.biz/our_materials_953.php

I have nothing to do with the bike,it was just the was the first one I found.
Last edited by unterhausen; 07-17-12 at 02:38 PM. Reason: fixed tags
#6
Decrepit Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,488
Likes: 92
From: Santa Rosa, California
Bikes: Waterford 953 RS-22, several Paramounts
Lots of builders are using stainless tubes from Columbus, Reynolds, and KVA. At this year's NAHBS there were stainless bikes on display from Naked, Dave Anderson, Dave Wages (Ellis Cycles), Cinelli, and several others. I also know Carl Strong and Bob Brown build in stainless. As squirtdad says, I've got a stainless Waterford RS-22. These bikes are light and strong, and because they're corrosion resistant there's no need for paint (with its additional weight) to protect the bare steel. My 61cm frame weighs 1650g.
#7
Thread Starter
canis lupus familiaris
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,254
Likes: 1
From: North Carolina
Bikes: En plus one
Thanks for all the responses, I didn't know about this. I guess this would be my "exotic" material of choice to build a frame. I must do more research on these now I know the exist.
#9
Decrepit Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,488
Likes: 92
From: Santa Rosa, California
Bikes: Waterford 953 RS-22, several Paramounts
#10
My Waterford is lugged, silver brazed by Dave Wages (now building frames as Ellis Cycles).

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Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),
#11
Decrepit Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,488
Likes: 92
From: Santa Rosa, California
Bikes: Waterford 953 RS-22, several Paramounts
Dave does really nice work.
One of the downsides of highly polished unpainted stainless (or chrome plated non-stainless) is that the highly reflective surface shows even the smallest flaws like file marks, uneven shorelines, or voids in the brazing. They stand out like a sore thumb.
One of the downsides of highly polished unpainted stainless (or chrome plated non-stainless) is that the highly reflective surface shows even the smallest flaws like file marks, uneven shorelines, or voids in the brazing. They stand out like a sore thumb.
#12
I'd surely get it all greasy and obviously nasty if I ever tried to do any mechanic work on one of those.
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Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),
#13
Decrepit Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,488
Likes: 92
From: Santa Rosa, California
Bikes: Waterford 953 RS-22, several Paramounts
Yeah, but the cleanup is easy. You can use solvents on bare stainless that would destroy a nice paint job.
#14
Decrepit Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,488
Likes: 92
From: Santa Rosa, California
Bikes: Waterford 953 RS-22, several Paramounts
Even though my frame is lugged, the seat stays are TIG'd using SS wire filler. It was a double pass weld which was then dressed and polished. It gives the appearance of fillet brazing, but without discoloration or undercutting.
Last edited by Scooper; 07-18-12 at 01:12 PM.
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