Frame fixtures: source of cones?
 

Does anyone know of a source of cones to hold frame tubes? I don't have access to a lathe. I suppose someone could turn them out of bar stock and offer them to the rest of us.

Alex Meade will do machining work for others at a reasonable cost. http://alexmeade.com/

Some have mentioned using cones for honing. http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDi...lookup=AMM3904

Andy.

those would just barely grab a 44mm head tube. Probably better to go to Alex Meade

Thanks for the info. I like the Alex Meade website.
Harbor Freight has a motorcycle wheel balance outfit for $40. It has a shaft, 2 cones and a stand with bearings. Wait for the discount coupons prior to purchasing anything. I prefer to purchase domestic stuff when available.
Looks like suitable alum. bar stock can be purchased online for maybe $10/ft. An hour with a lathe could produce quite a few cones, etc.
IIRC Doug Fattic has collected some examples of one-off fixtures with steel cones in his shop/classroom.
Seems like something with a smaller central bore could be adapted to a jig made from 80/20 stock.

I intend to produce no more than a few frames in my lifetime. Low-cost fixtures and workarounds are OK for my negligible production.

My Craigslist O2 Concentrator (indoors and dry) and barbeque propane tank ( stored outdoors ) keep costs low and neighbors are less worried.

now that I figured out how the taper attachment on my lathe works I might make some cones :)

I have been using some tapered tool holders. Unfortunately they will only hold 1 1/8" max.

Alex Meade sells some very nice looking cones. $70/pair. iirc.

For that kind of thing I would just angle the cross-slide. And then there is off centre turning. A tape attachment is a great thing for certain uses though.

A cool thing is to make a thing that holds a dial indicator in your lathe toolpost at centre height, then you can drive your toolpost back and forth on some taper you want to replicate, and then when you are dead zero on your model piece you will be dead zero on your cut. It is also a great way of measuring whether your tail stock is dead nuts with your headstock bearing, which is important if you want cut parallels or tapers accurately.

I might try the dial indicator thing for something I'm making. It would be better to use a ball turning attachment, but I don't have one and I don't wish I had one very often

Would these work? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Harley-Chopp...bfb21e&vxp=mtr

No affiliation.

I wouldn't buy something like that unless it could handle 44mm, but for anything else they would work