Well, I was finally able to search enough to find a previous thread with pictures of my racks already posted, also a link to another member`s blog where he detailed his first rack build. Dang! Even the site search is wonky these days!

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ight=hydraulic

I didnt use a 1/4 bolt to mount them. I welded a 1/4" nut to the end to mount the rack to the braze ons. I found it to work the best cause A it has a hole already drilled that is slightly larger then the threads on the braze ons, B: its steel so I could weld it with no problems. I do plan on probably having it powder coated. I am going to work on building the front rack tonight if my allergies ever clear up. I will post some more pictures tonight of the rear and possibly the front.

Be careful with stuff like that nut you welded. From time to time I weld bolts and nuts on and even after grinding off all the galvanizing I can reach there`s still a lot of zinc in the nooks and crannies that mess with the weld- that would be the funny looking green or white wispsy stuff you might have noticed around that tack. It wouldn`t be a bad idea to grab that nut with a pair of pliers and try twisting and pulling on it- if you got a good weld, it won`t go anywhere. If it breals off, you can try it again- it`ll be easier to get a good weld if use a little piece of round stock or plate with a hole drilled in it since all the steel nuts and bolts I`ve ever seen (other than stainless or custom machined) have been galvanized. Powder coating looks nice and lasts a long time, but the price of doing one or two pieces might be a jaw dropper unless you have a special connection somehow. If you decide you don`t want to spend that much, remember that rattle can jobs look just as nice as long as you don`t mind going back every year or so to shoot a new coat on top. Don`t forget the pics when you do the front rack! And the rear, if you end up adding to it or changing it- we need pixels!

Solid piece of work and good design. I especially like that you didn't roll up the front like all stock racks I've seen. Just interferes with pushing round rack packs up under the saddle. I cut that useless feature off my Topeak.

The nut is on there good. I actually had to bend the nut after I tacked it up and the nut twisted so it will hold. I got friends that do the powder coating, so its not really a big deal to get it down. Throw them a case of beer and some how you get a lot of work done cheaply. I didnt get to work on anything today and didnt even go out for a ride which I should have done. My allergies have been kicking my ass all day. Used Tylenol multi symptom, zyrtec and benidryl and not one of them have worked. Hopefully tomorrow Ill feel well enough to get up and ride after church, and then work on the rack. I dont know how I am going to mount the top section of the rack to the bike. I dont have braze ons on the top of the fork.

This is how the nuts are welded on. May not be pretty but they hold. http://www.thayercomputer.com/rack.jpg We weld for strength not for looks. Spent many of hours welding up metal buildings, and welding on heavy equipment, so theres not an option that the welds can break.