It’s a bird

[SkyknightJohn]

Was bending some 1” mild steel just playing around, then later that night saw the new build off, so what the heck, I’ll play along.

Between working away from home half the month and other things, it may not get done. Stay tuned for some of the slowest progress ever!

 

[kingfish254]

Sleek lines from what you are showing so far. Hope you find the time to finish it.

 

[Funkme]

It's a start,taking the time is the best...
Looks smooth.

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Looks good!

If you don't have a tubing notcher, this online calculator will create perfect cut patterns for you.

 

[SkyknightJohn]

I’ve not seen that one before, but I might give it a try. I have the HF notcher, but it’s not perfect, and I really wish there were fine-toothed hole saws that weren’t of machine shop premium pricing. Always a fair bit of cleanup with the notcher. Nova cycle supply has a similar calculator on their site, (which I also haven’t used.) This is a good vid of notching with neither calc nor notcher:

 

[SkyknightJohn]

Who among us can pass up a bike in a dumpster?

... even a 700c wal-bike can have it’s uses.
A nice straight steel fork becomes a gently curved base for a new creation.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Cool start!

 

[SkyknightJohn]

Worked on some seatstays today:

Extral long because I decided to go with twin top tubes:

And here’s a sanity-check overview: (chainstays and seat tube just placeholders)

 

[kingfish254]

I love the flow of the rear end on that mockup!
Twin top tubes are always cool too.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Worked on some seatstays today:
View attachment 69315

Extral long because I decided to go with twin top tubes:
View attachment 69317

And here’s a sanity-check overview: (chainstays and seat tube just placeholders)
View attachment 69319

Looks good!

 

[SkyknightJohn]

Snail-paced progress today compared to Nautilus...
(punny, no? )

... but here’s a couple of notches cut & filed on the downtube:

 

[SkyknightJohn]

Dropout-ectomy.

 

[G-Matt]

Nice work got some cool lines . A little bit Rat Fink [emoji1303]


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[SkyknightJohn]

Some work on chainstays today.

An upward bend to bring them up from the BB to maintain an axle-axle visual line.

A second bend to make the proper lateral spacing. Compound bends are tough, especially doing them by sight/feel and nothing but a conduit bender!

But, some patience & a little grinder work later, they’re notched to attach to the BB.

I’ll slot them where they’ll attach to the dropouts, then slot and shape the tube for behind the dropout that attaches to the seatstays... Another day.

Eventually, the weather will warm, I’ll set up my welder and the jig, then start sticking it all together. Eventually.

 

[Funkme]

Great work going on.

 

[OddJob]

What they ^ all said! Really like the flow and design, the twin top tubes are terrific!

RaT oN!

 

[tjwilson]

The compound bends look great. With a conduit bender!

 

[SkyknightJohn]

It’s a bird!

Or a fender ornament.
Maybe a 3D headbadge.
Or maybe just a part I borrowed from the trophey construction room at the motocross where I worked when I was a kid, that has found a new life.

 

[deven_science]

It’s a bird!View attachment 70086
Or a fender ornament.
Maybe a 3D headbadge.
Or maybe just a part I borrowed from the trophey construction room at the motocross where I worked when I was a kid, that has found a new life.

I love adding trophy toppers to my bikes. I've done it a few times.

 

[SkyknightJohn]

Centering cones:

Solid brass low-flow shower head, $16

Disassembled.
x2
1/2” bolt fits perfectly. Some washers & nuts & ta-da!

A close fit on a standard 1-1/2” O.D. bottom bracket. (There are smaller sizes, so be sure to get the larger shower head of you try this.) Works even better on the smaller O.D. 1” head tube. Would work on standard head tubes for 1-1/8” steerers, too, as they’re typically 1-1/2” O.D., but probably not the oversize ones.

I still need to arrange a fixture for mounting to my jig, but this is a start.

FWIW, chopsource.com sells frame jigs for motorcycles, and will sell only the centering cones for bike builders. 3 cones for $73 = $24 ea, (or 5 for 120) so, I only saved $8 or less each for this hack method, but thought I’d share anyway.