Vacillating

[GTHOtrod]

Looks Great ! I have a question about welding / brazing frame . Was told never electric weld a CROMO frame . The metal will crack later . True or Tale ? Noticed British Bikes are brazed .

Billions of tig welded chromo frames still in service after 20, 30, 40 years of service, suggests that is a tale.
The frame of Vacillating is hi ten, but have done some frame mods on cromo also with no issues.
I'm Working up to building a modern klunker from scratch.

 

[Tallbikeman]

Spent a bit of time tonight getting the basic bike together. Keen for a test ride tomorrow.
View attachment 237154

Also got the fenders and chain guard cleaned up and coat of black base coat.
View attachment 237155

That is a good looking bike. Looking forward to your first ride report. The design does have the possibility of being a giant spring. Love your artistic seat post support. Very nice. Carrying that artistic theme through to your rear drop outs was a great touch. Keep up the cool work.

Billions of tig welded chromo frames still in service after 20, 30, 40 years of service, suggests that is a tale.
The frame of Vacillating is hi ten, but have done some frame mods on cromo also with no issues.
I'm Working up to building a modern klunker from scratch.

A steel frame builder told me that tig localizes the heat of welding very well and works very well on heat treated alloy steels. Stick and other forms of welding heated a much larger area causing the steel to lose its heat temper wherever it got too hot. This weakened the joints greatly causing failure. Brazing occurs at a much lower temperature and does not effect the heat treatment processes for hi strength heat treated alloy steels. American manufacturers used mild steel with no heat treatment process for strength to speak of. Thus Schwinn and other manufacturers electric butt welded their frames with no loss of strength to the designs because heat treatment was not being used as a strength component.

 

[GTHOtrod]

First test ride had the bars feeling a little too low.
Added Electra bars and leather saddle, made it much nicer.
Also got some green onto the fenders and chain guard.

 

[JA331]

Looks awesome. The stem I’m sending will give you some height without lifting it too much. Does the frame feel solid?

 

[GTHOtrod]

Looks awesome. The stem I’m sending will give you some height without lifting it too much. Does the frame feel solid?

That stem will definitely help.
It feels surprisingly solid given the lack of a seat tube. I had a sprung seat first, so couldn't feel the frame. I know it's going to be somewhat springy

 

[GTHOtrod]

Now we're getting there

 

[Tallbikeman]

I like your fenders and chain guard a lot. I think the bike looks better with them on it. Your seat is far enough back that most of the weight will be on the down turned seat stays and not that long straight top tube. This will help keep it from being too springy. If it does prove to be too springy then maybe a small strut tube could be installed between the top tube and the bottom tube. I really like where you have gone with this design and hope it works out the way it is.

 

[GTHOtrod]

I like your fenders and chain guard a lot. I think the bike looks better with them on it. Your seat is far enough back that most of the weight will be on the down turned seat stays and not that long straight top tube. This will help keep it from being too springy. If it does prove to be too springy then maybe a small strut tube could be installed between the top tube and the bottom tube. I really like where you have gone with this design and hope it works out the way it is.

I got in a good test ride this afternoon. It is quite sturdy. It is not going to be a daily rider, so I don't foresee any issues with flex.

 

[GTHOtrod]

Decent test ride today. Definitely a comfortable cruiser. Have been considering going to a skinny front tyre (26×1.5) but i think the 26x2.125 front and rear suit the style of the bike better.

 

[GTHOtrod]

Rat Rods and Rat bikes.

 

[GTHOtrod]

Stem arrived in the mail yesterday from @JA331. Thanks again dude
Got it painted and fitted up today, along with my old Brooks. Puts the bars up at a really nice position, for a comfy chill cruiser.
Next up, I am looking at options for a tank. I think a tank could add a nice finishing touch, but not sure as yet how to style it.

 

[GTHOtrod]

Got side tracked at knocked up some truss rods today. Used a peice of old aluminium fence from the scrap pile.

 

[Son of Kradus]

That chian guards doing it for me bro! love the improvisation!

 

[GTHOtrod]

Got the tank cut filled and shaped today.

 

[GTHOtrod]

Painted and installed the tank. I think it's just enough. Not too much, but adds a little extra style.

 

[SkyknightJohn]

Fits right in. Very good look.

 

[ingola]

Love this bike you won't look right on it best to send it to Canada

 

[Pondo]

Wow, that tank looks perfect on there and color matched!

 

[GTHOtrod]

Love this bike you won't look right on it best to send it to Canada

Postage could be an issue from down under

 

[GTHOtrod]

Working on getting some artsy pics lol.