Volo.

[bikewhorder]

Well, I'm way down but don't count me out yet. I managed to overcome one of my early stumbling blocks and got my aluminium fenders rolled out with a little help form a friend. I broke my harbor Freight roller trying to do this but it was a piece of cake for a real machine. I'm planning to use big English 28x1.5 wheels. Hoping to have a productive weekend.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Nice! Been wondering if it would be possible to make fenders by rolling tube, I guess I am going to find out!

 

[kingfish254]

Here's to hoping you had a productive weekend!!!

 

[bikewhorder]

Here's to hoping you had a productive weekend!!!

I did. Nothing that would be worth uploading pictures for but progress is being made.

 

[Glen]

Nice! Been wondering if it would be possible to make fenders by rolling tube, I guess I am going to find out!

Me too. It's great when someone else does the work and we can just watch.

Glen.

 

[bikewhorder]

I'm pushing forward regardless of the time crunch. I got the top tube "in the bag" and I've made about half the bending forms I'll need. I'm steam bending the wood on this crude set up but it's working well.

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Keep pushing, can't wait to see this!

 

[bikewhorder]

Here's the dual top "tubes". Pretty happy with how they came out. These only have a slight shape to them, the other frame members are way more challenging. I've eliminated the carbon from this build and replaced it with Wenge. The carbon did stiffen the wood significantly but for some reason it didn't bond well to the wood and so when it failed it was dramatic. Plus the carbon is nasty stuff to try to grind and shape and I have a lot of grinding and shaping to do.

 

[kingfish254]

I'm so glad that you're back on this. It's gonna be fun seeing your creativity and skills applied to this unusual medium.

 

[Brian macumber]

Glad you are still at it really interested in this build.

 

[bikewhorder]

Not a ton of visible progress tonight but I did get the form made for the down tube/chain stays.

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Shop envy.

 

[SwissGuy]

Shop envy.

BIG PLUS ONE on that!!!!

 

[bikewhorder]

Shop envy.

Well Thanks but its not my shop. This is my shop. Notice the lack of machinery, just a welder and my poop machine.

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Doesn't matter who owns it, you get to use it!

 

[bikewhorder]

My first attempt at welding aluminum. Looks just like the picture eh?

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Looks better than my welds!

 

[SSG]

Bondo and paint make the welder I ain't.

 

[bikewhorder]

Chipping away. Got the "seat tube" glued up and the tapered strips for the down tube milled out.

 

[David Cooksey]

My first attempt at welding aluminum. Looks just like the picture eh? View attachment 101548

By far the biggest thing in welding aluminium is cleanliness. Even if the material is new you must clean it.
The system I use is this:
Wipe the aera with thinners.
Go over the edges with a stainless steel rotory wire brush in a drill. Do this till the area is a matt finish. Any shiny areas will be contamination.
Wipe the weld filler rod with thinners.
Uses new, clean gloves.

Other than that it's just practice.