wot did you lot make frames out of

[madpigpunk]

Listened to a lot of proffesional opinions on this matter, a lot of them conflicting a lot of them with good advice.Would love to here peoples opinions on making a frame.Did it work did it fall to bits.What sort of tube did you make it out of how did you weld it etc.Did you use a jig or make it by eye.Did you single top tube and drop the rails first then go on to make a full hardtail.Did you have to sit by candlelight everytime the stick welder was turned up full and blew the fuses.This is a subject that really intrests me so wanna here horror stories and fairy tales .Im sure any advice would be benifficial to anyone wanting to have a go at their own frame.Really keen to hear from people who made their frame with an arc welder and gas pipe and are still riding it
Ride Safe Paul B

[madpigpunk]

Sorry bout spelling pssied sa a cnut

[guydewdney]

180 amp TIG welder, a hole saw to make 'fishmouth' ends on the tube so they fit nicely, and CDS tubing used for rollcages in competition cars...

<still sober on a friday night... :( )

[Tom-madbiker]

first frame done with an arc welder and made in 40mm box was a trike and has IRS very good second frame coming along nicely again with an arc welder but this time a hard tail :D

[manky monkey]

Grade 3 ERW hardtail trike frames. 150 MIG. Mainly by eye, using plumb bobs, squares, spirit levels etc & double & triple checking all measurements. 1" bore, (1/8" wall thickness) for all frame tubes, except single top tube which is 1 1/2". Built half a dozen. Lots of triangulation & plenty of 1/8" strengthening gussets. No major probs so far. Go to the site below & check "New Stuff" for frame build articles. :)

[addjunkie]

There was another post on this last week and those bods do know what they are talking about....................

New dc stick /tig welders work well from ordinary socket (easily portable too), no candle moments when i use mine, though i did fit a heavy duty socket for mig welder, to its own fuse and carrier in garage. 150 amp mig needs a 20 amp supply to use it full blast.

as for it breaking up, all depends if you use the right stuff and can weld of course, if you are not sure ........dont do it, get a proper bloke to do it for you, if you dont have the gear itll be cheaper to pay some one rather than buy all the gear! tools sharp add up in price.

also uneven bends held together by pigieon **** dont look to good or sell to well when your done. thats if you live long enough to sell to when it breaks up and you slide down the road. dont want to sound to negative, but youll be investing a lot of money so may as well get it right.

[madpigpunk]

Already got 170 amp mig 140 amp arc, hydraulic pipebender small lathe . pillar drill, grinders bench grinders and a metal chop saw.Not like i aint got the stuff or the experience.Gonna get someone to make the frame for my next bandit project,was mainly wanting to hear of peoples differing experience on making frames and the problems they ran into
Paul

[Blackjack]

Biggest problem I ran into was sorting out the BS from the Knowledge. But one day I wanted a ham sandwich, and that all got sorted out.

[addjunkie]

but did the ham sarnie end up with oily finger prints on it!!!!!!!

[Sir Ewok]

Was it real Ham or reprocessed meat ham like substance.....

[Blackjack]

It was in fact the absence of ham (of any shape, form, or description) that led me to the local ham emporium, which happenstance was situated aposite the job centre. So verily I ventured yonder and fortuitously espied the placement of a vacancy for one who was both a weldor and a fabricator.

Assorted circumstances thereafter led forthwith to my employment as such in the Wasp motorcycle manufactory.

And it was probably processed ham.

[Sir Ewok]

Ah! I see! If you'd gone for a Cheese and pickle sandwich, you may well be emplyed by Triumph (Bras and Corsets)...... ;)

[smeghead]

^ that would be funny to watch as blackjack fits his frames to the owners, i have this bad image in my head of all these women running from blackjacks bra fitting shop with oily hand prints :eek:

[m@rk]

if you decide upon welding up your own frame (as i did) then although im a good welder(read as "i think i am..lol"..) dont under any circumstances think i'll have a few cans while im doing it .hmmm
take it from me guys it'll end up as pissed as you...lol

ps..a good tip to buying a frame is look for loads of filler and beware a frame that does.. a good welder dont need filler.
ride safe...... :D :D