I've built a few frames on a welding table even more rudimentary than yours. I built the table myself as well. I agree with you 100% about a dedicated bicycle frame jig being the fastest and most efficient way to tack a frame together. However, I feel like a lot of beginner potential frame builders quit before they ever get started because they feel like they need to invest in expensive tooling (mill, lathe, jig), take a week long frame building class Etc. I've got a couple of build series videos on my channel with some pretty inexpensive low tech tooling.I think it's a decent example of being able to learn the craft without a huge investment. In a perfect world, I'd love to have a Bridgeport mill and an Anvil jig, but at this stage of my life, it's just not in my budget.
Automotive suppliers have been building prototypes and short runs off of full scale drawings since forever. Roll your "layout" onto the plate and block the tubes up to the heights on the drawing. Checking is done best with a height gauge. Most of the frames that I've built, came off of very sophisticated tooling but I've also done it with a piece of paper, and some steel blocks. The old master, Fransisco Cuevas didn't need much more than a straight edge and a vice.
I generally just tack the frame in my actual frame fixture. I do alignment checks on this steel table with the height gage I showed. The welding pulls the frame around quite a bit so the goal is to check the frame as you go and use the weld sequence to get it to end up straight without ever having to "cold set" it into alignment. Cold setting is just bending it basically.
Hey Joe! Curious what the dimensions of your plate are? From what I gather 36" x 48" seems to be an ideal size for frames, but there are a couple options on my local craigslist right now- a ground cast iron table at 24"x36", and a 6" thick, 24"x48" granite plate for $300. 24" seems a little narrow but maybe at 4" long it'd be fine? Curious what your experience is. And thank you for creating such informative videos, between your channel and the podcast it is has been an incredibly helpful resource in my fabrication journey.
Mine is/was 32x36” which is smaller than ideal, but it does the trick if you need it to. I sold it recently because it’s less relevant to what I currently do but it was good to me.
@@cobraframebuilding Thank you kindly 🙏 for your incuragement on Building a Bicycle Frame 🚲 🙏 i have been following you from Canada 🇨🇦 #YSW I am a newbie at building Bicycle 🚲 Frames but I want to learn and you are the Best way to learn beacuse ypu explanation is very simple and clear Thank you kindly 🙏
In order to make bicycle frame building process accessible for many of us as possible you will have to eliminate all expansive tooling, fixtures and jigs, going jigless totally makes sense.
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I've built a few frames on a welding table even more rudimentary than yours. I built the table myself as well. I agree with you 100% about a dedicated bicycle frame jig being the fastest and most efficient way to tack a frame together. However, I feel like a lot of beginner potential frame builders quit before they ever get started because they feel like they need to invest in expensive tooling (mill, lathe, jig), take a week long frame building class Etc.
I've got a couple of build series videos on my channel with some pretty inexpensive low tech tooling.I think it's a decent example of being able to learn the craft without a huge investment. In a perfect world, I'd love to have a Bridgeport mill and an Anvil jig, but at this stage of my life, it's just not in my budget.
Automotive suppliers have been building prototypes and short runs off of full scale drawings since forever. Roll your "layout" onto the plate and block the tubes up to the heights on the drawing. Checking is done best with a height gauge. Most of the frames that I've built, came off of very sophisticated tooling but I've also done it with a piece of paper, and some steel blocks.
The old master, Fransisco Cuevas didn't need much more than a straight edge and a vice.
you are speaking my language. I want to try several different welding projects including a bike frame! THANKS!!!
How much you sell the Cobra jig?
Great old skool
Thank you for sharing
Let's see if @pithybikes finishes his DIY framebuilding jig kit. Would be curious to have your review of it.
Do you have any comments on the "Jiggernaut" fixture (if you've heard of it)?
Do you use the fixture for tacking or do you complete the welds in the fixture. What do you use for alignment?
I generally just tack the frame in my actual frame fixture. I do alignment checks on this steel table with the height gage I showed. The welding pulls the frame around quite a bit so the goal is to check the frame as you go and use the weld sequence to get it to end up straight without ever having to "cold set" it into alignment. Cold setting is just bending it basically.
Hey Joe! Curious what the dimensions of your plate are? From what I gather 36" x 48" seems to be an ideal size for frames, but there are a couple options on my local craigslist right now- a ground cast iron table at 24"x36", and a 6" thick, 24"x48" granite plate for $300. 24" seems a little narrow but maybe at 4" long it'd be fine? Curious what your experience is. And thank you for creating such informative videos, between your channel and the podcast it is has been an incredibly helpful resource in my fabrication journey.
Mine is/was 32x36” which is smaller than ideal, but it does the trick if you need it to. I sold it recently because it’s less relevant to what I currently do but it was good to me.
@@cobraframebuilding Thank you kindly 🙏 for your incuragement on Building a Bicycle Frame 🚲 🙏 i have been following you from Canada 🇨🇦 #YSW I am a newbie at building Bicycle 🚲 Frames but I want to learn and you are the Best way to learn beacuse ypu explanation is very simple and clear Thank you kindly 🙏
In order to make bicycle frame building process accessible for many of us as possible you will have to eliminate all expansive tooling, fixtures and jigs, going jigless totally makes sense.
More MTB frame build vids!!!!!!! :)~
I know!! They're way more work to produce, but I want to make them just as bad as anyone wants to see them.
🤘