Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Trying to get as much done as possible before my birthday festivities begin and I take off for San Diego.  I have both top points probably at 90% done.  I like the side view.  I wouldn't mind narrowing the taper on the rear point, but don't want it to disappear from the side.  I won't shape the apron point until I can take a visual with the seat stays mocked up.  It's got to look worthy of Dev and have flow.
In the bottom pic, I have the S3 top tube mitered and fit.  We have decided to go with a Braze-on mount for the front derailleur and I am out of stock.  That will slow us down a bit, but I will order first thing Thursday morning.


Sunday, May 29, 2011

This is what I was thinking of for the points on the seat lug.  The shaping really is symmetrical, the crooked glare line makes it look lopsided.  I'll braze the backside material on before heading out to PIR tomorrow.  Birthday is this week and am heading to San Diego to see family, breweries, and a baseball game.

I also spent a fair amount of time on Dannys head badge so it will be ready to install as soon as the frame comes out of the paint shop. This frame with the pro paint is going to be so striking, I want to get some studio shots of it.  I'll bug Huffy.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

 Just a little update on Devins seat lug.  I guess the Sharpie lines were a little deceiving.  The shaping on the right side as you view it is what I was thinking of.  The side view though, looks very good.
I reshaped all six points and cut in a couple of windows on the bottom bracket. Pretty much done.

After dropping Dannys frame off at Rad Finishes, I dropped this frame off at HUB to be displayed at Christian Ettingers new  Bike Bar on NW Williams.  This is the 3lb. 7oz. frame I built a couple of months ago and wanted to paint topaz and red.  However, my advisors had me paint it with the GT 40 livery so the the lugs will pop more when the frame is in the canopy display.

 Getting down to business on Devs seat lug.  He wants long and slim tapers.  I brazed on some extra material and will free hand one side and shape it, then make a pattern and reverse it for the other side.  I'm hoping Dev will let me know how long is long enough.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Dropping the frame off at Rad Finishes. Can't wait to see it when it's painted.  Now to get hot and heavy with Devins Di2 cross bike.


Thursday, May 26, 2011

 Just got done with a thorough alignment check and the frame didn't move at all during glass bead.  Now to finish it up for the painter and get on with the next project.
Speaking of next projects, here's the first crack at Dave's all purpose commuter/guerrilla bike.  It will have plenty of room to run up to 35mm tires.  His coloring, not mine.
 I glass bead peened the frame yesterday and am ready to do the final touch up on the shore lines and polish of the stainless steel bits.  I always glass bead peen as a minor stress relief  and to give me a consistant color and texture of the steel for final inspection and touch up. 



I decided to go ahead and polish the Di2 wiring ports and Dan can decide tomorrow at Rad Finishes when we drop the frame off for paint.  The polish will add a little extra pop on the front of the frame to match the dropouts and there will be no paint chipping to be concerned about around the wiring exits.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Fingers need a rest. Time for lunch.


Quick pic of the almost finished brake bridge.


Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Dans seat post arrived yesterday so I reamed and honed the seat tube to provide a snug fit.  I first used a Thompson Elite as they are the smallest in diameter.  Then I honed up to a Precision which is the same diameter as his Ritchey.


Monday, May 16, 2011

 Here is the Di2 battery mount and cable port on the left chainstay. The port is barely large enough to get the zip ties through.  It is 7mm x 8mm, the Shimano requirement, but I might have to go to 7mm x 9mm to accommodate for paint millage.  Don't want to chip it.
An old Cinelli brake bridge and a new Paragon that we will use on Dans frame.  Uncut and undrilled, the Paragon is 10 gms. lighter while retaining the traditional look of the Cinelli.  Chasing those grams!

Friday, May 13, 2011

The blogger is finally back on line.  This is the pic I took this morning.  With the exception of the brake bridge, the frame is completely brazed, weighing in at 3lbs. 13 oz.  Since this photo, I have been working on the shore lines and smoothing out the lugs and bottom bracket.  These new pieces from Dazza have more surface irregularities than his other lines and require considerable more filing and sanding.  They are beautiful though and worth the extra effort.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

After some birthdays, Mothers day, and other social obligations, I'll be able to get back to work on Dans frame.  All the braze-ons are on.  Here is the battery mount and cable port.  The hole still needs to be enlarged to 8mm to allow the zip ties to pass through.  Also, I will go over every edge inside the bottom bracket with detail files and sand paper to ensure there are no sharp edges to catch the wiring on.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

I'm very low on oxygen, so I decided to finish the tank off with some of the braze-ons.  I use the Henry James Braze-on Gadget, but find that it allows the cable stops to rotate during brazing.  So this is how I set it up to assure a good alignment.
The chain stays are in and required very little post brazing alignment.  They are per drawing.  I weighed it again with the seat stays, and it is at 3lbs. 14oz.  I'm still shooting for 3lbs. 12oz. once the head and seat tubes are trimmed.  Need to run some errands, hope to get back to it today.
The easy stay is brazed.  Cool it, soak it, check the alignment, then start on the drive side stay.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Mitered, cleaned, sanded, fuxed, and ready to braze.  After brazing, I will do a preliminary polish on the dropouts as it's easier when they have the chainstay as a handle.  I need to lace the Powertap/Zipp in the back ground this week.  Anticipate brazing the chainstays to the front triangle on Thursday before Zimmys birthday party.