Where to start with framebuilding?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael Catano on December 8, 2009 at 9:31pm

Hi Frank,

There are a lot of ways to learn to build frames, and a lot of it has to do with the way you feel most comfortable learning. The most well-known manual/starting point for DIY framebuilding is the volume by tim paterek. The most recent edition is available via his site, but a PDF of an older edition has been widely circulated and can be downloaded here. Though Paterek claims it's rife with errors, etc, the older edition will give you an idea of what's involved in the process.

I've heard really good things about the Chimonas book you linked to, but I haven't seen it personally. At $15, it seems like it would be a good introduction to what's involved in the process if nothing else. If you're a good self-teacher and are comfortable working from texts, you'd probably be able to struggle through your first frame with a couple of quick lessons on how to safely use the oxy-acetylene torch from someone who knows what he or she is doing. The Paterek manual is also available as a series of instructional DVDs which, although terribly filmed, are really helpful.

As far as schools go, there are three main ones - Doug Fattic's classes in michigan, UBI in ashland, and yamaguchi in colorado. UV, Owen, Chris and Jason all went to UBI and had great experiences. I'm pretty much self-taught, and it was a much much much longer process than the intensive 2-week class. That said, we've all wound up knowing how to build pretty decent bicycle frames. Doug Fattic seems like a wonderful human being and would probably be a great guy from whom to learn; likewise, the people I know who've gone to learn from yamaguchi in the woods of colorado have had fantastic experiences.

Owen, Chris, Jason and I share a workshop in Bridgeport at the Center for Sustainable Manufacturing (aka Bubbly Dynamics or Bubblyworks or Bubbly) and you're welcome to drop by anytime to check it out, pick our collective heads and see if it's something you're interested in moving forward with. Owen's been helping a fellow named Mica out with some intro framebuilding lessons on the weekends and I'm sure a similar arrangement could be worked out for you if you're interested.

As far as hobbies go, it's expensive, time-consuming, frustrating, and dirty. As far as careers go, it's a virtual dead-end. It is also 100% awesome.

Best of luck and let us know how we can help!

yrs
Michael

Permalink Reply by Andrew McComb on December 8, 2009 at 10:03pm

I am in the process of becoming a frame builder myself. I started out reading:

The Custom Bicycle: Buying, Setting Up, and Riding the Quality Bicycle (Denise M. De La Rosa, Michael J. Kolin) This book tours some frame builders in the late 70's and then describes their processes and bicycles.

Touring Bikes: A Practical Guide (Tony Oliver) This book has a lot on the thought going into designing a bike, not so much on how to build one. It also covers frame design and a pretty comprehensive tandem design chapter. A great book, but hard to find at a good price.

Bicycling Science has some antiquated ideas about geometry and handling although its helpful reading bicycle quarterly is more up to date, accurate, and easy to understand than parts of Bicycling Science. Not so much of a help toward frame building.

There is the free download Paterek Manual online if you look around.

And there is always the framebuilders list serve.

Permalink Reply by Duppie on December 9, 2009 at 1:25pm

Thanks guys for your replies. The links to books are very helpful. I think that reading some texts on this subject will help me understand better what to expect from framebuilding.
Hopefully Santa thinks I was nice this year.


Michael, I'd like to take you up on your offer for a shop visit. I will PM you for more details

thanks, Frank

Permalink Reply by Christopher Wallace on December 10, 2009 at 10:49pm

I had to teach kids frame building. I taught them how to master metal cutting and filing, then we mastered silver solder with Oxy-acetylene torch. These are basics to just putting tubes together. There is so much more to learn. They could put together a frame that would not break from heat stress or lack of penatration, and their lugs were stunning, but they did not know about metal, geometery, jigging, heat warping, mitering, Ect. I agree with all that Michael stated.

Christopher