Hand Built Bicycle Frame Builders Of Chicagoland

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The place to showcase hand built bicycle frames, and to talk about everything related to frame building. Made In Chicago

Location: Chicago
Members: 46
Latest Activity: Feb 18, 2015

Started by Jason B.. Last reply by Jason B. Nov 11, 2013.

Started by Todd Allen. Last reply by olloyd1 Feb 5, 2010.

Started by on2wheels. Last reply by Todd Allen Jan 21, 2010.

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Comment by Todd Allen on December 10, 2009 at 10:23am: I've got a good tig and I've scratch built a nice trailer from 0.037 wall 4130 tubing.

I've also done frame repairs and mods and chop/rebuilds.

I do most of my mitering with an angle grinder and hand files although I've also used hole saws and a joint jigger.

I've been doing assembly mostly by hand, tack welding and then checking and tweaking alignment. I usually get an entire assembly tacked together and then go back and start filling in all the welds.

Sometimes alignment gets whacked a little during the full welding.

I'm looking for tips/tooling that will help me work faster and more accurately. I'm not doing production work, but just one off projects.

What are your favorite clamps and fixtures for aligning at arbitrary angles tubing from 1/2" up to 2" OD?

What's a good way to get consistent miters with thin hard tubing? Is this appropriate work for a milling machine or a lathe and if so, what are good budget options for low volume work?

Comment by olloyd1 on December 5, 2009 at 2:30pm: The mill works!? Thus Bubbly Bicycle works is pulled into the early forties with milling technology.

Twenties will rule the future!

Comment by Michael Catano on December 5, 2009 at 12:51pm: The Humble Fiasco 20" received seat stays, so watch out. 20" bridgeport rumble coming soon.

Also, the gorton mill works. WTFO. HOLY CROW.

Comment by olloyd1 on December 5, 2009 at 12:10pm: The Lloyd Fiasco 20" was test ridden today to great success. Look for it coming soon to the streets of a Bridgeport near you.
I remember seeing a sketch of the Evans jig, wonderful in its simplicity.
Oh, and Jason is thinking about getting an Anvil jig, He came by the store today.

Comment by Andrew McComb on December 5, 2009 at 3:41am: Yeah Doug's Jigs are pretty awesome, though I'm just going off of what he explains and my little experience. They are actually after an F.W. Evans design, an English design. Owen wont need much instruction on how to use it, its in his blood. They also don't cost 3500 which is nice, The catch is you need a frame size layout table. They make some aluminum ones for 1600 that are relatively light, the legs come off. I was thinking I could buy some smaller more affordable jigs to start out. like a canti post or fork jig, or even a fork bender... Not sure whats all in the shop its been awhile since I've been there. Hopefully we could figure something out, because I'd like to jump in.

Comment by Michael Catano on December 5, 2009 at 2:49am: We have a lot of very poorly arranged space. We could probably squeeze someone else in there, but we would need to do some serious consolidating. Maybe we can annex the room next door?

Tooling-wise, if you're just coming out of fattic's class it might be wise to wait a couple of years before plunking down $3500 on a jig.

I'm talking to Alex Meade about having a few small pieces of fixturing made (glorified tube blocks, really) that might eliminate the need for a free-standing jig altogether and let us build off of the surface plate. If y'all are interested in having some made for yourselves the price would go down for all of us.

Comment by olloyd1 on December 4, 2009 at 7:11pm: but seriously, we could probably figure something out. Work out your tooling budget, and ask Doug about his jig(s) it looks pretty friggin' cool. I know the fella's in the shop have been itching for a new jig.
I've got a pretty good jig, or two, but no one wants to see me dance . . .

Comment by Andrew McComb on December 4, 2009 at 6:34pm: Hello, I'm currently attending Doug Fattic's frame building class, when I return to Chicago I'd like to continue building on the side. Is anyone willing to let me use or share space in their shop? We could work out a system, I could buy a jig and we could share it, or I could pay some sort of rent, or fee... let me know.

Comment by zack on September 26, 2009 at 8:36am: hey guys i'm need to get a fork drilled for a brake (currently there's no hole) figured this would be a good reason to go back down to bridgeport and check out the inside of bubbly's this time.

i'm a fan of the hacksaw and file approach, but maybe i won't be when i when i have more bikes under my belt. seems a bit more satisfying.