I have a ti tubeset...now what

[Dude]

So I have most of a ti tubeset (DT, ST, TT, CS and 1 SS) I'd like to have it built into a bike. Does anyone know a good builder who can do jobs like this?

It's a good quality tubeset, that didn't pass QC strictly for aesthetic purposes - not some wonky i-found-this-in-a-dumpster tubeset.

[54ny77]

This ought to be a fun read.

:bike:

[AngryScientist]

i would imagine any builder who works in Ti would be able to build you a bike from tubes you have, but how many would be willing, likely not too many.

i would venture to guess that the cost of the tubeset when building a ti bike is a pretty small fraction of the cost of the frame. the builder's time, expertise, hands and eyes are what you're paying for when you have a bike built.

[FlashUNC]

Just JB Weld it together yourself.

[David Kirk]

I doubt you will find a builder who will want to work with the tubes you provide. The liability and risks outweigh the benefits for most builders.

dave

[William]

My gut feeling is what has been mentioned above. An alternative: If you feel so inclined it's a good excuse to get yourself a welder and try your hand.;)






William

[redir]

Just JB Weld it together yourself.

Duct tape lugs?

[bicycletricycle]

you need to find someone who is just getting started

anyone know a builder who is just getting started welding up ti bikes?

[guyintense]

Check and see if your community college has a course in welding and DIY. How hard could it be?

[Dude]

I know liability, etc would be a concern of the builder. Anyone know an unreputable builder who would do it?

[Ahneida Ride]

I doubt you will find a builder who will want to work with the tubes you provide. The liability and risks outweigh the benefits for most builders.

dave

yea .... any reputable builder would not touch it.

[cnighbor1]

Partial email to me from davidson hand built bicycles
''If you have not seen the article in current Bicycling with four custom titanium frames, they range in price from $3100 to $7400. That's just frame. Guess we are like the Taylors. Ours still sell for about $2299. Titanium frames selling well these days for us. Good thing since we have no painter at present.
Robert D Freeman
Elliott Bay Bicycles
2116 Western Ave
Seattle, WA 98121''
I would go with Davidson. Contact robert freeman and say charles Nighbor Sent you. and already having Ti tubes price would be less
I love riding my steel Davidson

So I have most of a ti tubeset (DT, ST, TT, CS and 1 SS) I'd like to have it built into a bike. Does anyone know a good builder who can do jobs like this?

It's a good quality tubeset, that didn't pass QC strictly for aesthetic purposes - not some wonky i-found-this-in-a-dumpster tubeset.

[Joachim]

Davidson is pretty reputable. Doubt that he will go for this.

[Louis]

How much are really saving, by providing your own tubes? Can't be that much.

I say DIY.

[Mikej]

WTH is going on with that orange davidson drive side chainstay / drop out junction? Also, you will not be able to just cobble together a frame from a tech school weld class - they most likely only teach on carbon steel and would most likely not have the proper environment or jigs or alignment knowledge, or mittering abilities, or cable stops, drop outs, head tube, seat collar, bb shell, alignment table, - see where this is going? How much did said aquired tubeset actually cost you? Because most tube sets are in the 750-1000 usd range.

[mcteague]

So I have most of a ti tubeset (DT, ST, TT, CS and 1 SS) I'd like to have it built into a bike. Does anyone know a good builder who can do jobs like this?

It's a good quality tubeset, that didn't pass QC strictly for aesthetic purposes - not some wonky i-found-this-in-a-dumpster tubeset.

Is this a joke? I can't imagine ANY builder willing to build a frame from tubes the customer supplies. Don't know what you have in this mess but I think you just wasted you money.

Where, and how, did you come across this stuff?

Tim

[Joachim]

I keep waiting for the "just messing with you guys" post....otherwise someone might post a "double face palm" pic.

[Ti Designs]

So all you need is a frame building shop, all the fixtures, a Tig welding set up, a few tanks of argon and a little know-how. I just have to ask, do you own a car, and how much did that cost???

[Peter B]

So I have a quarter dozen eggs, one potato and two slices of bread. The eggs are a little past their sell by date. Anyone know of a reputable restaurant that'll whip it all up into a breakfast for me?

[Ti Designs]

So I have a quarter dozen eggs, one potato and two slices of bread. The eggs are a little past their sell by date. Anyone know of a reputable restaurant that'll whip it all up into a breakfast for me?

The OP needs to buy a frame shop, you just need to go food shopping...

[54ny77]

I have a fry pan, a tank of propane, a single camp stove burner, and a spatula. Anyone want to rent me a restaurant so I can make a grand slam breakfast?

So I have a quarter dozen eggs, one potato and two slices of bread. The eggs are a little past their sell by date. Anyone know of a reputable restaurant that'll whip it all up into a breakfast for me?

[Ahneida Ride]

How much are really saving, by providing your own tubes? Can't be that much.

I say DIY.

Ti tubes are not cheap .... even a whole sale ....

[Ahneida Ride]

How much are really saving, by providing your own tubes? Can't be that much.

I say DIY.

Ti tubes are not cheap .... even a whole sale ....

you need a skilled builder to design the frame / miter the tubes ..

you then need a skilled welder to assemble them.

[Dude]

I didn't spend any money on the tubes. I actually worked at the manufacturer when they were rejected by QC, shortly thereafter I left the company and haven't had a chance to do anything with them until now. I don't want to throw them out, but I don't want them sitting in my basement. What do I do with them?

[FlashUNC]

I didn't spend any money on the tubes. I actually worked at the manufacturer when they were rejected by QC, shortly thereafter I left the company and haven't had a chance to do anything with them until now. I don't want to throw them out, but I don't want them sitting in my basement. What do I do with them?

Weld up some lightweight lawn furniture?

[54ny77]

ti wind chime!

http://img1.etsystatic.com/000/0/6143106/il_fullxfull.268227129.jpg

[biker72]

I doubt you will find a builder who will want to work with the tubes you provide. The liability and risks outweigh the benefits for most builders.

dave

Totally agree. Big time liability problems.

[AgilisMerlin]

do tell, what dumpster were these gracefully taken from ?

curious


p.s. - the bolts holding that chainring above are going to rust :eek:

[SPOKE]

Isn't the OP asking for basically the same thing as someone that's buys a bunch of parts/frame online then asking the LBS to put the bike together????

[apeescape]

This seems like "I bought my parts online, will you install them?". Have respect for the builder and process and buy frame and tubes from them, use yours for some art project....

[fogrider]

Send them to PT, he will weld them up for ya!

[Louis]

I think the wind-chimes are a good idea. The trick is to cut the lengths properly so you get a pleasing ratio between the various frequencies.

This is a good start (http://home.fuse.net/engineering/Chimes.htm)

[pcxmbfj]

Not a lot of love for your project here.

You might take a workshop from a house that does frame building classes in which you build your own frame.

There was a company called "BREW" in NC that did that.

[William]

Not a lot of love for your project here.

You might take a workshop from a house that does frame building classes in which you build your own frame.

There was a company called "BREW" in NC that did that.

UBI runs classes on Ti fab...
http://www.bikeschool.com/classes/frame-building-classes/titanium-frame-building. I'm sure you could use your tubes for that.





William

[AgilisMerlin]

save your money and crash at:

http://www.hottubes.com/Frame_Building_Class.html http://www.hottubes.com/Custom_Built_Frames_files/droppedImage.png

[William]

save your money and crash at:

http://www.hottubes.com/Frame_Building_Class.html http://www.hottubes.com/Custom_Built_Frames_files/droppedImage.png

Oh yeah, Toby's is a great place to go! I almost posted it with UBI but I wasn't sure if he was doing Ti in the classes.






William

[jh_on_the_cape]

I had some steel DEDA double pinch chainstays that I provided to a builder to incorporate into a frame. He did it. No discount, though.

Call around, someone will do it. I would call around and then offer the builder to do it, but not have their name on it or offer a warranty or anything. I think if it is a local person and they meet you and it's all done cash and they need some work... it could happen.

One more thing: a different time I had a hobby builder put together a steel frame for me out of some tubing I purchased from a frame builder going out of business. The frame was so not-straight it wasn't funny. I rode it a bit, but then sold it for about what I had into it. I was upfront about it and the buyer was going to cold set it back into place.

I would just sell the tubes on ebay and then look for a used Ti frame and be done with it.

[Puget Pounder]

Hopefully I don't get flamed here. I got some new in packaging OX plat tubes that my buddy said he will build them into a frame for me. He is a resourceful guy with all the necessary tools and know-how. Definitely not a pro or anything, but, as stated earlier, you might be able to find a hobby builder. Just don't expect a Spectrum to come out of it ;)

[zennmotion]

Hopefully I don't get flamed here. I got some new in packaging OX plat tubes that my buddy said he will build them into a frame for me. He is a resourceful guy with all the necessary tools and know-how. Definitely not a pro or anything, but, as stated earlier, you might be able to find a hobby builder. Just don't expect a Spectrum to come out of it ;)

Some tubesets are not for inexperienced amateurs to build with, little room for error with torch or coldsetting. A more modest tubeset would be a safer choice, OX is thin hard and relatively brittle. Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

[Jawn P]

Fabricate a bong.

[William]

Fabricate a bong.

I'll bet it's been done..... http://weedtracker.com/cannabis/public/style_emoticons/default/_bong__emoticon.gif

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3079/2679853901_2104513e42_o.jpg

http://media.thehubsa.co.za/uploads2/20100609_045629_thomson-533x800.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lsx2wx4V981qlwl38o1_500.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nmb9ImKh3Ro/Tk0o7yzks4I/AAAAAAAAVxk/-oQUPLSJ8X4/s1600/A%2BBicycle%2BBuilt%2Bfor%2BTour%2Bby%2BBoreas%2B% 25E2%2580%2594%2BKickstarter.jpg




:rolleyes::rolleyes:;)

William

[chismog]

Wow. I've never seen a Cinelli Laser used quite like that before. :eek:

[jmoore]

Shop stool

http://theprudentcyclist.com/2012/02/cool-bike-bar-stools/
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6838135937_f2c5c3002c.jpg

[Puget Pounder]

Some tubesets are not for inexperienced amateurs to build with, little room for error with torch or coldsetting. A more modest tubeset would be a safer choice, OX is thin hard and relatively brittle. Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

I'll keep that in mind. He's a smart dude and has some guidance from a pro so if they feels like he should use a more modest tubeset, I'll leave it up to him.

[nighthawk]

A little devils advocate here... But honest question: wouldn't an experienced builder be able to look at the tubes and determine if they were safe and suitable for a frame?

And on another note, that frame building school in Ashland Oregon does a Ti welding course.

[johnniecakes]

To me it seems like a good opportunity to go for it yourself

[AgilisMerlin]

would love to follow this,

good luck in regards to finding a builder.

have a friend with a full set of Metax in his basement. Still think he has them.

[Dude]

Thanks everyone for the input. Having a go myself isn't really an option cause I cant get out to UBI and anyone who knows anything about welding ti knows it is not something you can learn in your garage. My best bet is to go local.

[Jeff N.]

Totally agree. Big time liability problems.

I suppose a builder who was so inclined could provide a waiver to sign or something.:confused: