Should I be concened about welds?

[pcxmbfj]

Just received this frameset from UPS yesterday and have to report problems within 24 hours.
Are these welds acceptable?
I'd like to get it faced and start build or should I call it to the attention of the bike manufacturer?
Picture doesn't show painted bubbles and multiple starts.
These are the ugliest welds I've ever seen but just concerned about integrity not looks.
Fork is the same BTW.

Not a Vassago, that's just the clamp I had from one of theirs with beautiful welds.

[charliedid]

I'm no frame builder but I suspect it's fine. Is that a SOMA or something?

My Gunnar has better looking welds than that but not by much.

Unless they burnt holes through it I'd ride it.

[zennmotion]

I've seen worse, and it's not going to essplode. Life is short, go build your bike and ride it.

[thirdgenbird]

I'm no frame builder but I suspect it's fine. Is that a SOMA or something?

My Gunnar has better looking welds than that but not by much.

Unless they burnt holes through it I'd ride it.

Looks like a soma to me too. I wouldn't worry about the welds.

[christian]

Looks fine. I've had a bike from one of the masters of the framebuilding art that didn't look much different.

[pcxmbfj]

Thanks for the responses.

Just watched a Bicycling review complimenting the welds so go figure.

Waiting for the shops to open to get facing done.

It is a Soma Double Cross Disc built by Tange, I believe.

To be my gravel bike.

[charliedid]

Thanks for the responses.

Just watched a Bicycling review complimenting the welds so go figure.

Waiting for the shops to open to get facing done.

It is a Soma Double Cross Disc built by Tange, I believe.

To be my gravel bike.

Yep, thought so...

Good bikes for the $ and it is built with Tange Prestige tubing in Taiwan.

Have fun!

[avalonracing]

You've been looking at too many high-end titanium welds my friend.

[sparky33]

Are these welds acceptable?


My legs say yes, but my vanity says no.

[ultraman6970]

Welds look descent to me too.

Enjoy the ride :)

[Lewis Moon]

You've been looking at too many high-end titanium welds my friend.

Indeed. Probably a professionally staged and photographed Firefly.

The guy two doors down from me is the best welder I know. Spent 20 years as a prototype machinist/welder at the GM Skunkworks. His son builds championship winning off road racers (2nd at Baja, 1st in the national off road series).
Both agree that pretty welds are worth bupkiss when it comes to strength and durability.

[avalonracing]

Indeed. Probably a professionally staged and photographed Firefly.

The guy two doors down from me is the best welder I know. Spent 20 years as a prototype machinist/welder at the GM Skunkworks. His son builds championship winning off road racers (2nd at Baja, 1st in the national off road series).
Both agree that pretty welds are worth bupkiss when it comes to strength and durability.

Well, that also sounds like two guys who never learned to make pretty welds. ;)
They probably don't like pretty girls either.

[Lewis Moon]

Well, that also sounds like two guys who never learned to make pretty welds. ;)
They probably don't like pretty girls either.

...but sometimes pretty is just about being pretty.

[false_Aest]

Both agree that pretty welds are worth bupkiss when it comes to strength and durability.


This was demonstrated in school.

OK, it was a rigged demo but the instructor made a beautiful pass + a fugly pass. Then we tried to break the welds.

Fugly held.

[FlashUNC]

Looks fine. You won't win coffee shop or Internet forum points. But looks no different than 3-4 tig'd frames I've had.

[Steve in SLO]

A little coating of dust and fun will make those welds look great.

[sparky33]

s

[akelman]

Read this review (http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/page/latest-news/?id=94553). Note the part where the reviewer says that Sadoff, who's cranked out a ton of purpose-built machines in his time, doesn't care about pretty welds. Well, if Sadoff doesn't, neither should you. (Unless you're worried about aesthetics, which is fair enough, but then you'd better be ready to pay for pretty.)