*****

[14max]

*****

[TACSTS]

Carl Strong

[Mshue]

Great tig welds, fantastic pricing and short lead time. The icing on the cake is they're fantastic guys to deal with.

I had them build me a cross bike that was delivered in September, less than six weeks after I sent them my deposit. I will post pics over the weekend.

[14max]

*****

[rePhil]

Why? Call him and talk to him. His customer service is great. I have one and the entire process from start to the way the bike rides today was enjoyable.
Carl answers his phone and is quick to reply to e mail.
When the day arrived,he called to say he was going to weld up my frame that morning and wondered if I had any last minute concerns. A few hours later he e mailed photos of the frame, before powder then a few days later after powder.The frame earlier than promised, was well packed, the welds look great and all the threads were perfect. It's my first powder coated frame and it still looks great. When I was having a tough time deciding on a color he shipped me a selection of tubes so I could decide. And finally the frame rides VERY nice.
You won't go wrong by going with Carl.

[soulspinner]

Why Carl?


Carl built me a steel bike in 2003 that I still love. I told him what I wanted, and he built exactly what I asked for. Pricing is great for what you end up with. Guy knows what hes doing. Easy to deal with too. Look at the glowing reviews on Roadbike reviews board as well.

[Volant]

Carl Strong
Ted Wojcik (the cleanest TIG welds you'll ever see - as in almost invisible)
DeSalvo (won "Best TIG Welded" frame at NAHBS)

I've owned a Strong and a Wojcik. They were both awesome.

[Steelhead]

Indy Fab Stainless 953 Steel
Soulcraft
Sycip

[jt2gt]

Great tig welds, fantastic pricing and short lead time. The icing on the cake is they're fantastic guys to deal with.

I had them build me a cross bike that was delivered in September, less than six weeks after I sent them my deposit. I will post pics over the weekend.

Proletariat -- just checked out the website...Very cool. Really like how they do the raised headbadge and then do a raised matching star on the fork and chainstays. Yes...post some pics of yours soon.

JT

[paczki]

All great but --

Igle!

http://www.iglebike.com/

[david]

mike desalvo.

awesome guy. great builder.

he helps build the speedvagens with sacha. i have one and it's superb.

that motivated me to have mike build a fixed gear bike and he did a fantastic job.

his prices are reasonable. he's smart and easy to work with. his turn-around is quick. and his bikes rule.

[mschol17]

Hampsten/Co-Motion

[don'TreadOnMe]

proletariat. gotta sing praises too.
http://serotta.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43965&highlight=proletariat

[Peter B]

Add Brent Steelman to all the other fine builders already listed.

[14max]

*****

[ericspin]

Talk to Kirk Pacenti. I have just received a tig'd steel frame from him that is exceptional. Am in the process of gathering parts for the build.

My process with Kirk was great and I appreciated his frame geometry expertise. He really challenged some of my beliefs and I cannot wait to get it on the road and see how they translate.

[rex]

I saw a Waterford 33 series built with True Temper S3 this summer when I was there for a factory ride and it looked really nice!

[14max]

*****

[93legendti]

Why Carl?

Because Dave Kirk would probably second the notion.

[rphetteplace]

Carl Strong
Ted Wojcik (the cleanest TIG welds you'll ever see - as in almost invisible)
DeSalvo (won "Best TIG Welded" frame at NAHBS)

I've owned a Strong and a Wojcik. They were both awesome.

The DeSalvo that won the award is mine. Mike is the coolest dude ever and builds awesome bikes.

[bfarver]

I'll put another vote up for DeSalvo. He's a super nice guy and runs a beautiful bead. He's been contributing to the industry for a long time in a way that really raises the bar for the rest of us.

I've met the Proletariat guys. They do great work as well. The welder used to work for Burley and has a ton of experience.

Check out Tyson at Civilian http://www.ridecvln.com/home . I met him in Boulder and he's doing some really cool stuff as well.

[14max]

*****

[cadence90]

I would say, first, a reputable builder with whom you can meet face-to-face, if possible.

Then, I would say, first: Jim Kish (http://www.kishbike.com/).

I would also add Steve Rex to the list.

[Pete Serotta]

Why Carl?

Because DAVID KIRK says he is good!! (as well as a very well repected one time pro from the RALEIGH area.) I would also HIGHLY recommend Steve Hampsten.

PETE

[old_school]

All great but --

Igle!

http://www.iglebike.com/

I second that emotion.

[TMB]

This is my second bike from Mr. Strong.

Delivered early.

Paint designed by Jaclyn Campagnone.

[saab2000]

Why Carl?

Because he gets it. I had a Strong once and it was, by far, the closest to what I described in my conversations with him. Welds were good. Handling was solid. Etc.

I wouldn't hesitate.

[14max]

*****

[saab2000]

I have sold my Strong a couple years ago. But it was not because Carl Strong did not make a great bike. It did everything exactly as I had asked. But I had asked wrong. And even so it was a very good bike.

This is the bike. (http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=4736&highlight=Strong)

I had (still have) too many bikes and it was the choice to leave the fleet.

I would not hesitate to recommend a Strong. Mine was replaced by a Look.

[FATBOY]

Co-Motion. Strong. Indy Fab.

[eddief]

why not go smooth and go fillet. i did no research, but in the past the smooth rex fillets were price competitive (or better) with the tigged bumpiness offered elsewhere.

[steelrider]

SOMEC! Do some research. Old school Italian. Their TIG welds look like most other folks' fillet braze jobs.

[Peter P.]

Even though you've already selected Carl Strong as your builder, I thought you'd like to check out the very detailed blog someone created about their journey of selecting a custom frame, and their experience with Carl Strong.

http://strong.weswu.com/part-1-introduction/

His web site is well laid out, it's got all the information you need and answers all the questions you could ever think of, and you come away from viewing his web site thinking he REALLY DOES know his stuff.

Good choice.

[maunahaole]

Steve Rex is out of commission for a while. He broke his hip and elbow on a ride this past week.

[14max]

*****

[14max]

*****

[TMB]

why not go smooth and go fillet. i did no research, but in the past the smooth rex fillets were price competitive (or better) with the tigged bumpiness offered elsewhere.

I have 2 of Carl Strong's frames.

Neither of them has any "bumpiness" in the welds.

[dauwhe]

Hampsten/Co-Motion

+1.

Dave

[monkeypants]

Hi,
Long time lurker, first time poster here.

Don't mean to sidetrack this thread but what are the advantages/disadvantages of welding & brazing? For example, is one considered stronger than the other?

[Ahneida Ride]

Never ever heard a negative word here or anywhere about Mr. Strong ..

[cadence90]

Hi,
Long time lurker, first time poster here.

Don't mean to sidetrack this thread but what are the advantages/disadvantages of welding & brazing? For example, is one considered stronger than the other?
No (lugged, welded (tig), fillet-brazed) method is stronger than any other, when competently executed.

It is purely an aesthetic issue (unless one is also a weight-weenie).

[Peter B]

I would say, first, a reputable builder with whom you can meet face-to-face, if possible.

Then, I would say, first: Jim Kish (http://www.kishbike.com/).

I would also add Steve Rex to the list.

Steve does fine work indeed, but he doesn't do TIG. That and he was pretty badly injured on a ride last weekend. Broke his hip and shattered his elbow. His wait times will be stretched out. Best wishes to him for a speedy recovery!

Peter

[totally_fixxate]

Ted Wojcik (the cleanest TIG welds you'll ever see - as in almost invisible)


+1

[Vancouverdave]

Co-Motion--whether under their own name or the Hampsten/Tournesol names.

[14max]

*****

[jghall]

You're going to get a lot of great answers.

That being said, my three picks(in no particular order):

Strong
DeSalvo
Kish

All three are great builders, but also give great customer service, answer their own emails, and personally pick up the phone when you call. Let alone have resonable prices.

Please let us know what you decide. Obviously pictures are required.

[14max]

*****

[eddief]

why one would choose tig over fillet? and i support to each their own.

[fierte_poser]

Fillet brazed bottom bracket clusters look a bit 'plump' (for lack of a better word) to my eye.

TIG welded tube intersections are all business. :beer:

[Oirad]

Since we are plugging fine TIG builders. I'd like to add Mike Flanigan (ANT) to the list. Although noted primarily for his handsome Light Roadsters, commuting, and cargo bikes, Mike can build you a road bike, mtb, whatever. He is a marvelous craftsman, having learned bike building at Fat City and then at IF (as one of the founders). He is also very good to work with!

Oirad

[14max]

*****

[rex]

why one would choose tig over fillet? and i support to each their own.

The explanation that I've always heard is that the older generation of steel like 531 and 753 would become weaker because of the heat involved in TIG welding, so the tubes had to be joined by lugs or fillet brazing. The newer steels like 853 and OX actually get stronger when they are TIG welded. I am sure that someone with more knowledge on the subject than me will have a better answer however.

[93legendti]

iirc, Dario Pegoretti uses TIG welds (and has 1 lugged model).

[RudAwkning]

Jason Grove of El Camino Fab does also some of the nicest tig work I've seen. If you want to complete the Bozeman trifecta, I believe he actually shared a workspace with Mr. Kirk and Mr. Strong.

He's based out of Oakland/Emeryville CA now.

[maddog17]

i put my vote in for Ted Wojcik also. i have one of his frames and his TIG welds are incredible!

[pdonk]

I know I sound like a shill, but dekerf now does custom and his welds are great.

[14max]

*****

[gomez308]

Carl finished up my steel frame last week. I'm waiting on Spectrum to coat it and hopefully it might be here by Christmas or soon after. Can't wait to get it :)

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o312/gomez308/strong.jpg

[14max]

*****

[michael white]

Here's a question that's been bugging me: Should I go level top tube with this new TIG'ed frame (Dario does) or should I have Carl match the slope to the angle of my stem (Nitto UI-5GX)? It has an angle of +/- 8*.

ask the builder.

[14max]

*****

[stackie]

14max

I have a bike with a 2 degree slope and a -17 stem which looks perfect. You just can't tell that there is a difference in the plane of the stem and top tube. it's just a nice dialed in look. Another bike has a 6 degree slope (slant six lugs) and a Nitto lugged stem. Unfortunately, the Nitto lugged stem is a 90 degree stem, and the lines just don't mesh. It's enough that I am thinking of ditching the lugged Nitto and getting a stem that matches the plane of the top tube more closely.

Now, all of this is, of course, personal opinion and certainly does not affect ride quality one iota. To me, it just one of those things like the saddle being centered on seatpost, the carpet matching the drapes (bar tape matching saddle, you pervs), etc. Question, are your keys on your keychain arranged longest to shortest? If so, I would recommend the plane of your stem match the plane of the top tube. :)

Enjoy it either way!

Jon

[14max]

*****

[stackie]

14max,

I don't think I really notice the 2 deg slope at all. If I really sit and stare at the bike, I think I can discern it. The stem is actually custom from Sacha, the builder of the frame, so perhaps he factored the 2 deg slope into the stem as well.

Other point on my bikes is that they have adequately long headtubes, so I don't need upslope, tall spacers, or lots of quill. This is pretty key. I'm sure that Carl will have you dialed in perfectly. So, you'll be golden.

Jon

[gomez308]

That is awesome. Are you going with one of the stock colors or something different?

White w/black panels

[14max]

*****

[rePhil]

When Carl called and said he was getting ready to weld,and did I have any last minute questions I asked if he any any suggestions. He suggested a slightly sloping top tube 3 degrees. I am glad I listened.

This was my first sloping TT, first Tigged, and first powder coated frame.

[mikki]

Can you guys educate me? My bike is titanium and carbon, a Holland. Are my welds TIG? What is the difference between TIG and MIG welds?

[rePhil]

But, I wanna be. Your ti frame is Tig. Tig (Tungsten Inert Gas) uses a non consumable electrode with a hand fed filler rod. Mig (Metal Inert Gas)uses a Consumable electrode like a spool fed wire.
Tig also requires the use of a gas to protect the weld.

[Lionel]

I did. Either way is good. I'm considering both and leaning toward level. I debated that also. The XCr frame I just posted from Carl has a 3.2deg slope to it. It may help you decide. I am planning a -6deg stem with this. I like it when the stem and top tube look to be almost aligned.

[soulspinner]

Can you guys educate me? My bike is titanium and carbon, a Holland. Are my welds TIG? What is the difference between TIG and MIG welds?


Yeah, they are nice ones, too :)

[14max]

*****

[Lionel]

When I spoke with Carl he didn't point me in one direction or the other. He listened to me blather on then politely helped me decide on certain elements. I believe he'll work both a level and sloping top tube into the blueprint and let me decide. I must admit that I'm still of the mind that a level top tube looks best. After checking out the Pegorettis on the CC site, I'm even more convinced that is the way I'm going to go...

Yeah. He sent me 3 or 4 different drawing with anything from level to 8 deg of slope. It is purely an visual call. It also depends on the size of your frame. 2 or 3 deg of slope is actually very little slope. On a large frame with a completely level top tube the spacing between seatube and seatstays can become quite big.

In my case I also lowered the top top tube like you find on all Pegorettis larger frames.