- Joined
- Nov 2, 2012
- Messages
- 415
Maybe since it's summer, it's kinda slow around here. So offered for nothing more than pure entertainment value is my current bike project and my Atlas lathe's role in it. Here I'm making a custom stem (the part that connects the handle bars to the steerer tube.) This version is a threaded, quill stem (old skool for you folks in the know...)
Drilling out the extension tube for the quill:
Another shot:
Brazed up with a cap. I broke my parting-off blade making that one. Live and learn, I guess. Still have all my fingers, so I'm good.
Nearing completion with the cap, wedge and the binder that still needs a home. The center tube is for the brake cable, silver-soldered in place. The lower portion is stainless, and the upper part is bored-out 4130 large enough for a cable end to nestle.
Shot of the cleaned up cap. Yes, a few pin holes, but otherwise not bad. The bottom half of the quill was turned down on the lathe to make room for powder coat. A grind-job would be better, but it works okay w/ HHS.
The intended recipient. Hand-built frame, fork and rear bag support. It's like a monster truck of commuting bikes, but it sure is fun to ride. Paint to follow this winter when the rains come back (I'm in the SF area where summer is dry.)
Should you want to see the progression of how a bike is built (at least how I do it, right or wrong), the set for this rig is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/smudgemo/sets/72157630427305830/. Having a lathe is honestly an excuse to make parts way more involved than you'd ever need, but that's the fun of building custom stuff, right? Any excuse to bust out the lathe.
-Ryan
Drilling out the extension tube for the quill:
Another shot:
Brazed up with a cap. I broke my parting-off blade making that one. Live and learn, I guess. Still have all my fingers, so I'm good.
Nearing completion with the cap, wedge and the binder that still needs a home. The center tube is for the brake cable, silver-soldered in place. The lower portion is stainless, and the upper part is bored-out 4130 large enough for a cable end to nestle.
Shot of the cleaned up cap. Yes, a few pin holes, but otherwise not bad. The bottom half of the quill was turned down on the lathe to make room for powder coat. A grind-job would be better, but it works okay w/ HHS.
The intended recipient. Hand-built frame, fork and rear bag support. It's like a monster truck of commuting bikes, but it sure is fun to ride. Paint to follow this winter when the rains come back (I'm in the SF area where summer is dry.)
Should you want to see the progression of how a bike is built (at least how I do it, right or wrong), the set for this rig is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/smudgemo/sets/72157630427305830/. Having a lathe is honestly an excuse to make parts way more involved than you'd ever need, but that's the fun of building custom stuff, right? Any excuse to bust out the lathe.
-Ryan
