Re: [CR]frame building jig

(Example: Framebuilders:Alberto Masi)

Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2004 17:17:32 -0600
To: "Adam Schlater Grant" <eldergrant@hotmail.com>
From: "Mark Stonich" <mark@bikesmithdesign.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]frame building jig
In-Reply-To: <BAY101-F211AF741326E9549F379E0DBB80@phx.gbl>
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

At 11/24/2004 10:50 PM +0000, Adam Schlater Grant wrote:
>hello everyone, I'm a newcomer to the list. My name is Adam Grant and I'm
>28. I have two Pope chainless bikes(1899, 1900), a Pope track bike from
>the 30's and another track bike from the 30's that I'm trying to
>identify. I also have a Yale bike from the 1890's, a Vitus from the 80's
>and a 2000 Cannondale. I also have a Dunelt from the 60's which is my
>favorite bike to ride and what I'm most passionate about. My dream is to
>build my own style bike frames so I hope this is a good place to start. I
>was told that the first thing I should look into is finding a bike
>building jig that I can purchase. Does anyone have any good advice for
>me? I have little experience but am very determined. I would appreciate
>any advice. thanks, Adam

Adam, The 1st bit of advice I have for you is; Quit taking advice from whoever told you that you need a jig to get started.

They allow you to build faster, which is useful for production, but not better. Learn to build frames first. Then, after building a few for yourself and friends, you will know if you want to get into the framebuilding business. Only when you can sell more frames because of the time saved is the expense of fixturing justified. I've averaged a frame a year since '79 without one, and even some pros have never used one.

2nd; Join the framebuilders list. http://www.phred.org/mailman/listinfo/framebuilders Then scour the archives before asking newbie questions that have been answered a dozen times over.

Mark Stonich;
Minneapolis Minnesota
BikeSmith Design & Fabrication LLC
http://bikesmithdesign.com