As a proud graduate of Eisentraut's first or second frame building class in 1974 let me make a few observations.
I was quite familiar with mechanical work and making things with my hands (repairing my car, building model airplanes etc). So I suppose it wasn't a total mystery about making things in general. But of course I had never built a bike
We were in Eisentraut's workshop so we could use his jigs. I think he also mitered the tree main tubes for us according to our specifications.
For some folks, the trigonometry required (via pencil and paper) to do the frame tube length calculations was the hardest part. Remember this was before PCs etc. Not me of course...
I think we all did a practice lug which we cut apart to get a feel for the silver penetration.
I wasn't five full days as I recall either, maybe we were at the shop late afternoon and evenings, but I really can't remember.
At the end of the class I'm pretty sure no one had a ready to paint frame, but the frames were complete. You then could spend as much time on the finish work as you wanted to.
As a result of the class, I was able to devise a scheme to build frames without a jig, using just V blocks and a flat surface for the frame and fork. It was an incremental process for the frame. The fork was done all at once, save for having already put in the dropouts. We also used hand-help MAAP gas using silver for the lugs and nickel silver for the dropouts.
As a result of all of this I built three full frames, and helped a friend
build 2 more. See http://www.wooljersey.com/
None have failed over many years of use.
Jim Ready Cupertino, CA
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From: "Bob Freitas" <freitas1@pacbell.net>
Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 3:33 PM
To: <kevinsayles@tiscali.co.uk>
Cc: "CLASSIC RENDEZVOUS" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: Re: [CR] Build your own bike in 5 days
> Eisentraut used to offer a class I think it was totally dependant on
> the skills the students arrived with. I saw a couple of horrible frames .I
> think you have to have the proper skills before venturing into it. I think
> Doug Fattic currently does similar classes and maybe he will chime in
> BOB FREITAS
> SUNNY MILL VALLEY, CA USA
>
> Today at the Mill Valley Swap Brian Blum scored an Alex Singer
> with rack etc for $500 ,way to go Brian