Arc Welding bicycle frames possible?

There are several skill sets needed here to make a bike frame. Lack of proficiency in any one of them one could easily create problems in the final build. Psuggmog has the best approach. Precise fitting of the tubes is the most critical skill. Stick arc welding light tube requires many hours of practice to master. Mig welding, although seemingly point and shoot is also an acquired skill through practice . I've been welding for at least 5 years and I would recommend gas welding or brazing, or both for building a bike frame. FYI, a well fitted and designed braze join can be many times stronger than a traditional steel to steel weld.
 
just a question -- did a little welding way back

I would recommend gas welding or brazing, or both for building a bike frame. FYI, a well fitted and designed braze join can be many times stronger than a traditional steel to steel weld.

I truly thought that arc was the strongest weld ??

are not most bicycles put together with the arc ??

just a question

in welding class many many years ago now
seems like for strenth we always used arc ??

MM
 
The brazing used in bikes a long time ago was of a socket fitted deal. That indeed was strong. Butt braized joints have less strength than welding (the brass is not as strong as steel).
I would have suggested gas welding except if the flame is not a perfect mix, you can have a very weak weld.
If you want to feel better about arc welding, add some gussetts to the joints.
 
"The easiest would be a mig. " agree

"An old bike with heavy wall tubing would be OK to stick weld, but not the new thin stuff" the "new thin stuff" CAN but DEPENDS. what i look for are frames that have already been welded NOT lugged, because based on alloys some keep/lose strength with different weld temps e.g some tubes are not designed to be heated up to welding temps if so they lose strength.

"migs good allowing your hand to get closer" agree :) try cutting your arc stick to this really helps

"bike factories have robotic tig welders explaining the beautiful perfect welds" we had one where i used to work ... it was good, we had a guy who could weld as consistant who also got called "the robot" :)

uncleargenius1 "i think in the future a main stream builder will start to sell framesets built and engineered around a center mount bolt pattern" what is this?

this certainly is becoming an intresting talk :D
 
Stick welding Tip controller relies on thick gloves and holding stick tip near the arc. Mahe sure the rutile Rod coating is not damaged and be sure to not Earth yourself to ground.
 
Mig welding is less accurate than stick, you can't see the arc so well as the mig wire nozzle is very big and blocks vission. Sticks can be held almost like a pencil and provide superb arc control. Stick welding is also very cheap compared to all but tig welding. Tig welding produces a lot more uv and infrared so is really in need of two pairs of leather glove to stop skin cancers appearing on hands (same as mig welding aluminium). Two pairs of gloves is a bummer. Gas welding costs big if renting bottles and not using them continuously. Practice stick with short Burns and grind off any bumps looking for cracks or pinholes. Stick is used for 30-40 thousand psi pipe joins so I reckon a bicycle frame is ok., Bear in mind good stick welds are way up there in the stratosphere of weld skill set, but also that a stick can be fed into some very tight places and save a lot of dismantling sometimes.
 
Stick is great you got to start sum where .I don't know I weld sprockets and gear's all day with a mig and yes I made a holder so I get a constant beed but if I could not see then I could not weld for the biggest sprocket company in Australia its just me and one other man .yes I agree that welding can and will weak en your frame if you don't know what you're doing but just one 1 by 1 Inc weld Will hold a 1 tone done right all about penetration and not sucking the metal your welding in to your weld ..if I was you go for it. go over bord grind it back look for where it becomes one piece and learn I did .now my weld s are in Cole Mines food factors classic cars timing gears anything with a sprocket/gear could be me .even the 66cc motor s need gears in them from some where .I make the 44t back sprocket for these bikes I don't know who's order it but that's what their for I got one in my e bay 66cc kit .who knows where welding can take you lol good luck
 
A lot of stuff here about welding. Some have a clue; some don't. My input:

How do bicycle companies make bicycles? If they are carbon fiber, they are effectively glued together with epoxy. But what about metal frames?

Aluminum frames are TIG welded. This is the only way to go with thin, strong aluminum frames. Never braze via " allium alloy" even.

Steel is easier to work with and handles the heat stresses much better than AL. In the old days, great bicycle companies mostly brazed (not soldering!) their tubes together with coupling pieces. Today, nearly every steel frame is TIG welded because MIG welding is just too hard on such thin frames. Sure, you can get a MIG setup to work and hold the tubes together but, unless you are really, really good, it's not going to be a weld that stands the test of time.
 
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