First attempt at building/customizing a frame

[drivermark]

Yeah, the fixture that I used was about as basic as it gets, a piece of 2x6 and a piece of 2x4. Squared them up on the table saw and then cut for a total width of 8 1/2 inches. Recut the tubes for the hoop and just clamped it all together with some bar clamps.
It's been an educational project that is for sure.

[curt]

i find something i wish i would have done every time

[drivermark]

Axle plate slots cut and plates welded in place. They came out much better than I expected. I was kinda freaking out when I first finished welding them, I put a level up to the left side one while it was still hot and it was off top to bottom by about a 1/16th of an inch.
I stepped back for a minute and calmed down and decided to let it cool. Cleaned stuff up and quit for the day. Went out to the shop this morning and both plates were dead on when checked with a square. That was a big relief.
I'll get some pics posted a little later when I get a chance.
It is actually starting to look like a chopper frame. The next step is cutting the top tube for the steering neck.
Any tips or suggestions?

Some picsDSCN0185 by mark perkins, on Flickr
DSCN0186 by mark perkins, on Flickr
DSCN0188 by mark perkins, on Flickr
DSCN0189 by mark perkins, on Flickr
DSCN0190 by mark perkins, on Flickr
DSCN0193 by mark perkins, on Flickr
DSCN0194 by mark perkins, on Flickr
DSCN0195 by mark perkins, on Flickr

[curt]

where the 2 front tubes come together to the backbone are way harder and you did a great job the neck should be real easy in comparison

[drivermark]

Got the top tube cut and notched for the steering neck, time to work up the courage to weld that together. I'm reaching that stage that I dread on every project. Being so close to being done that one mistake means cutting the whole mrfr up and starting over again. I absolutely hate it when that happens.

DSCN0191 by mark perkins, on Flickr
DSCN0192 by mark perkins, on Flickr

[curt]

looks real good

[drivermark]

Thanks Curt. I appreciate the feedback. I've got the neck tacked into place and have been playing around with some cardboard to make patterns for gussets for the neck to top tube and the the top tube to down tube connections.
Been busy around the homestead getting the garden ready for planting and spring clean up type stuff. Probably will weld up that neck connection sometime this evening and hope it turns out straight.

[drivermark]

Little bit of an update.
Steering head was a little bit crooked, so I had to break the tack welds and do a bit more fitting and filing. I used the "old school" method described in the frame building article to check the alignment.
Now I'm once again back to having the steering head tacked on.
Getting ready to fully weld it on and see how straight I can keep it during the process.
I'll add some pics when I can show some more progress.

[drivermark]

Got the steering head welded on (and it actually came out straight), was trying to decide how I wanted to do the gussets between the steering head and the top and down tubes. I've been thinking about putting a country bar between the top tube and the down tubes.
On a side note, does anyone out there know why it is called that?
I'll post pics of all this stuff when I get time, right now I've been busy running back and forth to the hospital, the wife was having some serious issues but I think the Dr.s have figured out the problem and they say she may be able to come home this weekend. That big ole bed is kinda lonely without her. It's been 39 years since we got together and I can count on 1 hand how many nights I've slept alone since then.

[curt]

prayers

[drivermark]

Thanks Curt.
The doctors let me bring her home yesterday, looking at the discharge papers, she was way sicker than I ever imagined.
She had/has 4 different conditions that any one of them alone if left untreated could have killed her, and when I took to the hospital on Sunday she was still arguing that she was alright. After 5 days in the hospital she's back at home and improving.
Damn she can be a stubborn old broad sometimes.

[drivermark]

This project is now on the back burner until I can bring myself to work on it again. My light, my life, my love, my rock and my kick in the ass when I needed it is gone. She started slipping away after a couple days back at home. Took her to the ER last night about midnight and she left this world just before 5 am this morning. I don't know if I'll ever get back to it.

[curt]

oh man so sorry to hear that prayers for you and your family

[drivermark]

Thanks Curt, I appreciate it. Not sure what to do next, I feel kind of lost. Our son and daughter are both here, we're all helping each other through this. I never expected this to happen. I figured she'd outlast me by a couple decades since I was the one that did all the crazy stupid shit when I was younger.

[drivermark]

Just returned from saying our final goodbyes, my daughter pointed out that if Mom knew I had given up on anything because she was not here anymore she would be kicking my ass from here to hell and gone.
So as soon as I can get her box/urn made I will get back to working on this project.
I told her a while back that it was a wish of mine to see the Atlantic Ocean. She said she was game until I told her I wanted to do it on 2 wheels. I guess now that isn't going to be an issue. My best brother just had open heart surgery so I probably won't make that trip until next year, but I'm going to see it and she's coming with me even if I have to mount that box on the handle bars.
Until then back at the homestead I'll be making her urn out of a piece of the oak dining table that was her mom's. The one that all the family dinners were held around. I really think she'd like that.
Goddamn I miss that girl so much already.