Any carbon framebuilders around?
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Any carbon framebuilders around?
I'm an am amateur to framebuilding (but learning fast!), currently riding my first carbon frame, building my second, and designing my third.
I'm wondering if there are any other, more experienced carbon frame builders on this forum willing to share some information and experience. I'm especially curious about preferences when it comes to bottom brackets, dropouts, and bottle bosses, as well as monocoque vs bonded tube constructions.
I'm wondering if there are any other, more experienced carbon frame builders on this forum willing to share some information and experience. I'm especially curious about preferences when it comes to bottom brackets, dropouts, and bottle bosses, as well as monocoque vs bonded tube constructions.
#2
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
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I don't think we have anyone that posts here regularly that works with carbon. I always wanted to build carbon frames. I even took a class on composite materials back in 1981. That was a mistake, the professor talked me out of building frames.
#3
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Location: Rochester, NY
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Over on Velocipede Salon there's a few that do. Or there's a few who in the past have posted. None that I remember ever talked about teaching though. Andy
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AndrewRStewart
AndrewRStewart
#5
Senior Member
I've made a steel frame with a carbon TT and DT going into "lugs" that I welded up. I don't think there's much benefit to this over just using steel (actually I prefer steel) but it's what the friend I was making it for wanted. But this probably isn't relevant to what you're trying to do.
But if you want to post about it I will be interested to read it!
But if you want to post about it I will be interested to read it!
#6
On Velocipede there was a tutorial posted by a guy who made tube to tube carbon frames commercially. He showed how he used sanded filler to blend the joints and then over-wrapped them with carbon. Lot's of good detail. I forget the brand.
For a more basic technique, there are lots of pics out there of Calfee's method using carbon tow for building customs like tandems or working with bamboo. The joint is a big knot of tow that is ground smooth after it has cured.
I've always wanted to try doing it with carbon socks, like how fork crowns used to be made.
For a more basic technique, there are lots of pics out there of Calfee's method using carbon tow for building customs like tandems or working with bamboo. The joint is a big knot of tow that is ground smooth after it has cured.
I've always wanted to try doing it with carbon socks, like how fork crowns used to be made.
#7
Steel is real
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Serotta did it back then ,now I don't know who does carbon custom frames.
#8
Randomhead
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It was Nick Crumpton
Last edited by unterhausen; 01-07-23 at 04:22 PM.
#9
Full Member
It was Crumpton. The whole process actually is quite simple. There's a limited number of ways you can wrap carbon around a lug
Even with all the theory on how to do it you still need to actually be able to execute the idea yourself.
You'll see a lot of carbon work done by people who know what needs to be done but struggle to actually execute the process.
Even with all the theory on how to do it you still need to actually be able to execute the idea yourself.
You'll see a lot of carbon work done by people who know what needs to be done but struggle to actually execute the process.
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#10
https://www.velocipedesalon.com/foru...ing-18058.html
#11
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It was Crumpton. The whole process actually is quite simple. There's a limited number of ways you can wrap carbon around a lug
Even with all the theory on how to do it you still need to actually be able to execute the idea yourself.
You'll see a lot of carbon work done by people who know what needs to be done but struggle to actually execute the process.
Even with all the theory on how to do it you still need to actually be able to execute the idea yourself.
You'll see a lot of carbon work done by people who know what needs to be done but struggle to actually execute the process.
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AndrewRStewart
AndrewRStewart
#12
Full Member
Yes but poor work by an otherwise knowledgeable person can be easily passed off as proper work to those who don't know better.
#13
Senior Member
Found the thread, but the pics are, indeed, gone.
https://www.velocipedesalon.com/foru...ing-18058.html
https://www.velocipedesalon.com/foru...ing-18058.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20220627...ng-18058.html?
#14
Senior Member
Also, Tim Massengill does (or did) custom carbon fiber frames. He's good friends with Doug Fattic who can probably put you in touch.
#15
Full Member
Here's an article that shows a lot of the process used by Crumpton. https://pezcyclingnews.com/technspec...rbon-crumpton/
To me the joints could be made to look a lot neater.
ETA. This is an old article and I will say his bikes do look much neater on the lug joints now. I believe he no longer uses woven carbon on them The build along that disappeared showed unidirectional.
To me the joints could be made to look a lot neater.
ETA. This is an old article and I will say his bikes do look much neater on the lug joints now. I believe he no longer uses woven carbon on them The build along that disappeared showed unidirectional.
Last edited by Canaboo; 01-09-23 at 01:38 PM.
#16
Newbie
Thread Starter
Thanks for the responses everyone
My first frame was monocoque using a 3d printed core instead of a foam one. My result was not the best aesthetically, but was rideable (its still my daily rider today). I would have liked to had done a tube+lug construction but at the time (pandemic + college student budget) it came out cheaper to buy all the carbon and do it monocoque.
Recently I've gotten back into carbon fiber as I'm working on a carbon cargo bike build and experimenting with some other carbon fiber component projects. And I've discovered a lot of interesting people doing interesting things with carbon fiber out here in eastern europe.
Recently I've gotten back into carbon fiber as I'm working on a carbon cargo bike build and experimenting with some other carbon fiber component projects. And I've discovered a lot of interesting people doing interesting things with carbon fiber out here in eastern europe.
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#18
Newbie
Thread Starter
Sorry for the long wait
Here is the top tube being printed.
Here are all the core parts glued together and mounted in my low-tech jig. The HT, BB, and seat cluster were printed from plastic mixed with carbon fiber for some added strength.
Here's the final result. It doesn't look great, but it rides pretty well and was a great learning experience
A lot of the lessons I learned building this bike have helped me with deigning and working on my current project I'm working on.
Here is the top tube being printed.
Here are all the core parts glued together and mounted in my low-tech jig. The HT, BB, and seat cluster were printed from plastic mixed with carbon fiber for some added strength.
Here's the final result. It doesn't look great, but it rides pretty well and was a great learning experience
A lot of the lessons I learned building this bike have helped me with deigning and working on my current project I'm working on.
#19
framebuilder
I'm an am amateur to framebuilding (but learning fast!), currently riding my first carbon frame, building my second, and designing my third.
I'm wondering if there are any other, more experienced carbon frame builders on this forum willing to share some information and experience. I'm especially curious about preferences when it comes to bottom brackets, dropouts, and bottle bosses, as well as monocoque vs bonded tube constructions.
I'm wondering if there are any other, more experienced carbon frame builders on this forum willing to share some information and experience. I'm especially curious about preferences when it comes to bottom brackets, dropouts, and bottle bosses, as well as monocoque vs bonded tube constructions.
Likes For Doug Fattic:
#20
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maybe check out some facebook groups....I see people popping up on framebuilders that do carbon
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Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.