Head tubes, 4130, mig, mild steel?
04-04-16, 01:34 AM
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Head tubes, 4130, mig, mild steel?
Hello,
I am looking at head tubes anywhere I can find them, all seem to be made from 4130, nothing in the 1020 mild steel ranges. I've done a bunch of reading on mig welding 4130, seems like a mixed bag of opinions. Some argue TIG only, blah blah, I'd rather play it safe if possible and I only have MIG on hand. Am I over thinking it and worrying about nothing?
I haven't figured out how to relatively easily make conventional threadless (press 1 1/8" cups into tube) head tubes, maybe I need to get some stock mild steel tubing of some uncertain dimension and find a guy with some knowledge and a lathe?
Maybe someone knows where to get mild steel head tubes?
Doctor doctor, give me the news, I gotta bad case of analysis paralysis.
I am looking at head tubes anywhere I can find them, all seem to be made from 4130, nothing in the 1020 mild steel ranges. I've done a bunch of reading on mig welding 4130, seems like a mixed bag of opinions. Some argue TIG only, blah blah, I'd rather play it safe if possible and I only have MIG on hand. Am I over thinking it and worrying about nothing?
I haven't figured out how to relatively easily make conventional threadless (press 1 1/8" cups into tube) head tubes, maybe I need to get some stock mild steel tubing of some uncertain dimension and find a guy with some knowledge and a lathe?
Maybe someone knows where to get mild steel head tubes?
Doctor doctor, give me the news, I gotta bad case of analysis paralysis.
04-04-16, 04:44 AM
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Blah, blah all you want, MIG and bicycle frames don't go together very well. If you want mild steel head tubes, you'll have to make them.
04-04-16, 10:53 AM
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it's not all that easy to get mild steel tubing in lighter gauges. 'bents use mig a lot, and seem to be successful at it. Not sure about the tubing though
04-04-16, 12:17 PM
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Customers want Chromoly.
Mild steel? for strength you want extra thick Tube wall . Just hit the Industrial Steel Suppliers .
not the Specialty Bike tube set sellers
Mild steel? for strength you want extra thick Tube wall . Just hit the Industrial Steel Suppliers .
not the Specialty Bike tube set sellers
Last edited by fietsbob; 04-04-16 at 12:21 PM.
