A learning curve question!
03-30-19, 05:42 AM
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A learning curve question!
I have read about some you fellows building your own racks out of ss tubing. I have access to tig welding.
How much of a learning curve would you say for a complete novice to fabricate pannier racks?
Our Tubus ones,black , regular maintenance and I like the look of ss.
Thanks
How much of a learning curve would you say for a complete novice to fabricate pannier racks?
Our Tubus ones,black , regular maintenance and I like the look of ss.
Thanks
03-30-19, 08:36 AM
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To make a nice rack I suspect you'll spend close to what a new rack costs in materials. The skills to TiG SS well, and on such small and thin walled tubing, will take a bunch of practice. A bunch. Then there's the tools besides the TiG machine and the back purge gas and it's fittings. (Far more common is brazing the SS tubes but still has costs).
I just finished my 4th full sized rack, it has a couple of tail light brackets and wire clips built on. I didn't track my time but I bet I have well over 20 hours in it. Maybe 10 feet of tubing along with various other bits, some self made and some bought.
Expect to go through the same "next time I should do it this/that way" moments a number of times. And that's after getting the basic fabrication skills thing down. Andy
I just finished my 4th full sized rack, it has a couple of tail light brackets and wire clips built on. I didn't track my time but I bet I have well over 20 hours in it. Maybe 10 feet of tubing along with various other bits, some self made and some bought.
Expect to go through the same "next time I should do it this/that way" moments a number of times. And that's after getting the basic fabrication skills thing down. Andy
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03-30-19, 11:57 AM
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Thanks for your reply! Chalk that off my list!
03-31-19, 04:04 PM
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I took a liking to the metalsmith Art department classes at the Community College for a few years,
and had workshop access.
then I tackled a DIY Frame.. brazed, lugs...
But I moved away long since..
....
and had workshop access.
then I tackled a DIY Frame.. brazed, lugs...
But I moved away long since..
....
04-01-19, 01:25 PM
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check out some posts by @gugie he does a lot of racks..... I think he brazes.....not sure if that would be easier than tig or not.......not my area of expertise....yet
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(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
04-01-19, 02:43 PM
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the setup for the first rack is expensive, no matter what the joining tech is. I use silver on SS racks, so that's some money right up front. And you can't buy one rack's worth of silver. I suppose you could figure out how to bend tubing with a cheap bender or even make the bender yourself out of pulleys, for example. But I still see getting to the point where you could build a usable first rack as being about equal to what it costs to buy a SS rack from Tubus
04-01-19, 03:44 PM
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I think Tubus has discontinued their SS front racks.
04-01-19, 08:10 PM
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that would be too bad, I was never too impressed by the black ones
04-02-19, 06:03 AM
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I have been re-painting ours every year after our tours. This time added Gorilla tape at the wear points.
04-02-19, 02:45 PM
#10
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abrasion patches were already thought of.. : https://www.tubus.com/produkte/zubeh...folienset/#ass
