GUNMETAL & CHAMPAGNE

I built Gunmetal & Champagne in ME204: Bicycle Design and Framebuilding.  The name mainly refers to the colors of the bike, but it's also evocative of the different moods inherent in frame construction.  To me Gunmetal represents the precision and singular focus required when welding thin-wall tubing.  Champagne by contrast evokes the joy of the design process and the sense of relief that I felt each time I was able to cold-set my frame into compliance with the many specs for twist and planarity.  I had one tube fully buckle during cold-setting, so I ended up making the front triangle for this frame twice.

PROCESSES + TOOLS

Solidworks, manual mill, TIG welding, brass brazing, powder coat

MATERIALS

4130 Chrome-moly steel, 1018 steel, 316 stainless steel, cast iron