Questions/rambling about getting started.

[boxerboxer]

I know the original intent of the board was for people with some experience to shop talk so if this is out of scope let me know.

This past weekend I went out to my wife's grandparents place and discovered they have a great workshop with a nice bench vice, lots of files, and an oxy-acetylene torch/cart/regulator setup sans tanks. The torch is pretty big and bulky, but I plan to spend a good chunk of time practicing and I figure I can learn some things on a less than ideal setup for now.

For practice, I have access to free and/or very cheap old steel frames that get thrown away by the local bike co-op since they have a good stock of frames already and people keep donating bikes. My thought was to grab some frames, strip the paint off, cut into pieces, and practice mitering and brazing. What I'm wondering is whether I can take a lugged frame, heat it up, and pull tubes out of lugs.

I realize that reheating causes stress on the pieces and that I would probably not want to then put those parts together and ride them, but it seemed like a good way to practice with lugs without having to buy them.

I've read about half the forum posts starting with the oldest ones and will continue to dig through there and research and learn (this is how I ended up building several tube guitar amps from scratch), but if anyone has advice in terms of good reading material, tips, useful things to practice, or essential tools I'm interested in hearing it.

As much as I'd love to take a week or two and take a class from a master that's just not in the cards for me, and this will always be a hobby for me. I know I'm taking the long/hard way, but I enjoy it that way.

I've already learned a ton here and I think it's amazing to be able to hear not only from talented amateurs but guys at the top of the game.

Ben

[Luke]

Fire up that torch...
(Advice from a bottom feeder)

and practice.