Imperfection Is Perfection?

[jclay]

Sometimes it's just crap.

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QED

The twist is worse than it looks.
Don't quite know how I managed to get there.
An additional straight edge check gets added to the performance.

[Curt Goodrich]

Sucks doesn't it? I don't care what frame building class/flickr site/app/Ouija/CAD/most expensive fixture one uses, stuff like this happens. And then the learning begins. Congrats! Now you'll find a way to not have that happen again.

[David Tollefson]

Sucks doesn't it? I don't care what frame building class/flickr site/app/Ouija/CAD/most expensive fixture one uses, stuff like this happens. And then the learning begins. Congrats! Now you'll find a way to not have that happen again.

I should be a genius by now...

[duanedr]

Me too David (from my home town of Puyallup!)

Frameset #2 is a 24in MTB for my 7 year old son. I have so far made 2 forks (2nd one is straight enough but I can see it's off) and one front triangle that I had to cut up because the DT/BB was not in plane. I just received the new tubes for the 2nd attempt at the front end and hope to make progress this weekend. For me, each full frameset requires at least 2 attempts at each sub-assembly. The chainstays and rear DO's on the 24in MTB seem to be pretty good so, I'm wondering what is wrong that I haven't noticed yet.

[jclay]

Sucks doesn't it? I don't care what frame building class/flickr site/app/Ouija/CAD/most expensive fixture one uses, stuff like this happens. And then the learning begins. Congrats! Now you'll find a way to not have that happen again.

Thanks Curt.
That's for sure (all of it).
I won't let that happen again.
I think.
I certainly won't assume the leveling bar is infallible.
Or me....which with forks I was starting to act like.
Eyeballing a straight edge across the crown sockets, against the dummy axle just got branded into my brain.

[crumpton]

my first steel fork had more twist at the crown than a whole jar of twizzlers on RSs bench but was correct from steerer to drops. i rode the shit out of it and it was fine.

[Andrew R Stewart]

When you build for yourself and make a booboo you have the chance to find out how much you can correct it and still ride it. When you build for others you don't. John- is this for yourself? If so the try aligning it before building a new fork. Andy.

[jclay]

Hi Andy,

Yes, this one is for me. It's otherwise just fine. I'll finish it and see how long I can stand the bike going straight while the crown looks like it's turning. I can't bring myself to toss/waste it.

[nash]

Imperfection is perfection. Perfection is imperfection.

[Eric Estlund]

It's highly manipulated metal. Manipulate it some more and see what happens.

[Scheisserad61]

I have a fork jig just like yours. I discovered that the C-channel base was not flat and level, it had a twist over it's length.

I will probably get a piece of jig plate to replace the warped base.

[duanedr]

my first steel fork had more twist at the crown than a whole jar of twizzlers on RSs bench but was correct from steerer to drops. i rode the shit out of it and it was fine.

That's what I've got and i'm hoping the 7 year old won't notice until I can built him another one. I know I got good brazing penetration and he only weighs about 70lbs.

+1 what Andy says.

I only build for me and those I can keep an eye on before and after every ride.

I hate throwing things away too so, I added a downtube and BB that went wrong and then added some bracing. It was as much practice brazing as it was practical to make something to sit on while at my desk in the garage.

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[jclay]

It's highly manipulated metal. Manipulate it some more and see what happens.

Thanks for the suggestion Eric. I was too scared of wrecking it to try until brewing on your suggestion for a little while. This morning I clamped the lower legs to the edge of the table, installed an all-thread dummy axle, and set up a lever at the crown end. It was surprisingly easy. I snuck up on straight, aligning the legs to a pair of straight edges, and then aligned the DOs with my DO tools (they needed next to nothing). I'll recheck when I have more time but right now it looks just fine.

Good coaching - thanks.

[Curt Goodrich]

John,

Make sure to double check your rake/offset after this. Rarely do the blades move equally back and forward. Adjust accordingly.

[jclay]

John,

Make sure to double check your rake/offset after this. Rarely do the blades move equally back and forward. Adjust accordingly.

Thanks for the tip/reminder Curt. Since the initial bit of rework its clear that a bit more fussing will be necessary to get it where it needs to be, but its going to work out.

Cheers,