Things are going smoothly here at Strong Frames. We have all our show bikes done and out at paint and all the parts are starting to trickle in. We’re also on schedule with all customer bikes and we have a nice little rhythm going. I’ll be spending the next couple weekends building bike display stands, lighting and a couple other pieces for NAHBS.

Here is Andrew K’s frame which I finished yesterday. Jim G. is up now and I’ll be starting his today.

I’m a tool guy… to say the least. I’m not one of those tool guys that shines my stuff or fusses over it all the time, I want the functionality.  A lot of better tool guys might look at my stuff with disgust when they see how dirty and unmaintained it looks. I respect my tools and keep them running perfectly but I’m not cleaning chips after every use or setting mats over them when not it use. I like to use them so I want them in use, or ready for use at all times. It’s the same for both my metal shop and my wood shop. All cutters are sharp and all machines are aligned, straight, lubricated and ready to go. So this brings me to my latest temptation, a lathe.

I was telling another tool guy friend (that makes me look like a complete hack) that I was in the market for a good three jaw chuck for my lathe. He said he had one but it had a Clausing lathe attached to it. He just bought a sweet Haas NC tool room lathe. So Erik and I ran out to his shop to check it out. Currently I have an old South Bend that’s in great shape and does everything I need just fine. The Clausing on the other hand is bigger and heavier and I thought it would be nice to set it aside for the really high precision jobs leaving the South Bend for Framebuilding specific duties. So my friend Jeff quoted me an outstanding price and even offered to deliver to my shop and help me set it up. So like any husband that’s terrified by the wrath of their wife, I told him I’d check with Loretta and get back to him.

I told Loretta what  great deal I found and why we needed the machine and asked her what she thought. She’s not as tool crazy as I am so she doesn’t have the emotional pollution to sort through on decisions like this. She made it pretty obvious what the right answer was and I have absolutely no argument for her. Bottom line, how will the investment into the lathe make Strong Frames money. At the end of the day, this is a business, not a hobby and every penny we spend needs to make money or it will be a hobby and I’ll have to go get a job. So as much as I want it I’ve told Jeff I’ll pass and I’m glad I did, but man would it be nice to have.

Thought I’d update on the carbon fiber progress. Jared (JW Engineering), Bill and I have been testing a cyclocross frame the last couple days and are really pleased with it. It’s performed just as anticipated and we think it looks really good too. We like it so much we’re going to have it painted and bring it to NAHBS. We still have a handful of developments we’ll be continuing to test on at least a dozen more frames and if all goes well, we’ll be offering the frames for sale late Summer.

This frame was originally built for NAHBS but I decided to change my mix of frame types so I won’t be needing it. It’s a Custom Blend Steel Dirt Road frame and fork. It’s brand new and in perfect condition.  It’s set up for canti brakes, has fender mounts,  is painted Lazer Midnight (navy) and has custom silver decals (painted on). It is a very classy and clean looking frame.

Regular Price, Frame $1650 plus fork $500 = $2150

Sale Price $1500 SOLD

Available for immediate delivery.

Here is what has been going on around the shop this week.

I finished and delivered Lori R’s bike. It’s a titanium road bike with a Shimano Dura Ace kit, DT 1450 MC wheels and an Easton EC90SLX fork. It’s very nice and it came in at 15.9 pounds with pedals.

I finished Dan P’s frame and it will go to Spectrum along with Paul C’s cross frame which I’m finishing up today.

I’ve also been getting ready for NAHBS. I’ll be taking one steel, one titanium and one carbon fiber. I had built three bikes already but decided to change my mix so I’ll be posting one for sale tomorrow, it’s a steel dirt road bike. check back for details.

On Friday I’ll be finishing a handful of designs and next week, depending on how things go Friday, I’ll get started on Ed and/or Andy and then Jim G’s fourth frame, a coupled steel road frame.