welding/brazing a unicycle (x post)

Off-topic
1

hello,

i’m a novice bicycle frame builder and i’m interested in brazing a unicycle fork/frame. where do i get the drop outs for the bottom of the fork legs. looks like a two piece clamp that grabs the hub.

if its not painfully apparent, i dont own or ride a unicycle. of course this would change if i could find a source for the raw materials.

thanks in advance for your help

2

www.unicycle.com or one of their national variants sell the clamps that you refere to very cheaply ==> http://tinyurl.com/78qkg They are of a pressed steel construction, solid machine-collar type clamps are also available from various sources (usually bearing shops) which give a more professional looking frame but are not necessary for the beginner. Hope that helps.

3

thanks, but…

i took a look at the tinyurl link and that appears to be just the bottom of the bearing collar. i’m looking for the piece thats gets welded/brazed to the frame.

do you know of a supplier for that part?

4

It’s the same component, just buy two sets, weld one shell to the end of each leg and use the other to clamp the bearings in place. This is what unicycle.com do on all their own brand frames and they’re perfectly good quality, even for punishing trials and Muni riding. This photo, for instance http://www.unicycle.uk.com/Images/Shop/framenimbusxxx20-Long.jpg might help explain, you can see the piece welded to the frame legs and the piece that gets bolted on to hold the bearing in place are the same.

5

i get it

thanks kington99 for the persistance. i get it now. in most pics they look like galvanized steel or chrome plated. galvanized steel lets off some very toxic fumes when brazed and i’ve never worked with a chrome plated part.

i’ll order a few before i dismiss them. i like the idea of using a bearing collar built for industrial use. i’ll see if i can track them down.

thanks again.

6

They’re genreally chromed, and chrome does let off some nasty gas when welded, i suggest you wire brush/lightly grind the surface finish off before commencing any welding work, although I didn’t when using MIG welding with no ill effects.