Brazing Rack Mounts

Did some rack braze-ons last weekend. It was a little tough because I used MAPP gas and it took a awhile to get to brazing temperature. There was a sweet spot temperature that was hard to get to without burning off too much of the flux. The biggest solution came when I was taking flux from other parts of the assembly and moving it into the area I was working on. I practiced a bunch on a piece of scrap chrome-Molly and felt comfortable enough trying it on the bike.

Getting the parts hot enough for the silver to flow when I had the parts clamped together was a challenge. Once I put a tack weld of silver solder on and could remove the clamp the silver flowed OK. I don't think I will win any awards for the looks of my brazing but the mounts are on very solid.

February Update

I have done a little work on the bike since the last post but I hope to be getting some things done in the next couple of months. I moved in November and have been busy setting up the house and my new bike workshop. Here is a picture of the bike after a nice gravel ride around the new neighborhood. It rides great but still needs work.




After a slightly sloppy gravel road ride

New updates include:

Brazed on new cable stops on the top tube
Brazed on cantilever post on the seat stays
Brazed on a brake bridge (Need to put a new one on one day as this on is too small)
Put lower geared chain rings on up front (46 and 34 tooth front chain rings)
Put on new drop bars and brake levers
Put on a new 350mm steerer tube fork