Mig Fabrication Class Project

by Ted
(Saint Michael)

bike frame fabrication

I am taking a mig fabrication class and I am building a bike frame. I got the plans from you guys (Custom Choppers Guide). They are tweaked a bit, but it is coming together nicely.

Unfortunately I think I am not going to the best welding school because when I had questions I never got answers.

Most people would make a box or a stool for fabrication class. Well I had to step it up. They had a ton of 1.25 pipe that was a bit bigger than 1.25. That's why they had it, so they told me to use it up, and I am.

My biggest issue has been learning how to weld smaller pipe. I am getting better at it, but with no one to really guide you, it is a challenge.

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Mar 13, 2014
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welding a frame
by: Anonymous

i would not make building a frame my first project if you have no welding experience, i was a welder for 40 years and still do some welding,you do not have to use tig to build a frame, mig will work just fine, that is what the factory uses, i have built and repaired a lot of frames and used mig i also have used tig on alloy frames, i have used gas welding, mig and gas are fine on mild steel if your experienced

May 28, 2012
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Response to Tj
by: Well Tj

My plan was to not have a Harley, Chopper, but I guess a bobber is ok. I dont want people to ask if its a harley (hence the inline 2 cylinder) but at the same time I dont want them to say oh its a xs650. I plan to do as much machine/welding on my own as possible. I am making my own tank, fenders, front end controls. Anything I can make with a welder mill or lathe I am. I want people to ask what kind of bike is this. What will it look like. Im planning on a lot of root beer metal flake, cool old school pinstripping and Im making my own springer front end as well. The tank will sit very high with just the bottom of it hanging on the backbone and I will have a cool set a drag bars. I am making the seat as well and yes with springs on it. You will have everyone tell you what you NEED to do. The problem is they all say put a v-twin in it and every piece of advice you get contridicts the last piece of advice you got and the damn thing is not one piece of advice comes from a bike builder so double check any advice you get. My best recommendation, you tube is your best friend. They will have videos of doing the same thing 100 different ways. My biggest piece of advice I can tell you, TAKE YOUR TIME ALWAYS and make a good jig first. I am making a fill layout table to fix my screw ups on this frame and for future bikes I will make. I will keep sending pics in as I go but I am setting up my garage right now to keep going on my bike so I haven't done much.

May 28, 2012
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Frame Fabrication
by: tj

Ted,
I would like to here more about the frame you built and what your idea's are about your final bike. The photo's you have up looks like your building an inline twin. I too am a novice builder but haven't done my first bike build(lack of cash)yet from scratch. My goal is to build a stock rake, vintage old style pan looking frame with a shovel or older motor with a 2" under wide glide front end, etc...

May 03, 2012
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Welding Tube
by: Spider

Ted;
First off,that frame should be "TIG Welded" not "Mig Welded", especially where the tubes meet the neck.Plates can be "Mig Welded" to the frame no problem.Secondly if your not an experienced welder I would not take on such as serious a project of trying to weld a "Motorcycle Frame".
People's lives are riding on how good those welds were done, (BIG RESPONSIBILITY) to say the least.
Anyway,that being said if you want some good information on how to go about welding that Frame try these two sites. www.weldingweb.com and www.weldingtipsandtricks.com. Those two sites have professionals that will be glad to answer all your questions.Good luck.

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