So I have been busy all weekend cutting box section to length in preparation for the first major component of the Warrior Trike - the rear forks.
My first major hurdle has been the welder. I'm using no-gas MIG for now (as that is what I already have!) and I think I've got my settings dialled in. Ive just got to perfect the pooling of material to get some sexy looking joints. On sections that I can see internally, penetration looks sufficient and everything seems solid.
I'm using 2mm wall thickness for the main tubes on my frame. Being a big bloke, I felt the extra weight penalty a nice safety net seeming as I haven't wielded a welder in a long while!
My first major hurdle has been the welder. I'm using no-gas MIG for now (as that is what I already have!) and I think I've got my settings dialled in. Ive just got to perfect the pooling of material to get some sexy looking joints. On sections that I can see internally, penetration looks sufficient and everything seems solid.
I'm using 2mm wall thickness for the main tubes on my frame. Being a big bloke, I felt the extra weight penalty a nice safety net seeming as I haven't wielded a welder in a long while!
Top picture is of my first welds on end caps, and the bottom is post grind clean up. As Brad (who wrote the plans) suggests, I will only clean up none structural welds like this. Prior to powder coating the finished article, I will blend all other welds with body filler, yes it's cheating, but I'm hoping the warrior will look pretty nice for a homebuilt. Looks are everything after all! ;)
Second challenge this weekend has been setting the angles and distances of the fork legs and then maintaining these dimensions whilst welding the two legs to the top brace. I sketched around the pre welded components in their correct positions on a piece of ply, then tacked the pointy ends of the fork legs to an offcut of box section to help avoid distortion. All as recommended in the plans, but sketching around the outline of everything helped me with quick visual references to ensure nothing had moved due to the heat generated at the weld.
A couple of the welds will need grinding back and tidying up, but overall, my welds are improving every time I pick the gun up. Both legs are welded to the top brace, I actually said out loud to myself "I'm mekking stuff" (mekking = making).
Haha what a great feeling, seeing a few lengths of box section transformed into a nice symmetrical set of forks is brilliant. They look cack at the moment, but I've run out of time to clean them up today.
Second challenge this weekend has been setting the angles and distances of the fork legs and then maintaining these dimensions whilst welding the two legs to the top brace. I sketched around the pre welded components in their correct positions on a piece of ply, then tacked the pointy ends of the fork legs to an offcut of box section to help avoid distortion. All as recommended in the plans, but sketching around the outline of everything helped me with quick visual references to ensure nothing had moved due to the heat generated at the weld.
A couple of the welds will need grinding back and tidying up, but overall, my welds are improving every time I pick the gun up. Both legs are welded to the top brace, I actually said out loud to myself "I'm mekking stuff" (mekking = making).
Haha what a great feeling, seeing a few lengths of box section transformed into a nice symmetrical set of forks is brilliant. They look cack at the moment, but I've run out of time to clean them up today.
Measured up all the hubs and rims, spokes to be ordered tomorrow and first donor bike stripped and cut. Pleased with a weekends worth of work. Will be nice to have it as a rolling chassis soon.
Play time has had to come to a halt as its my turn to play babysitter. Ah well, a bit of father-son quality time watching MotoGP is not a bad thing. Got to get Felix into motorbikes whilst he is young!
Play time has had to come to a halt as its my turn to play babysitter. Ah well, a bit of father-son quality time watching MotoGP is not a bad thing. Got to get Felix into motorbikes whilst he is young!