Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Lug Shapes

It's incredible how much work it takes to carve a set of lugs. I've been working on these for hours and hours, and I'm still not quite happy with them. Investment cast lugs: they make so much sense!

They began as Prugnat "Type S" stamped lugs. They're probably down to about 50% of their original material at this point. I think I'll probably shorten the point on the downtube a bit, and certainly thin it out some more—but I'll wait until I've settled on a fork crown, i.e. if I can get a Pacenti "Artisan II" in time for building.

For now, here they are:

The "curve" along the top of the headtube is the thing I like most in this lug shape.
I've made a pretty serious "spoon" on the underside of the TT.


The point seems a bit "heavy" to me.

I don't think this seat lug is ever going to be especially gorgeous, but I've done what I can.

3 comments:

Chandler said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
RMHampel said...

Lovely work there.

However, you'd better stop filing soon. The lugs still need enough coverage to actually hold the tubes together. ';-))

Seriously, this is looking to be a great bike.

Ron

AH said...

Thanks Ron!

And yes, I know, they're getting a bit thin :) But I've seen "tighter" lugs from builders whose bikes seem to hold together pretty well (like Peter Weigle, whose bikes I was watching pretty closely as I carved out my shapes).

I'm dying to get going on the bike! Still need to get my hands on a crown a fork blades before I can complete the drawing and start mitering and brazing...