At work, over the last week, we've been doing Aluminium casting - grading the sand up and handling metals in this weather makes the skin split on my fingers. We've also had a couple of machines breakdown in the workshop which I've had to fix, so I've been doing extra hours and getting no free time...
...but now it's time to start making a new bike.
This is going to be a major project and it takes time to strip a frame and prepare the component parts before any construction starts, and I'll update regularly as it prgresses.
First we'll take a couple of frames off the scrapheap - this is one I bought for 99p on ebay - the back wheel has already been used in the Penny Fakething upthread.
The chain's a bit...
easily dealt with by holding it in a vice and clouting with a hammer to snap it.
The first thing I need is a head-tube and this comes from another old frame. Chopped out and as much waste trimmed off with a hacksaw...
...then using a grinder...
...and finishing with a file.