Hello there

[twowheels]

Hi everyone

Time to introduce myself

Been browsing this site for a good few months now picking up advice on joining two peices of metal together and it has become my favourite haunt after I finish work. I just find it fascinating what people have acheived and created with metal especially the roses in the vase. Myself I work with bricks and morter, soil and plants but have always have a yearning for the bright ark.

I have never welded anything in my life until about a month ago after I decided to purchase a Clarke 90EN and a few other bits to get me going. My reason for buying a welder is I have always wanted to build my own recumbent bike from scratch or scrap!. Unable to afford anything new and overpriced second hand ones I decided to give it a go in building my own. With a limited budget I decided to learn mig using gasless I wont be using it all that often anyway and I cant be bothered with the co2/argon bottles, which I have only used one disposable.

Thanks to this forum and my own perseverance I have managed to build a long wheel based recumbent. I have had to weld/flap disk/weld/flapdisk happy. The bike is far from finished, just waiting for the rod end bearings for the steering and I can give it a test ride. Fells really comfy and so far nothing has dropped off.
I have also repaired my mums ironing board that she has had for decades and didnt want to part with it. Fixed it a treat.

Got a few pics, see what you think.

Regards

Leon

 

[Drains]

That's smart Two wheels. How does the steering linkage work? - can't quite make it out.

Anyway, welcome to the forum, good of you to join us, and BTW, did you ever appear in Porridge, with Ronnie Barker?

 

[Paul.]

Yes welcome
I was trying to work out the steering as well, I notice the parking brake is technology carried over from your main trade .

 

[twowheels]

like the sense of humer

I am hoping to attach a rod end to each column abit like a track rod. I just fixed a peice of angle metal and bolted together so the front wheel would keep straight.

It was cold on Sunday, overalls and body warmer were needed!!!

cheers

 

[andypocock]

A couple of rose jointed rods ought to take the steering fotward OK but I notice that the two steering heads are not at the same angle so I wonder if this will lead to problems.

 

[twowheels]

Hi Andy

The "L" brackets I positioned and welded to the stems align ok. I have tried the steering out with M5 rod ends and it gives me a decent turning circle in both directions. I will add a few close ups when it is set up.

 

[Robotstar5]

Hi Leon, welcome to the forum

I have also repaired my mums ironing board that she has had for decades and didnt want to part with it. Fixed it a treat.

Got a few pics, see what you think.

Still waiting to see the pics of the ironing board

Regards, Stuart

 

[twowheels]

hi Stuart
thanks for the reply
I could have taken a photo as well!!! never even thought. My mother had been using it for months supported on one end with books.

regards
Leon

 

[weldequip]

and it has become my favourite haunt after I finish work

Originally diagnosed as "Portamigitis"...there's still no known cure...
weldequip

 

[malcolm]

The recumbent looks excellent fun. Won't there be a lot of bending force on the tube just under the seat when you go over bumps? I'd be inclined to add a thin tube between the bottom brackets to take that load. Wouldn't need to be thick as it would be in tension most of the time.

 

[twowheels]

Malcolm
Interesting comment, even though I have bounced up and down on the seat it feels solid enough. I have a peice of tubing which will go there nicely on the picture. i think i will go with your advice and fit it this weekend to be on the safe side.

With regards to weldquip comment, even though i use a disposable welding mask and plenty of ventilation when welding i think some vapour must be seeping through the mask and causing me to hug metal and build strange things......

thanks
leon