How I built a carbon bike frame at home (and a bamboo frame too)

Step 11: Building the bamboo/carbon frame 3

The frame building itself was quite quick. I have used the frame jig I made for my previous carbon frame. Bamboo rods were fitted in miter joints together with aluminum tubes (bottom bracket shell, head and short seat tube) and bonded with epoxy. The junctions in the rear part of the frame I have made from polyurethane foam and the following laminating process of the joints with epoxy resin and woven carbon cloth was practically the same as for the carbon frame. The bamboo rods, in the place of connection with the carbon were machined, so there were small shark teeth which guaranteed that the bamboo will not loose. Also it is important to have well dried bamboo, so it will shrink later minimally.

Comments

[scotonoia]

This is freaking fantastic! But my question for you is: Where did you find those mounts for the rear breaks? I've been looking for something exactly like that because I recently bought a frame that is only "disk brake compatible" and I would love to "switch" it to cantilever. Thanks, Phil

[Brano]

Also the brake bosses I got for the carbon frame from one local builder, for the bamboo frame they were cnc machined. Have a look e.g. at http://www.ceeway.com .

[pigpenmck]

 Brano,
I spoke to calfee the other day and told me that the thermodynamic expansion of carbon and bamboo would cause the joints to eventually separate. Have you had any experience with this? What are your thoughts?
Dan

[adie.mitchell]

i am planning on building one of these bamboo babies and i have two questions--

1) i know people use kevlar (Aramid) in boats, but i have never seen it in bikes. is there a reason not to use it, because i can find it cheaper than carbon?

2) what shape pieces of cloth did you laminate over the joints? strips? would it be easier to use one or two inch wide carbon tape, or cut out shapes from a 50" wide piece of cloth?  also, how many layers, and of what weight, of cloth did you use for the joints?

thanks,
Adie