Toggatug, thanks for the fixturing ideas. The fractal vise is cool, but looks like the options are find an antique, or buy a new one for around $2,500.00. On the other hand, I think that the softwood blocks might be in my price range. :D I'll post up what worked as soon as I get the tools here to do...

Thanks for the help, guys. It's great to have some guidance and suggestions from experienced experts.

I'll take some photos of the process and finished part.

Thanks, cj737 and Coldman, for the quick replies. Yes, Ritchey's specification page said the crank was cold-forged, but didn't specify the alloy. I've asked Ritchey to check their files, but no word back yet. The crank arm is about 1.25" across, so I'm thinking that I could use a 6061 slug in t...

Thanks again for your comments. The end product 9/16 tapped hole's internal threads attach the bicycle pedal to the crank arm. Most quality pedals have a steel axle; most of this type are threaded 9/16-20. I've attached pictures of the crank arm and close ups of the portion with the smoothed hole. T...

Thanks for your reply and suggestion. I considered that option, but since the hole is not quite centered due to the existing thread damage and reaming, I am concerned that if i get the hole much larger it will be too close to the outside edges of the part for the external threads to hold. I'll give ...

I have a somewhat pricey bicycle part that requires repair because it is no longer made. It is an aluminum crank arm in which the threaded hole for the pedal has been cross threaded and the thread destroyed. From my research, it seems likely that the part was cold-forged, but I don't know what alumi...

jamesclerie is a well known participant on other boards, including weldingweb. I'd feel comfortable buying anything he has listed. Still waiting for him to post another Stronghold table. Missed the last one...

I absolutely mean to do 2 passes. ... You also hit it on the head that people who claim to get full penetration and that really nice cover just doesn't add up to me, I see the manifold collectors that are polished to a mirror sheen which tells me that there had to be 100% penetration or a LOT of gr...

Without identifying any of the well known manifold builders, I have handled and inspected several of the manifolds made by the "best" who show their welds on instagram and the like. The ones that represent that they weld "one pass" schedule 40 with full penetration simply don't g...

Sounds like you may be tensing up more than you need to. Try consciously relaxing and making sure that you are in the best, most comfortable position. You may still get wrist or forearm pain, but the tighter you hold the torch, the less time it takes to get the carpal tunnel type condition that soun...

Here's a link for a color chart description:

http://www.bssa.org.uk/topics.php?article=140

Eldon, What I think you are asking is how you can intentionally cause color in your SS work after it is done, rather than get color in just your weld, is that right? There are a number of SS parts of various kinds that have been colored by heating (without a welder). You can find color tables of SS ...

AndersK, You might find some useful info here: http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/tig-welding-videos.html: In particular, there's a video in that section titled "Tig welding stainless steel with a stubby gas lens kit" that will look very much like what you're trying to do with the lap joi...

AndersK, Your welds are improving. For what its worth, the skill in TIG welding results from watching and reading the puddle. If you compare the welds in the photos to what you'd like to achieve, I'd say that the welds are still too grey (too hot), and the individual weld beads (movements) are too b...

When cdaven was making them for himself and his friends as a hobby, he charged $60 for them. When Radweldingsupplies.com started selling his cups and he increased production to meet demand, the prices went up to $129. That did not last long, and cdaven and Radwelding parted ways. I think that at $60...

I'll tell you what, Gamble.

Since you genuinely have to have one this minute you must have the money ready to buy it, so I'll sell you mine, used 5 minutes, for $129 shipped, same as they used to cost at radweldingsupplies.com

PM me for my paypal info

I can assure you he's none of the above. He's a good guy that welds full time, and made these cups on the side for several years because he needed one and nobody was making them... When he and Toxicfab parted ways, I think that he had to resume production of what had been a purely low key product he...

There are a number of these kinds of cups available now. Some of the nicest are the mfurick cups which you can see at http://dogfab.com/FURICK_CUPS.php As a plus, they are less expensive than the cups that radweldingsupplies sells. They come with a very well made multi layer diffuser. The Ti cup pre...

Satellite phone with GPS.

There are a remarkable number of options for the small gas lens in the 9/20 size. Dogfab sells glass pyrex cups in a variety of sizes from size 5 to about size 15 for the 9/20 size torch. His stuff is excellent, with custom diffusers available for the 12 and 15 sizes. You can see and buy them here: ...

There are really only two good options. Which one you take depends on your pocketbook. Fixed shade with a decent helmet will cost $80 or so, including a good Phillips Safety gold glass lens in the shade you use most. AD helmets are very nice, but only the upper end ones are the best for vision. The ...

Are the ADFLOs you are selling new or used? Since your ad is your first post on the board, I expect that board members will want to have some additional information about you and the items you are offering. I'm interested in one, but would want to feel comfortable that the transaction would go as ex...

When I saw this video, I immediately thought "if the rider needs that much additional forward movement of the seat, the frame is way too big for her..."

You will note that the Weldtec champagne cups is 1.25" across, but it does so by a substantial flare out from a smaller size. The kit costs $42.xx for each size tungsten you want to use. You can buy #12 cups (.75") and #15 cups (15/16") for about $3 each from almost any Airgas or simi...