Frame Jig Details to Consider | Bicycle Framebuilding

Frame jigs (or frame welding fixtures) are one of the main bicycle framebuilding tools you'll likely be considering when building up your own shop as a bicycle framebuilder. They're also pretty expensive: the most viable, quality options are around $5,000. So you might be interested in building your own.
I built my own frame jig a couple years ago, so I have some experience with that process. In this video I share some details of the frame jig I made, and I discuss some of the options you should consider, whether you're building your own jig or shopping from the options available.
Just to be clear: I think most new builders will be better off buying a jig if you can afford one. Designing and fabricating your own can be tedious and very time-consuming (mine took me 9 months of nights and weekends!). That said, if you like the challenge of designing and fabricating something like this, you'll likely learn a lot in the process, and that can be satisfying, too.
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[@bobloblaw17]

That was an amazing 18 minute monologue! No cuts, you knew exactly what you needed to cover, and you covered it in a clear, succinct, logical sequence. Great video, and as always great content.

[@angusyoung4959]

love the content cant wait to see future videos

[@felipenavas]

Your channel is the best framebuilding material on the youtube! Awesome!

[@cobraframebuilding]

Thanks!

[@lobiedosser]

Great work and well thought out .

[@nippelfrost]

Just stumbled onto your channel - you have my deep respect for investing so much time and energy into the making of these videos. Thank you for openly sharing the knowledge you have acquired so other people get an easier access to the topic :) Greetings from germany, Im already trying to figure out with what kind of low-budget fixture I can get away with for a first test frame :D

[@cobraframebuilding]

Thanks! I wish there were CZcams videos about framebuilding when I was trying to figure out what the hell I was doing.

[@matximbrat]

This is the best JIG I've ever seen. You are using the most-sense coordinate system to build a frame.
Are you planning to sell that JIG?

[@Agislife1960]

What about a bike frame that doesn't use straight pieces, something like the early 70's schwinn sting ray krate series

[@KoroWerks]

I'd love to see you produce a fixture, or jig kit.

[@geewillikers5342]

I would defo buy a jig kit

[@cobraframebuilding]

I would love to offer that at some point. It might be a year or so because it’s a complicated proposition. There are so many parts to make, the design is critical so there would be a ton of time into designing it, and just the cost of making a batch of them upfront is huge. But yeah I will likely offer a fixture in the future!

[@matthewfunnell139]

Is there any progress or further thought on this?

[@troyhall1274]

Joe... How many frames do you build a year ? Awesome channel 👍

[@cobraframebuilding]

Ha, not many! At my peak maybe 5 in a year. Usually 1-3 lately. I’m switched over to the pursuit of framebuilding tooling now, but I want to keep making bikes just to keep learning and maintaining my relevance as someone qualified to design and sell such tools.

[@fingerfunny1]

What would be a good frame jig to buy? Do happen to have a few suggestions

[@cobraframebuilding]

I have one coming out that will be available in the coming months. Sputnik tool in Maine has a very good frame fixture also.

[@MrJoaquins]

How much sir?

345 hours of labor , + materials , + overhead , looks to me that You would earn more per hour working @ McDonald :) sad times