Copperstar started out as a project to teach myself to weld. Because I wasn't real good at welding, I used mild steel instead of chrome moly. I wanted to build a bike that had a hint of custom Harley yet still looked like a bicycle. I started by bending the tubing with a Harbor Freight tubing bender. Then I used the back half of a BMX bike and welded the two together. I used sheet steel for all of the details on the frame. The "tank" is foam carved to shape, then covered with Bondo. I found the wheels at a flea market. I made some aluminium inserts for each spoke, then glued them in. I also thinned the front wheel out a bit by removing some of the plastic webbing. I made the triple-tree from 5/8 aluminium. I cut it out on a bandsaw, then filed smooth. The front fender is made from fiberglass. I wanted the fender to really hug the tire and I couldn't get a metal one to work, so I had to make it. I made the seat by first pounding out a seat pan from sheet steel then glued a piece of foam to it. The cover is my first attempt at sewing. it turned out OK but I think I can do a little better now that I have an idea what I'm doing. I also did all of the paint myself. This was my first time to use base /clear and I have to say that stuff is great. I'm pretty pleased with the way it came out. I had a lot of fun building this bike and I've already got the next one well under way. Steve Krontz |
Steve Krontz: Copperstar |
Copperstar started out as a project to teach myself to weld. Because I wasn't real good at welding, I used mild steel instead of chrome moly. I wanted to build a bike that had a hint of custom Harley yet still looked like a bicycle. I started by bending the tubing with a Harbor Freight tubing bender. Then I used the back half of a BMX bike and welded the two together. I used sheet steel for all of the details on the frame. The "tank" is foam carved to shape, then covered with Bondo. I found the wheels at a flea market. I made some aluminium inserts for each spoke, then glued them in. I also thinned the front wheel out a bit by removing some of the plastic webbing. I made the triple-tree from 5/8 aluminium. I cut it out on a bandsaw, then filed smooth. The front fender is made from fiberglass. I wanted the fender to really hug the tire and I couldn't get a metal one to work, so I had to make it. I made the seat by first pounding out a seat pan from sheet steel then glued a piece of foam to it. The cover is my first attempt at sewing. it turned out OK but I think I can do a little better now that I have an idea what I'm doing. I also did all of the paint myself. This was my first time to use base /clear and I have to say that stuff is great. I'm pretty pleased with the way it came out. I had a lot of fun building this bike and I've already got the next one well under way. Steve Krontz |
