Who has welded the 1984er Fat Chance frames (tig)

landsbee · June 16th, 2016, 11:38 AM

Does anyone of you who, the TIG frame has welded chance at Fat 1984? Were there different welders or Chris had only one?

I took Shawn's '84 Fat Chance and want to get some more to his story out

Thanks for your help, Daniel

mainlyfats · June 17th, 2016, 8:46 AM

Gary Helfrich I believe.

landsbee · June 18th, 2016, 2:56 PM

Thank you!

zonq · June 18th, 2016, 10:41 PM

Scott B mentioned those were just before his time & would have been a result of Chris getting together with Gary. My 84 is half Fillet Brazed, half TIG, with some odd details. Seems like an early work in progress. Pretty neat.

I-ROBOT · June 19th, 2016, 5:52 AM

To my knowledge, Gary Helfrich performed all of the TIG (and plasma) welding at Fat City before departing to start Kestrel Metalworks (later Merlin after he lost the lawsuit). I was hired in November 1986 and worked part-time during the day until June 1987 when I went full-time with FCC. Chris also hired another guy Bill (last name escapes me) who was working at a machine shop in MIT to weld and he worked part-time in the afternoon and evening. I think he only stayed maybe 4 or 5 months and was gone by the time I decided to go full time. Chris Igleheart came along right around that time as well, if the smoky memory serves

. Mike P and Bob Fulk were doing the silver brazing of the small parts at that time. I don't if any of them tried TIG welding or not.

Scott

mainlyfats · June 19th, 2016, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zonq

Scott B mentioned those were just before his time & would have been a result of Chris getting together with Gary. My 84 is half Fillet Brazed, half TIG, with some odd details. Seems like an early work in progress. Pretty neat.

I've heard it said that Chris would sometimes braze over Gary's TIG welding around that time.

I-ROBOT · June 20th, 2016, 8:26 AM

That's certainly possible and it would have the effect of tempering the TIG weld bead underneath depending on the temperature reached during the brazing process and how long the temperature was held. For thin-walled tube, the hold temperature would not be very long and it is possible that fillet brazing with a brass filler would get the temperature up at least close to the stress-relieving temperature.

Most likely though, it was done for aesthetic purposes. Gary's welds looked decent to me but the culture shock of seeing TIG beads on bicycle frames at that time may have put off some buyers.

Just my guess
Scott

Stingercut · June 20th, 2016, 12:06 PM

I have never ending fascination with these details

zonq · June 21st, 2016, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I-ROBOT

Just my guess
Scott

Pretty cool...

Gary Helfrich · October 1st, 2017, 10:46 PM

I welded almost everything made at the Jerry's Liquors annex, so it's almost certain that an '84 is one of mine.

mainlyfats · October 2nd, 2017, 8:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Helfrich

I welded almost everything made at the Jerry's Liquors annex, so it's almost certain that an '84 is one of mine.

Welcome to Fatcogs!

Stingercut · October 2nd, 2017, 9:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zonq

Pretty cool...

Want....Need....bady....

June 16th, 2016, 11:38 AM	#1
landsbee New Member Join Date: November 12th, 2010 Location: Germany (Hessen) Posts: 4	Who has welded the 1984er Fat Chance frames (tig) Does anyone of you who, the TIG frame has welded chance at Fat 1984? Were there different welders or Chris had only one? I took Shawn's '84 Fat Chance and want to get some more to his story out Thanks for your help, Daniel

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June 17th, 2016, 8:46 AM	#2
mainlyfats Senior Member Join Date: August 13th, 2004 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 759	Gary Helfrich I believe.

June 18th, 2016, 2:56 PM	#3
landsbee New Member Join Date: November 12th, 2010 Location: Germany (Hessen) Posts: 4	Thank you!

June 18th, 2016, 10:41 PM	#4
zonq Senior Member Join Date: April 4th, 2014 Location: OnTheRoad Posts: 145	Scott B mentioned those were just before his time & would have been a result of Chris getting together with Gary. My 84 is half Fillet Brazed, half TIG, with some odd details. Seems like an early work in progress. Pretty neat.

June 19th, 2016, 5:52 AM	#5
I-ROBOT Senior Member Join Date: January 7th, 2007 Location: Hudson, MA Posts: 419	To my knowledge, Gary Helfrich performed all of the TIG (and plasma) welding at Fat City before departing to start Kestrel Metalworks (later Merlin after he lost the lawsuit). I was hired in November 1986 and worked part-time during the day until June 1987 when I went full-time with FCC. Chris also hired another guy Bill (last name escapes me) who was working at a machine shop in MIT to weld and he worked part-time in the afternoon and evening. I think he only stayed maybe 4 or 5 months and was gone by the time I decided to go full time. Chris Igleheart came along right around that time as well, if the smoky memory serves . Mike P and Bob Fulk were doing the silver brazing of the small parts at that time. I don't if any of them tried TIG welding or not. Scott

June 20th, 2016, 8:26 AM	#7
I-ROBOT Senior Member Join Date: January 7th, 2007 Location: Hudson, MA Posts: 419	That's certainly possible and it would have the effect of tempering the TIG weld bead underneath depending on the temperature reached during the brazing process and how long the temperature was held. For thin-walled tube, the hold temperature would not be very long and it is possible that fillet brazing with a brass filler would get the temperature up at least close to the stress-relieving temperature. Most likely though, it was done for aesthetic purposes. Gary's welds looked decent to me but the culture shock of seeing TIG beads on bicycle frames at that time may have put off some buyers. Just my guess Scott

June 20th, 2016, 12:06 PM	#8
Stingercut Senior Member Join Date: July 2nd, 2013 Location: London Posts: 594	I have never ending fascination with these details

October 1st, 2017, 10:46 PM	#10
Gary Helfrich New Member Join Date: January 5th, 2015 Location: Camp Meeker, CA Posts: 2	I welded almost everything made at the Jerry's Liquors annex, so it's almost certain that an '84 is one of mine.

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