The frame's essence of integrity starts with how it's tubes are joined together.
No amount of technology can allow for any amount of frame performance if the alignment is way out of whack. During welding or high temperature brazing there is a tremendous amount of heat. This heat then in turn causes a concern with the tubes distorting. Jalon Hawk uses another method to join his tubes to help avoid these obstacles. The lower the temperature during builds, the less distortion. This is why Jalon Hawk uses 45% silver solders to join his tubes. The melting point is approximately 1150° and if used properly will not get the tubing glowing orange and then in turn does not create any stresses that can distort the tubing. Patience is the key element here, leaving only a hand full of frame builders that use this method. Henry James offers a fixture for holding the tubes securely in place while allowing the flexibility to accommodate the wide number of styles of tubing offered today.
One consideration when using 45% silver for fillet use is that this material is originally manufactured for filling gaps that are only .005inch. Creating large fillets that are needed in frame construction require a jig that is capable of shifting position so as to let gravity help in this process.
These are the few reasons to have in our possession a brilliant jig that is machined to the tolerances of the thickness of one of your hairs- .002. The system can also be used for a reference table for checking alignment, building stems and custom handlebars. All this adds up to total control during build.
Have you ever wondered why two frames ride different when both are made out of the same material and sport the same geometry? One of the greatest factors of this phenomenon is the head tube alignment.
As we see in the drawing, if the head tube is even slightly out of alignment of 1.89mm the tire hits the ground more than 13mm to one side for a 700c wheel! This affects steering drastically! Have some fun this season riding behind people and see if their front tire lines up with their rear tire! Even if the builder uses an alignment table, how close is good enough? Again, here at Desperado Cycles, Jalon Hawk uses low temperature silver solders that do not create any distortion during build. Born straight- always straight!
