Custom U Brakes Part 2 - Framebuilding 101 with Paul Brodie

[@superbesuntour8459]

My kind of cool individual is someone who makes his own U-brakes. Definitely beautiful brakes!

[@paulbrodie]

Thank you very much 😉

[@ResonantElecDesign]

I've started popping popcorn and breaking out the fancy whiskey for watching your videos weekly. It's a ritual.

[@paulbrodie]

Thank you.

[@mrboots284]

I just want to say I really appreciate your way of teaching us. To a beginner machinist like me, I've learned more from your single video compared to the dozens I've seen.

[@paulbrodie]

Thanks for watching!

[@stacybuchkowsky6376]

I learn alot from him ..one day make parts ..

[@bigbird2451]

You do some amazing freehand curves and angles on the mill. I thought I was cool.

[@paulbrodie]

I'm always making something, and I do like a challenge. Thanks for watching.

[@philippklement7490]

These look great!

[@paulbrodie]

Philipp, thank you so much! 😉

[@christophercandiotes6498]

these videos are the highlight of my day, like them so much , keep up the great work,

[@danmays1935]

I have been enjoying a number of your videos lately. On this one, you precisely nailed it when you stated that on most other videos, nobody is talking and explaining what they are doing. This is a critical mistake, in my view -- and one of the reasons that I watch your videos instead of theirs. While your goal seems to be education, the "silent one's" goal simply appears to be an attempt to impress and groom their own ego. They present a confusing array of disjointed actions and then "miraculously" conclude with a finished project. They then stand there, beaming with pride, soliciting your admiration. Boo -- Biz Bag!

[@paulbrodie]

Yes, in the "silent"videos, I really feel it is a wasted opportunity to share information with the viewer. Thanks for watching :)

[@clownsareevil67]

I don't know why I waited until this video to comment, but these videos have been the highlight of my lunch hours. The amount of attention to detail in your creation and the level of instruction and explanation are genuinely inspirational. I love it!!! Coffee is on my gentlemen. BTW - I have forever regretted selling my Brodie Rodie.

[@paulbrodie]

Your comment just showed up after 2 months. Thanks for watching! You should find another Rodie :)

[@bloibl916]

I remember seeing your mountain bikes at a bike show in 1990 or so, I was impressed then, and I’m very impressed now. I wanted one of those machines so bad, those forks captured my imagination like nothing else in that gigantic building full of bikes.

[@karmakoma9743]

I drooled at the Catalyst and Sovereign frames at my local bike shop. The disease got so bad I sold my mustang and bought the Catalyst frame lol

[@dozer1642]

You are an amazing artist Paul.

[@paulbrodie]

That's a very nice compliment. Thank you!

[@rickfazzini22]

Almost sprained my finger going for the watch now button when I seen this pop up in my notifications! Thanks for posting Paul!

[@sine0wave]

I'm learning so much from watching your vids! Thanks so much! Coffee is on its way!

[@spongebob7296]

I own a 1994 brodie catalyst since new. Have logged thousands of kilometers of BC west coast trail riding on her and she's been rebuilt 4 times. She is still going strong and I enjoy the ride every single time.

[@paulbrodie]

27 years and still going, great story! Those Catalyst were tough bikes.

[@petepure3387]

Thanks Paul. I always look forward to your next video. :)

[@jasoniannone9675]

This is such an ambitious project. I struggle to comprehend the requirements you're keeping track of to maintain matching and fit. The mills and jigs you've employed, along with the measurements and knowledge of tools (i.e. stop the cutter to avoid spiraling) come out like a firehose of ideas. This is a showcase. An exhibition of expertise. Thank you for the content.

[@paulbrodie]

Thank you Jason. Yes I have a habit of taking on big projects. The biggest was the 1919 Excelsior Boardtracker where I created an entire motorcycle, engine too, out of nothing. It's all documented on my website: www.flashbackfab.com

[@jasoniannone9675]

@@paulbrodie Thanks for the deep cut. I'm really holding back here because I'm in awe. It seems like you have racked up one or two achievements over the course of your career. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kImrdHpnqsaeq5I

[@MotoDeSoto]

Good comment at the end. I got that exact feedback from some of my subscribers, that they prefer it when I talk during the videos, rather than just play music or something. You do an excellent job of explaining the process and I appreciate that. You must have been an excellent teacher. Still are.

[@paulbrodie]

Thank you Moto deSoto. I really feel that the videos with no talking have missed an opportunity. Mitch and I are still learning and attempting to do better.

[@weareallbeingwatched4602]

Kef reference 101 loudspeakers in the background in the Brodie shop! Gwan! As a sound engineer I have a set of those which I rely on to this day as my favoured reference monitor.

[@paulbrodie]

And I just got my Harmon Kardon amp fixed so I'm a happy guy!

[@joelkamm1589]

Thanks for the explanations, questions, and stories!

[@paulbrodie]

Thanks for watching!

[@heyimamaker]

I don’t talk in any of my videos because I don’t know what I’m doing 😂 but you absolutely have a gift for teaching!

[@paulbrodie]

Thanks. I had a lot of practice teaching Framebuilding 101.

[@heyimamaker]

@@paulbrodie It shows! I really wanted to take a frame building class at United Bicycle Institute in the early 2000's but the timing didn't work out, I ended up becoming a bike mechanic instead.

[@killickfabrication6810]

Watching this video makes me want to try making my own brakes for my next frame build. thanks for being an inspiration and putting these videos up.

[@paulbrodie]

Thanks. In my 20's I only had a workbench with a vise, a hacksaw, a few files, and a hand-drill. I still made a lot of things with those few tools. Good luck with your brake project!

[@jamest.5001]

I totally agree, explanation is everything, knowledge is power! 👍

[@paulbrodie]

Thanks James!

[@markhosbach9420]

Who needs a drawing, Dykem, & a scriber when you already have an eye-crometer and a red Sharpie! Super job.

[@paulbrodie]

Mark, you made me laugh! I also liked the guy who had shares in the red Sharpie company and commended me for their usage. Thanks for watching!

[@ccbproductsmulti-bendaustr3200]

Outstanding workmanship 👌cheers Chris

[@paulbrodie]

Thanks Chris :)

[@annybodykila]

just beautiful, great job

[@trevormurphy7041]

Been watching a few of your bike videos and I just had an idea I wonder how small you can engineer a folding bikeBest bike mechanic I’ve ever seen

[@paulbrodie]

Thanks Trevor.

[@Hawthorn-nz]

Stock removal is so much more fun and satisfying than 3D printing! Oh, how's 3D printing coming along? Loads of PhD students still filling university engineering faculties with chess pieces and trinkets?

[@paulbrodie]

I hadn't thought of it that way, but I guess I am a "stock removal specialist!" Thanks for watching!

[@yvesjouvenaux2788]

Magnifique travail...... Bravo J adore votre chaîne KZbin

[@paulbrodie]

Yves, thanks for watching!

[@delahayenator]

Such beautiful brakes makes you want to get rid of discbrakes on your bike :) Bike jewelry:)

[@paulbrodie]

Thank you!

[@Outofcontrolhobby]

Absolutely beautiful! Any chance you could explain a bit more in depth how to determine the position of the rotary table in relation to the spindle for a certain radius?

[@paulbrodie]

That's a tough question. I'm using my experience, common sense, and intuition. If you take out the endmill and replace it with a rod the same size, you can "nestle" it into the existing radius as a guide. That's one of my little tricks.. Not sure what else I can tell you. Thanks for watching!

[@Outofcontrolhobby]

@@paulbrodie I get the jist, it's a lot of eyeballing but as the saying goes, if it looks right, it probably is right! Thanks for replying!

[@dommi04]

great metal worki! i can really recommend to use pure alcohol as coolant for milling Aluminium ;) especially for small cutting speeds (like in the center of a ball endmill) you will get super shiny surface, try it ! :)

[@phillipthomson6200]

Never tried alcohol, I like Wd-40 for drilling, a and milling,works better than tapo-matic

[@glenzigdan]

Gonna be a cool bike! Love u brakes and 650b !

[@paulbrodie]

Yes, the Romax build is now at the top of the video list!

[@rsemrad2]

Paul, @ 4:50 you mention slotting for the brake pads. Why? This is a custom build and you fit the pads. Won't adding slots introduce variability in the field?

[@paulbrodie]

As the pads wear I might have to make a small adjustment. With a slot I can do that :)

[@rsemrad2]

There you go. Pads wear, closing arc moves pads out radially towards tire, adjust pads down to compensate.

[@apryason]

Now make some Cunningham-style rollercams ;-)

[@petetabor4974]

OMG i so love watching talented makers "wing n it" in small shops. Would u consider doing a Q&A with your fans questions? im starting frame#2 and some of us yanks down in the states dont understand why u use nickel silver pre braze? wont it melt away before the brass melts?.....

[@paulbrodie]

Pete thanks for liking our videos! I think you might be confusing nickel silver with silver solder, which does have a much lower melting temperature. Nickel silver melts at a similar temperature to a brazing rod, but is stronger. The 1/16" nickel silver rod is easier to melt into the joint of the 2 mitres, and the 3/32" bronze brazing rod is better for building up a fine fillet :)

[@petetabor4974]

Which NS alloy rods do you favor? Ni-92?.....is the coffee ready yet?

[@paulbrodie]

@@petetabor4974 Just discovered your 2nd question... Years ago the rods were called 773, but I'm in Canada and each country probably has their own designation. Now, when I order, I just ask for 1/16" nickel silver and they say fine; never any questions after that.

[@returnofthemilk]

That was delicious. Thanks.

[@francissobotka8725]

A company named revenge industries used to make a u brake with bearings for the pivot

[@paulbrodie]

Somehow, I seem to remember them.

[@Thesusoperator]

Thank you!

[@mr2981]

More awesome.

[@halvinfernandez3074]

Good job 13:17 Saludos!

[@paulbrodie]

Thank you.

[@teunluijbregts2533]

14k for a working prototype - sounds like a bargain 🤗 Gonna be a very nice bike with those custom parts, any ideas yet on groupset and such?

[@paulbrodie]

Stay tuned, I have been collecting parts and the build will be happening soon :)

[@shhhdontshout]

@@paulbrodie sounds great, cant wait!

[@cj-ef1rp]

Curious why you don't move you mill vise to an off-center position so that you can install your rotary also and have both on the table at once. Seems like the parts you mill are small enough that the bed travel should be fine? It would surely save you enormous amounts of time and save your back from hoisting those around the shop. Or is that Mitch's job? ;^) Craftsmanship is outstanding. Explanations are a wonderful mix of insight and a peek at the mind of a genius!

[@paulbrodie]

I like to have either the vise or the rotary table in the centre of the mill table. Yes, there is room for both but it would be a compromise. And yes, Mitch has a good back and does help with the lifting. Thanks for watching!

[@CarlosGonzalez-dy3nz]

Cómo puedo solicitar un trabajo de usted quisiera saber si me puede construir un cuadro para ruta gravel

[@tednruth453]

You could take a moulding now and make some cast models in order to re-coup your costs 😃

[@paulbrodie]

I could... but no time for that, I'm retired! Thanks for watching.

[@cj-ef1rp]

@@paulbrodie and you've never been busier!

[@razvanbutiac7684]

I thing the brake arms were there inside of that aluminium 2/4 in the moment you take it home... you just remove the metal that cover them. :-) simple ;-)

[@paulbrodie]

You are correct. I just had to visualize the shape and remove the excess. How hard is that?

[@brianweston4671]

👍shirt!

[@crazycoww000]

now I want a milling a lathe and a press machine, Jesus Christ I have never pay so much attention to anything, not even to naked ladies thx for the knowledge

[@paulbrodie]

Cristian, you made me laugh! It's good to have passion in life. Thanks for watching :)

[@benclark452]

Fantastic engineering. But why a U brake and Not a V brake?

[@paulbrodie]

I like U-brakes!

[@stacybuchkowsky6376]

Want few sets...wow

[@paulbrodie]

Thanks Stacy. Sorry to tell you they are much too expensive!

[@rickfazzini22]

One suggetion fellas, how about doing a t-shirt run? I know im down!

[@ResonantElecDesign]

Would buy. Sizes for the little ones too.

[@paulbrodie]

I believe we have started on a T-shirt design. Please be patient :)

[@Biohazed]

I finally found out why people keep posting comments with the words Minecraft, ASMR, PewDiePie, MrBeast, Pokemon card unboxing, and Call of Duty on my channel. Apparently it gives you a ridiculously unfair boost in the algorithm.

[@petepure3387]

Does anyone know what tires (tyres) Paul is using on his wheels? Retailers.... Take my money please! :)

[@miamatti]

Reneherse is what they look like

[@mitchellnurseproductions]

They are Grand Bois Hetre 650b

[@petepure3387]

Wow... Thanks everyone for the replies.

[@thinkpadBentnoseTheBlind]

If I could afford a Brodie U-brake i would want one for my 91 GT Karakoram

[@paulbrodie]

I have a fillet brazed GT in my stable 😉

[@thinkpadBentnoseTheBlind]

@@paulbrodie that frame/bike i would love to see. I have a Quantum steel frame and a Unibomber SS frame,my second. My first was bought at the Bike Peddler on upper Hastings in Burnaby heights from Patrick in about 2001 ,that worked at Rocky and Syncros.

[@paulbrodie]

@@thinkpadBentnoseTheBlind I think you have an appreciation for nice stuff 😉

[@thinkpadBentnoseTheBlind]

@@paulbrodie I do indeed. I'm stuck in the 90's . Still hunting for old stuff. My only vise is I need to use riser bars on everything. No flat or drop bars for me ever. Stems are the hardest to aquire for so said riser bars. lol cheers from Nova Scotia , Canada

[@paulbrodie]

@@thinkpadBentnoseTheBlind Sounds like you need a selection of customs stems for your riser bars!

[@marcio51100]

Parabéns...Marcio Sorocaba City, State São Paulo, Brazil. Beautil Channel

[@paulbrodie]

Mucho Gracias :) Thanks for watching!

[@miamatti]

Did he ever say why it's a $14k brake? Just by shop rate?

[@paulbrodie]

It just sounded like the right price!

[@miamatti]

@@paulbrodie well worth it I assume!

[@dizzybuizzy9347]

I always felt, that U-Brakes, had Better Stopping Power than most other Brakes!

[@felixjackson2670]

What do I think of this?...now I want a machine shop!! Don’t need drawings to copy when your creativity flows like this( of course coupled with a high level of engineering skills.)

[@paulbrodie]

I highly recommend you get a machine shop!

[@brianmaldonado3723]

You're gonna need magnesium boosters tooooooo. Ty.

[@paulbrodie]

I made a couple boosters out of 7075 aluminum.

[@brianmaldonado3723]

@@paulbrodie Thats awesome.

[@drinkintea1572]

That looks like a "C" rather than a "u" shapped brake

[@paulbrodie]

We have called them U-brakes since the late eighties.

[@drinkintea1572]

@@paulbrodie i've been in the bike world since Q1/2022 ;-; Really neat brakes by the way!

[@paulbrodie]

@@drinkintea1572 Thank you DrinkinTea 😉

[@Metal-Possum]

"I need some brakes for my bike... I know, I'll just go machine a set." Not to mention how U brakes are totally impractical by today's standards. That only makes them 5 times as cool. I need to get a U brake bike into my life, 80's mtb with chainstay mounted brakes I guess.

[@weareallbeingwatched4602]

BMX riders use U brakes for a reason.

[@Metal-Possum]

@@weareallbeingwatched4602 More than half of them don't even use brakes. Only reason they use them is because V brakes have no modulation, and disc brakes get trashed. As a matter of practicality though, BMXs don't fit in, therefore not a factor of my original comment. :)

[@weareallbeingwatched4602]

@@Metal-Possum they're a favourite of freestyle BMXers because they are the most bash-resistant design, and have no bits sticking out to catch on stuff or break off. V brakes are pretty popular with race BMXers.

[@Metal-Possum]

@@weareallbeingwatched4602 Yes, but a freestyle bike isn't a practical machine, relative to other bikes.

[@weareallbeingwatched4602]

@@Metal-Possum ruggedness is a valid design criterion

[@lawrencejneuser8801]

Rim brakes are a waste of time because they never stay true.

[@paulbrodie]

Do you mean the brakes never stay true, or the rims never stay true? There is a difference.

[@lawrencejneuser8801]

As soon as I can I want to switch to the hub discs.

[@lawrencejneuser8801]

@@paulbrodie if you happen to get into a little bit of rough riding one day and you happen to hit something just a little bit off then you're stuck with the bump in your wheel until either you can get it fixed or replaced, that's the only thing I never cared about Rim brakes.

[@paulbrodie]

@@lawrencejneuser8801 I'm not that kind of a rider 😉

[@lawrencejneuser8801]

@@paulbrodie neither am I, but they haven't stopped inventing potholes and sometimes you need to get places and not necessarily during the daylight. And even the best lights don't always help.

[@astrazenica7783]

Disc brakes are overrated

[@astrazenica7783]

@notfiveo they all have windscreen wipers too, what's yer point. I personally found nothing wrong with the old type of bike brakes, and they were lighter, did you?