Ron Covell styles a Bicycle

[@ThisOldTony]

great video and excellent work as always. enjoyed!

[@RonCovell]

Wow - the 'big guy' is chiming in - I'm smiling from ear to ear! In case there is anyone who isn't aware of This Old Tony - I consider his videos to be the best on KZbin!

[@thomashenderson3901]

@@RonCovell Is this where the collaboration began?!

[@philtmonx1446]

@@RonCovell your the most humble human ever... i was the kid who worked at Arlens when you built the asymmetrical bike... hope you know how many u inspired... super cool that tony is a fan🤗

[@RonCovell]

Thanks for chiming in!

[@jmiddlefinger]

Hey Tony, thank you for making the intro to Ron’s channel! Can’t wait to see how that dustpan turns out!

[@zan5051]

I love how Ron always compliments the tools. "The punch does such a great job". The height of modesty, attributing the quality of the work to the tools instead of the experience and skill of the craftsman.

[@MJ-nb1qn]

Yes. He’s a Good Man, with Good Tools that does Great Work!

[@U014B]

A bad craftsman always blames his tools, but a good craftsman compliments them.

[@Nitrofc433]

Happy to see you make good use of the eyechrometer in all your work. I have read your Q&As in Hot Rod for years, but watching and listening to you in videos is an amazing experience. Thanks for passing on you craft, most of us don't have anyone locally to learn from. You are well deserving of the title, Legend.

[@RonCovell]

Wow, thank you! I had not heard the name eyechrometer before, but I have been using this technique for years.

[@iamvonimmel]

Ron, you are the Bob Ross of metal!

[@RonCovell]

Thanks for the wonderful compliment!

[@shawnross9110]

I literally thought the same thing and came down here to say so...

[@EvenTheDogAgrees]

So now we're gonna punch a happy little hole... :D

[@LCort101]

I flipped out when you took out those huge shears just to cut paper. Lol. You’re a true craftsman. I appreciate the video.

[@RonCovell]

I can actually cut gradual curves more precisely with those tin snips than I can with regular scissors!

[@howder1951]

Amazingly entertaining video on a simple piece of equipment, it is remarkable how much prep has to go into making a seemingly "simple" piece. Enjoyed, cheers!

[@RonCovell]

Well said!

[@DavidGuyton]

Congratulations on 100,000 subs sir!

[@RonCovell]

Thank you so much - I am truly honored!

[@johnharding9936]

So this is how it's done without cnc. Incredible work. Thanks for sharing

[@RonCovell]

Thanks for watching!

[@andrel3]

Thanks Ron, your work and process is very inspiring!

[@RonCovell]

I appreciate that!

[@andrel3]

@@RonCovell Of course! But I am having a very hard time finding AK steel in my area. :(

[@RonCovell]

@@andrel3 Tell me where you live, and I'll see if I know of any sources near you. You can contact me via email if you prefer - [e-mail]

[@mxcollin95]

Your channel is an absolute gold mine Ron! Thanks for sharing. 👍

[@RonCovell]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@landwaychopperbicycles]

Excellent video. Really appreciate the detailed information and techniques.

[@RonCovell]

Thank you very much!

[@andrebartels1690]

I'm a bicycle guy, so I was very pleased to find out that you put your gifted hands on a lowrider bike. I like the lightweighty aircrafty style a lot, and I'm looking forward to episode 2.

[@RonCovell]

Looks like you found part 2!

[@cliveturner4980]

great job love to see hand made things ,im going to make one for my cruiser bike !!!!!

[@RonCovell]

Go for it!

[@MultiDooder]

I've just recently found your channel, and have to say you are an amazing teacher....you remind me of my old autoshop teach back in the day and I have really enjoyed watching your videos. Keep up the good work sir!

[@RonCovell]

Thanks and welcome!

[@gavendb]

one of the best sheetmetal guys out there. love the videos.

[@RonCovell]

Thanks for the kind words! More videos on the way.

[@TheMick26]

Outstanding in every way, Ron.👌 Thank you for sharing your craft and congratulations on surpassing the 100,000 subscribers milestone.🙌 If the average person understood and appreciated how much planning, skill, and work was involved in making amazing creations like these, you would easily have over million subscribers (you deserve more). I love the math and the art of working with sheet metal and truly appreciate guys like you who are willing to share their knowledge and passion. You're a great educator and at least 100K of us are grateful for what you do.👍 Have a wonderful day, sir.

[@RonCovell]

Thank you for your wonderful comments - I truly appreciate it!

[@tomthompson7400]

As usual , a master class in understatement , very fine workmanship.

[@RonCovell]

I'm so glad you liked it!

[@thomasjackson7785]

Been wanting to get into customising bicycles and would love my own chopper one day. Thanks for making these videos easy to understand for a beginner.

[@RonCovell]

Glad you like them!

[@ilham7345]

ah yes the good old cardboard aided design. best tool in the history of metalworking

[@RonCovell]

Couldn't agree more!

[@adrianavalos4861]

Beautiful work!!!

[@RonCovell]

Thank you so much!

[@kst1340]

Great video Ron! You are the man. Looking forward to the new videos

[@RonCovell]

More to come!

[@riboid]

I could watch this all day.

[@RonCovell]

I'm glad you liked it - and there are more videos on the way!

[@CreepyChappy]

Awesome work

[@RonCovell]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@SlowEarl1]

Beautiful work and as always you are a great Teacher.

[@RonCovell]

Thank you so much!

[@Bigskyguy56]

Great info & a very interesting detail to this frame. Exquisite work as always. Thank you.

[@RonCovell]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@trevsblog]

Great video, looking forward to the new content coming up.👍

[@RonCovell]

Trev - thanks for watching, and commenting. Your support means a lot to me!

[@johnknox5692]

that was nice craftsmanship

[@RonCovell]

Glad you liked it!

[@YMB2012]

I learned a lot in this video thanks

[@RonCovell]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

[@LimestoneCoastCustoms]

Lovely design & work Ron (as per usual 👍)

[@RonCovell]

Many thanks!

[@toddcott9510]

Ron, thanks for another one of your inspirational video's . Bread and butter for we metal thumpers.

[@RonCovell]

You are very welcome!

[@tapioca7115]

I was happy to find your upload today

[@RonCovell]

I'm glad you found it, and took the time to watch, and comment!

[@jonathanharrington9648]

A true legend.

[@RonCovell]

Thanks!

[@genereece8062]

You make me jealous.dang good work.

[@RonCovell]

Thanks!

[@fabtimenow2318]

Great video Ron!

[@RonCovell]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, and took the time to comment!

[@stuffsethmakes]

so simple and so good! looks great! 👍🏻

[@RonCovell]

I'm very glad you liked it - and took the time to comment!

[@ReiMonCoH]

I came over from Tony.... good stuff👍🏻

[@RonCovell]

Welcome to the party!

[@ПоследнийИван]

Thank you for showing. 🤝 Congratulations on 100,000 subscribers! Hi from Russia.✋

[@RonCovell]

I'm very glad you enjoyed it!

[@ПоследнийИван]

@@RonCovell In Russia, customizing is becoming popular. Thanks to such masters as you.👍

[@RonCovell]

I'm glad to hear that! I know 'lowrider' bicycles have become very popular in Germany, and in a few other countries, too.

[@ПоследнийИван]

@@RonCovell vk.com/aleksandrvsuk This is Russian custom motorcycles.

[@RonCovell]

Very cool!

[@G31mR]

Standoffs are also available....along with a trillion other cool things....from McMaster-Carr Supply.

[@ericsimpson1176]

thanks for posting

[@RonCovell]

You bet! - Glad you liked it, and took the time to comment!

[@dave_myers]

Artistry! I wonder about best strategies with fasteners for corrosion control if these technique are used on a boat or outdoor fixtures. I see 3 or 4 different alloys in this image I assume the large surface area of aluminum takes the hit or does something migrate out of the fasteners, i.e. rust spotting? It's great to witness your Pattern Making, how you develop dimensions using (tape) offsets, transfer centerpoints, etc.

[@RonCovell]

Well, of course using stainless steel for everything is the best strategy. Glad you liked the pattern development - I really enjoy that part of the process!

[@michaeljamisontigers]

first

[@RonCovell]

Congratulations!

[@kawi704racing]

Is it possible to make a steel trellis frame for a track motorcycle, or is it to dangerous? Thank you, all the best.

[@RonCovell]

There have been tens of thousands of steel frames made for flat track motorcycle racing. If properly done, they can be quite strong. Most high-performance frames are made from Chrome-Moly steel, but most production frames are made of mild steel. www.candjracingframes.com/

[@chrissartain4430]

Great Job!

[@RonCovell]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@liyawei]

Great video, is the head tube regular tube? Or does it have any features inside? Do you make it yourself

[@RonCovell]

This is a production 'lowrider' frame. I did not modify the head tube in any way.

[@SethKotta]

I really like the look. However, I'm wondering what you might do if you wanted to keep the screws and spacers from interrupting the smooth look of the panels.

[@RonCovell]

Well, there would be a few options. Magnets, Velcro, Epoxy, or Silicon adhesive would probably work.

[@SethKotta]

@@RonCovell I had considered epoxy, but not velcro or magnets. Gotta say, I think it's pretty stand-up of you to reply to a new comment on an older video. I appreciate it.

[@rbwoodwork1890]

Great video, you didn't show what you fastened the screws into on the opposite side, I assume maybe a A corn style of nut?

[@RonCovell]

The screws on both sides engage the internal threads in the standoffs between them, pulling the aluminum plates tight against the top tube of the bicycle frame. The bottom row of screws are similar, but have spacers under their heads that are supported by the middle row of tubing.

[@rbwoodwork1890]

@@RonCovell ahh! Makes sense. Thanks for the explanation. Love your metal work!

[@bad-ping6585]

god i love ur work

[@RonCovell]

Thank you!

[@sakthivelv1777]

Ron, Your works are awesome. I have two questions. As a newbie, Is it good to start with Tig instead of stick ? Can i tig aluminium with DC Tig? My end goal is to weld some bikes, motorcycle and cars for fun. I have zero experience in welding. Thank you!

[@RonCovell]

I'm glad you like my work! TIG and Stick welding are quite different in several aspects. The advantages of Stick welding are low cost for the machine, no need for a shielding gas, and the ability to easily weld very thick materials, and materials that cannot easily be scrupulously cleaned. The advantages of TIG welding are having more control over every aspect of the process, the ability to weld most kinds of metals, the ability to weld both very thin and medium-thickness metals, and the potential to make small, beautiful welds when needed. While it is technically possible to DC TIG weld aluminum, AC is much more common, and AC provides a cleaning action that is very desirable.

[@sakthivelv1777]

@@RonCovellSo it doesn't matter whether you start with stick or tig as long as it meets your needs and preference. sorry for the delay, I had problems with internet connection. Thank you so much. stay safe!

[@bobweiram6321]

140K subs should help make it easier to deliver regular quality content.

[@michaeltuscani9607]

Hey Ron, great video, do you know if a punch and flare tool is called something different in the UK?, because I'm having trouble finding them. Thanks

[@RonCovell]

Well, the process is sometimes called 'belling'. The only manufacturers I know of are in the US, but there may be something similar in the UK.

[@michaeltuscani9607]

@@RonCovell thank you for the reply, you are a true legend!

[@kz4506]

Would had been better with flat head or raised head screw only a suggestion love the vids where’s that 32 roadster that was being built thanks

[@RonCovell]

You certainly could use screws with a different head style, and I considered that. I JUST completed the next video in the roadster body series! Should have it up on our website next week.

[@АлексейГаврилов-м4ю]

Good , very good !

[@RonCovell]

Thanks a lot!

[@BillyRillkratz]

Thanks

[@RonCovell]

Glad you liked it!

[@mibooth1852]

Hi Ron, i would love to see you build a wagon tub you i"m sure you've seen guys at car shows and swap meets pulling these custom or rat rod style creations around hauling kids or parts. The size is limited to what ever store bought or garage sale wagon you have, i know the tubs must have been stamped out by the thousands on a huge hydraulic press, and with your skills i think it would be a cool project to use benders, stretcher and shrinker ect. to make a custom sized wagon tub . what do you think ?

[@RonCovell]

That's a great idea! I have many ideas for new videos - I'll toss that one into the mix!

[@kevatut23]

Ron. Any possibility you could show your audience the gravity racer you built and ran in SF from our days at Lafayette industrial? Was that 1977?

[@RonCovell]

Kevin, I still own that racer - it's hanging from the ceiling of my shop. The race it was in was in 1978. I never thought about making a video of the racer. Thanks for the prompt - I'll think about that. There's a cameo of it at the beginning of this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaTTYnWGZ559aqc Will you refresh my memory about what you did at the Lafayette Street complex in Santa Clara? You can contact me by email at: [e-mail] *Late breaking news* I just found this video of the race on Vimeo, and my car appears at the 5-minute point! vimeo.com/209299335

[@kevatut23]

@@RonCovell That's great. I was the support crew. At least one of them. Can't remember if we had any others. I do know I have a bunch of pix in storage in California. One day I'll get to them and send you the files. I was the shop at the extreme other end from yours. McDonald Performance. You were kind enough to humor me, and fab/weld some of my mods. I'll email you tonight.

[@kevatut23]

Just watched the vid. Apparently, I was the invisible crew. Anyway, I remember being focused on the photography. An obsession of mine at that time.

[@СергейСоловей-т9ъ]

Это магия. Кажется: все просто, но нет!

[@RonCovell]

Не совсем волшебство, просто «обычные» методы обработки металла!

[@davethurston753]

Very nice

[@RonCovell]

Thanks!

[@boneal4942]

Awesome 👍

[@RonCovell]

Thanks 🤗

[@qivarebil2149]

"It doesn't rattle at all"....LOL

[@RonCovell]

Hey - that's kinda important, don't you think? And I wasn't sure how rattle free it would be!

[@yohellghost2115]

Great video. A bit more panning of the finished job would have been prime. 😉 Cheers.

[@RonCovell]

Thanks! I have a Premiere coming up in a few hours that has a very good pan of the bicycle near the end: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmrUiZZ4fJZ1rqM

[@yohellghost2115]

@@RonCovell i look forward to it. Because i had to rewatch to as why the bottom outside spacers were needed. Than i realised the bottom tube were a twin tube set up not a single tube. Lol.

[@thisolddog2259]

If Bob Ross had built bikes

[@RonCovell]

I like your comment very much!

[@thisolddog2259]

@@RonCovell you're welcome Ron. I once built a tandem bicycle only instead of inline it was a side by side. It was horrible to ride!

[@creercreo]

name of circle blacks tools for cut? Please

[@RonCovell]

Those are 'Punch and Flare' dies from Mittler Bros.

[@creercreo]

@@RonCovell gracias amigo.

[@gacherumburu9958]

👍👍

[@pierdolio]

For a really clean look, I would have used Industrial glue.

[@RonCovell]

Adam - There are some amazing adhesives out there, and I use them for some applications. It can make disassembly challenging, however!

[@pierdolio]

Ron Covell I never considered that.

[@bearshield7138]

sweet

[@RonCovell]

Glad you liked it!

[@liewon4006]

3:30 seems like snap-on tool

[@RonCovell]

Yes it is - and that handle design is long out-of-production!

[@Дьулус-г3я]

Очень красиво делаешь.

[@RonCovell]

Велике спасибі!

[@user-pq9nh5es1k]

@@RonCovell Українець?

[@asadbek7681]

👍👍👍🇺🇿UZB

[@RonCovell]

Thanks for the multiple thumbs-up!

[@GibClark]

👍👍👍👍nice!!!!

[@RonCovell]

Thanks!!

[@edstransitscott9186]

Nice

[@RonCovell]

Thanks!

[@edstransitscott9186]

Ron Covell Ron, I am the guy that had a Jeep gunner seat, you gave me a company in Atlanta, I called him, great guy, I was going to schedule one of your shows, and the pandemic hit, I will stop buy and see him, when this is all over with, Thanks for all you do, you are so talented!

[@RonCovell]

Thanks so much - good luck with your project!

[@СергейКамаз]

Очень интересно!

[@RonCovell]

большое спасибо

[@nickvirus9463]

In Ukraine many people have the sername, which spell kov-∆l`. It is mean the man who work with metal. Do you have any connection to Ukraine/Poland?

[@RonCovell]

That's a very interesting coincidence! I don't have any connection with Ukraine or Poland. My father was Italian (named Covello at birth), and my mother was English. I do get quite a number of views from those countries, however!

[@joell439]

👍👍😎👍👍

[@RonCovell]

Four thumbs up, and a smiley emoticon - I guess you liked it!

[@joell439]

Ron, I absolutely liked it. I use to just hit the like button when I appreciated an episode, but I learned this year that all youtube cares about is engagement. And making a comment helps up the creators status in the YT algorithm. So when I don't have something I think is valuable to add, yet I truly appreciate the content and effort, I'll just respond with appropriate emoticons to click YT's engagement checkbox. You'll ALWAYS get at least that much love from me 👊👊 😊. Hope to meet you one day and shake your hand and personally thank you for making metalworking an exciting and attainable art.

[@craftyukraine]

*Hi! Awesome job done!👏* *Please, check out my latest Restoration video. It’s about a bicycle with hot rod grills!😉*

[@craftyukraine]

My grills are similar to what you do in this video, but instead of holes I’ve done hot rod styled grills.😊 Please, check it out!😊

[@RonCovell]

Excellent work. Sending great support for the honorable Ukrainian struggle against Russia's invasion forces.

[@craftyukraine]

@@RonCovell *Thank you very much, Ron! I appreciate your support and you can rely on us. We will do them!🇺🇦🤝🇺🇸*

[@Drebin2293]

It's probably been done before, but I just can't help myself. Do you consider yourself a hole-y man? Sorry.

[@RonCovell]

HAH! I can't recall anyone calling me that before, but I like the 'ring' of it!

[@jonhy2x4]

Get a rattle gun haha

[@jonhy2x4]

But still looking very good

[@RonCovell]

Thank you!

[@jasoneager9323]

Love it!