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Wyvern, L, Fancy Mustard

This latest build was a little bit of a departure from our typical color scheme and was more dark than many of our builds. I’ll admit I was skeptical when Isaac picked it out, but after building it up, it may be one of my favorite colors we’ve done. Super stoked this went to my friend Isaac, and I know he’ll be riding the piss out of it.

The build kit on this is actually going to be the mid range or “Builder’s choice” kit that I offer on the Wyvern. It’s all phenomenal components while staying smart with your money. The only difference is the Builder’s choice kit will have SLX brakes. This complete bike (with SLX brakes) will go for about $3899.00 The build highlights include:

-Handbuilt Wyvern frame in the color of your choice, with decals in the color of your choice.
-Seatpost clamp and grips in the color of your choice, pending availability.
-Fox Float 34 Factory series 120mm
-Fox Transfer dropper post Factory series
-Sram 1×12 GX Eagle drivetrain
-Shimano SLX brakes

It’s a bad ass bike, I’m really jealous right now.

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Wyvern, Large, Turquoise

Finished another build for a very happy customer. I’ll be releasing details on Wyvern build kits and their prices soon, and this is my base line build kit minus the dropper post. It’s highlights are:

-Rockshox Reba 120mm Fork
-Shimano SLX 1×11 drivetrain
-Shimano Deore brakes
-WTB tires
-Raceface Aeffect stem and handlebars

It’s a great build kit, and I’m really excited to offer it. More details on that very soon.

Anyway, enough of that, here’s the bike!

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Wyvern, L, Flat powder blue

Delivered another Wyvern complete build today. This one had a Fox Float 34, Reverb dropper, and DT Swiss 350 wheels. Should be a ripper! It’s also the first time I’ve seen the Surly Dirt Wizard in person, it’s awesome!

This is a Flat Powder blue powdercoat. It will be available under the “Flat Blue” color in the color options.

Can’t wait to see this out on the trails!

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New Tool Fridays: Bandsaw

I really like bandsaws. They’re way quieter than chop saws, and don’t spray dust and metal everywhere. This week’s NTF is about my Harbor freight bandsaw. I bought this thing when I got tired of walking around my gigantic Carolina that took up twice as much space. The funny thing is, they have the same capacity, 8 x 12.

My favorite things about this saw are:
-It’s an extremely common model called the RF812 that’s sold under a lot of brands, so spare parts are very easy to come by.
-It has a 3/4″ blade instead of a 1/2″ blade, and I find that the blade just doesn’t deflect as easy, and makes cleaner cuts. You’re limited to a finest TPI of 14 though, unless you make your own blades.
-It’s an extremely efficient design. It’ll cut up to a 10″ piece of metal with the vise as it is normally set up, but you can move the stationary jaw and get an extra 2″ out of it. I like being able to cut big stuff if I have to.
-It’s available from HF for $700.

My least favorite thing was the motor. So I removed the enormous, cast piece of junk motor it came with and made a new motor mount. It’s spring loaded so it’s easier to change speeds. Then put a nice Baldor 1HP I got from the salvage yard on it, and now it just sings.

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It was also really low to the ground as it came, so I whipped up a steel stand and put some real wheels on it. I hate having to bend over to use tools, and I use this one a lot. Now it rolls over stuff pretty easy and I can move it when I need to.

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They say everything Harbor freight sells is just an incomplete kit, and you have to finish it. This saw is a perfect example.

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New tool Fridays: Belt sander

I started doing New tool Fridays a while back with the Buttfeeler. I haven’t had a chance to continue the tradition, but I want to because I really like the idea. When I buy or make a new tool, I’ll post a few pictures of it on a Friday!

This Friday’s new tool is a belt sander that I made this winter for the shop. It’s modeled off of a “Kalamazoo” double 2in belt sander. My version also has 3 different speeds. I painted it a nice soft blue.

I like how it turned out, but as usual, I can think of some things I would do differently next time. I’ll bet this isn’t the last belt sander I make.

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I keep 80 grit on the left, and 120 on the right.

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Keep an eye out for more New too Fridays!