Custom Motorcycle Fabrication: Materials, Welding, Mill and Lathe, Frame Construction, Wideman Paul

Joining metal (that is, welding) is an essential part of building almost anything and the copy here includes TIG and MIG welding, as well as Stick and Oxy/Acetylene welding. In each case, the author covers sub topics including penetration, strength, getting started, and the relative size of the heat affected zone.

Most custom motorcycle frames, as well as many of the brackets that hold things together, are made from tubing. Thus, the book includes an entire section on bending and notching tubing to achieve a precise fit between any two parts prior to welding.

A good fabricator must be skilled at machining on both a mill and a lathe. The author walks the reader through the basics for both types of machining: set up, cutting speed, tools, lubrication, cooling, and safety.