Category Archives: Projects

Bike project: 1971 Schwinn Super Sport

Posted by Verne on May 7, 2013 None comments

Here’s my latest (and hopefully last for a while) bike project – a 1971 Schwinn Super Sport. These bikes were fillet-brazed by hand. This type of construction is fairly uncommon in modern bikes. You can read more about these bikes here: http://sheldonbrown.com/schwinn-braze.html

This bike received a thorough cleaning and greasing. I converted the heavy one-piece Ashtabula crank to a modern 3-piece crank using an insert and sealed bottom bracket. I also upgraded most of the heavy steel groupset with decent vintage suntour parts from a more modern Schwinn bike that was converted to single speed.

It weighs in at 29 pounds as pictured. I find the ride quick, maneuverable, and fairly comfortable. The smooth fillets and bright yellow paint are quite lickably pleasing!

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Project of the day: 3-speed hub refurbish

Posted by Verne on March 2, 2013 None comments

I’m recovering from the flu. My body is still wonky, but the brain is bored, bored, bored. I’ve been doing some work on my Raleigh Tourist seeing if I can get the antique rod brakes up to snuff (more in another post). As a result, I’ve ended up with a couple of vintage/antique 3-speed hubs. I’ve taken them completely apart, scraped off 50+ year-old gunk, greased, and totally refurbished them. The middle hub is a Sturmey Archer AW from the mid-70′s. The closest is a fairly rare Brampton from the 1950′s. It’s a better quality clone of the AW. The hub in the rear is a new dynamo hub – no need to rebuild.

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Finished coat project

Posted by Verne on March 2, 2013 5 comments

After two years of planning and a couple of months of sewing, the full -length, merino wool and velvet coat is complete. It turned out quite well, and will likely be my last coat project for while. I’m pretty burned out on sewing. The next sewing project will probably be some bicycle bags and panniers. Hopefully, I can get back in the mood enough to finish them before cycling season arrives.

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Project of the… Uhh… Two years? Wool coat

Posted by Verne on January 26, 2013 2 comments

I’ve finally started work on a wool coat for which I’ve had the materials around two years! I’ve been at it for around two weeks on and off. It needs sleeves, lining, buttons, and some finishing touches. It should be complete in a couple more weeks, all things being equal. Hopefully there will still be cold weather for it to be worn in!

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Family portrait!

Posted by Verne on December 18, 2012 None comments

Here’s a family portrait of all the puppets that I’ve made over the last several years. Thought I’d get a photo in before a couple leave at Christmas.

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Christmas carrot plush thingie

Posted by Verne on December 11, 2012 None comments

My little niece wanted one of these sewn up. Who am I to say no?

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Great Wall of Bikes

Posted by Verne on December 11, 2012 None comments

Figured out a good way to store the English 3-speeds. I plan to post a page with pretty photos in the spring, but this will do for now.
In order from left to right: