SMOOTH // - Busted out the @anchorlube on this Ti BB86 T47. Smooth as a baby’s bottom..

REAM’N & SCREAM’N // - I’ll knock 500 clams off any Ti build if you make the trip and ream the seat tube yourself. You’ll be guaranteed 3 things: You’ll save some cash, you’ll break a sweat and you’ll feel the pump. I’m kidding…. Maybe. But reaming Ti seat tubes is a workout. And this is just me removing the reamer once it’s done. - #titaniumisreal #steamandshout

TACKY // - Tacking a Marauder Ti SS in 25 seconds. Over the past decade I’ve refined my tack sequence to essentially push and pull tubes into place while maintaining alignment throughout the process. I generally tack tube to tubes in 3 points: 10, 2 and 6 o’clock. 3 points equal a plane but that also gives me some wiggle room if I need to make adjustments in alignment along the way using additional tacks a welds. - #titaniumisreal #weldeverydamnday

TI SLM Yoke Fusion Weld // - The video short picks up mid-way through the fusion pass of a chainstay to a SLM yoke. I’ve already tacked the tube to the printed part in two opposing locations and now I’m going through a fusion pass around its circumference. The large turned halves of bronze act as a heat sink to pull as much heat out of this area as possible as it’s pretty easy to build and carry heat. Full assembly is purged. Lots of pedal work here and I’m barely touching it for fusion! I’m using both hands to carefully pool argon and allowing my post flow to finish, hence the awkward pauses and not lifting my helmet which can cause a draft and potentially break my purge. - By the numbers for those interested: 125 Amps, 25% peak, 5% background, 1.3PPS, 25 SCFH at the torch, 12 SCFH constant purge, 10 second post flow, No.12 alumina nozzle with matching gas lens and 1/16 2% lanthanated tungsten. - #weldporn #weldeverydamnday #titaniumisreal

Facing and Chasing // - Steps to face and chase a Ti bottom bracket. Heat control is key here and these taps went through pretty effortlessly. Video is sped up of course but you can see I slow down to a crawl when facing both sides of the bottom bracket. The cutters have a tendency to skip if you go too fast. Pleased with how the Ti front triangle came out for the next Snakedriver. Front triangle comes in at 2.12lbs for those wondering. - #snakedriver #titanium #titaniumfullsuspension

Hardware // - One of the design goals for the latest Snakedriver prototype was two-fold: Parts reduction and make as much of those parts stock and off the shelf. So whether you’re on the road or at home, you can simply place an order with a supplier like McMaster-Carr or head to your local hardware store to pick up what you need. I worked long and hard on this aspect and I’m pretty stoked that with the exception of the two pivot axles, everything pictured above is readily available online and/or at a local Ace or True Value hardware store. More on this subject to come at the 44HQ Blog… - #steelisreal #hardware #snakedriver