Category Archives: news

Testimonials

While my jig may not have been the first jig a builder has bought it is more often then not the last jig they will buy. Here are some of the things they have to say about it.

 

I have used a number of jigs over the last 37 years. They all have their good and bad points and none are perfect, just like the frames that come out of them. That said, there are some good fixtures that work with my particular style of building better then others. In the past I have had to design my own primitive fixtures and have them made. They performed well for many years but they eventually became worn out and were making production slow. I went through a succession of fixtures for about 4 years and was not completely happy with any of them. I was fortunate enough to get the SputnikTool jig about 16 months ago and have been using it exclusively. All my older fixtures have either been sold or de-commissioned. The adjustments on the jig work easier then any other fixture I have used and the accuracy is best as well.
Like I mentioned before, there is no perfect fixture for building a bicycle frame but this is the closest to perfect of any I have used. It is a pleasure to work with every day.
Paul H. Sadoff, Rock Lobster

 

Working with your hands is a real joy. Using tools that work and feel good to use only adds to this joy. Bicycle frame building tools are no different. You want to use the kind of tools that do what you ask and do it well. Sputnik Tool has both the features and quality you want if you are going to work with your hands. They move smoothly and accurately. They locate parts where you intended and most of all are very robust.
The most enjoyable tool is the frame jig. I have tried others but none made me feel like I could trust the fixture as my go-no go gauge. If something is funny in the Sputnik, it is not the jig, it is the part. Having a tool that you can trust to this extent really helps with repeatability. I really love my Sputnik Tool jig. It is the best there is IMO and there is no substitute for great design and quality
Drew, Engin Cycles

 

Having built thousands of bicycle frames using several different kinds of frame fixtures, I find the Sputnik Tool frame jig to be the most intelligently designed, accurate and easiest to use. With its precise scales and tool free adjustability, the geometry of a bicycle frame can be set up in less then two minutes. It is an indispensable tool for the custom frame maker.
Jamie Medeiros, Firefly Bicycles

 

The Sputnik Tool frame jig is a pleasure to use. The jig is directly indexed with easy to read measurements that represent the actual frame dimensions. This makes it a breeze to set up for one off work and easy to return to a design if you make a stock product. It is not reliant on outside parameters such as fork or headset dimensions. I’ve used a number of different fixtures over the years and this is the first I have used that(if I did my job right) allows me to pull either sub assemblies or complete frame off with no need to fidget or tweak, which I find particularly helpful for multi bike runs. I also appreciate that the frame indexes off of the drive side of the bottom bracket shell, I use this as my starting point for both frame design as well as later alignment and QC checks; having it as a physical reference during construction removes one more place for introducing error. Jeff makes a wide range of head tube, bottom bracket and axle interface parts that cover the range of contemporary frame design. Like all good tools it is easy to use, easy to read and adaptable for the product- it just works
Eric, Winter Bikes

DECEMBER 2015

I am currently updating the website. Many of the pictures and text need to be changed so please bare with me as this is not my favorite thing to do. I’d much rather be in the shop making your tools. For the time being go to the Sputnik Tool Facebook page for the most current photos and information on new or updated tools.

For 2016 I’m working on a new Fork Jig, H-Tools for 12mm axle bikes with spacing up to 200mm, and a few other surprises. The Main Tube Mitering Jig is also being redesigned to more easily accommodate curved and bent tubes. I’m also building up inventory on frame jigs so they will be more quickly be able to ship. The demo seat stay and chain stay jigs are available to any builder for a 2 week trial period free of charge. Try them out and see why they are the go to jig for builders tired of dented tubes, crooked miters, and crashed set-ups. You are only responsible for shipping costs. Contact me for more info.

Jeff and Michele

December 2015

I am currently updating the website. Many of the pictures and text need to be changed so please bare with me as this is not my favorite thing to do. I’d much rather be in the shop making your tools. For the time being go to the Sputnik Tool Facebook page for the most current photos and information on new or updated tools.

For 2016 I’m working on a new Fork Jig, H-Tools for 12mm axle bikes with  spacing up to 200mm, and a few other surprises. The Main Tube Mitering Jig is also being redesigned to more easily accommodate curved and bent tubes.  I’m also building up inventory on frame jigs so they will be more quickly be able to ship.  The demo seat stay and chain stay jigs are available to any builder for a 2 week trial period free of charge.  Try them out and see why they are the go to jig for builders tired of dented tubes, crooked miters, and crashed set-ups.  You are only responsible for shipping costs.  Contact me for more info.

Jeff and Michele

If you are interested in a frame jig, please contact me to find out about new options and pricing that are now available.

Happy Holidays!

Jeff

 

 

 

 

2012 SO FAR

Its been a busy year.  I feel like I have spent most of the year trying to keep up with my orders.  The CNC machine has been a blessing and a curse although I am now really starting to feel comfortable with it.  I have had to change a lot of the ways I do things but it has also allowed me to redesign many of the tools.  The seat and chain stay jigs are the latest two tools to get updated.  Both of these tools now feature a more adjustable drop out beam that slide on oil impregnated bronze bushings over a ground stainless steel beam.  The chainstay jig also features a new independent slide with 4 interchangeable spacers to allow the builder to set the chainstay width at the widest point on the tire.  Both jig bases are still built using all steel construction, to ensure a rigid and reliable tool that will not be damaged by chips, and fitted steel tube blocks that hold the stays firmly in place allowing for greater feed rates and a more accurate finished product.  The seat stay jig has been traveling around the country for a couple of years now with great success and I am now offering the same deal with the chainstay jig.  The seat and chainstay jig are available for any builder to try out for ten days free of charge.  Both jigs come complete with a wide array of tube blocks and dummy dropouts to meet the needs of most if not all builders.  The only  thing I ask is that you pay the cost to ship the tool to the next builder trying it out.  Please contact me if you would like to get in line to try out either one of these tools.  I will be adding new photos to the web site soon but until then you can check out the new tools on the Sputnik Tool Facebook page.

Jeff