But then, you're only a failure if you choose to remain so.
I finally found the much elusive seamless tubing I was scouring the corners of the metropolis for. Exactly the thickness I needed and what was industry standard with professional custom frame makers. Most suppliers I asked carry pipes, as was my previous tests involved working with schedule40 seamless pipes, which I found to be very heavy for a bike frame. After getting a couple of test pieces home I hurriedly tested it on the notcher - bam! Broke the bi-metal teeth on the darn thing. Tested another size - and same thing came up. But I was already trying to come up as to WHY the tubing was chopping the saw instead, and came to the conclusion that I had to set it up with the right speed. I adjusted the settings, and it was already screaming more than normal, which indicated a red light. Still being the bullhead I proceeded to cut up the tube. Broke it again.
Failure was beginning to show me its notes. One was the experience of how not to do things, a far more priceless lesson on the road of discovery. These critters are not cheap. But looking at it on the positive side it's a lesson well worth the tab. I adjusted my settings again, and finally on the fourth try my notcher survived the ordeal and came through. Wow. I was finally looking at a notched tube up close. I was only used to seeing these things over some other people's pictures and stuff but here it is now. Yes it still needs cleaning up and sanding before welding but the essentials were there. Even the mock fitting already looked well and good.
This is my previous jack Pumpo's evil twin, Monstro. He's a 22-ton behemoth that can push a bottle of suppository well up your a$$. Pumpo couldn't do the job well enough last night so I had to put him up for grabs on the forums. I have other uses for him but for now if anyone's interested I can live without him. I kept throwing out calculations in my head as I struggled to sleep whether I would ask for less thickness on the tube or purchase a heavier jack with a shorter throw. A call to my supplier the next morning confirmed there is no other thinner size, and I thought "good" because I also didn't want to compromise the frame being less sturdy. So there was no other option but to get a bigger jack. I was scrambling in my head at the store, contemplating so many what ifs coz this sucker really ain't cheap, "I hope it will, I know it will.." was my mantra as I made my way to the counter. An inch and a half taller than the old one, I had to re-adjust my braces higher than before to accommodate the pull springs. The outcome was already way off what I designed in the CAD program, but I'll update those as well. I also had my doubts if the springs can do their job given the fact that it took both arms just to cradle Monstro to the car pool on my commute back home. But the properly rated springs held well. The measurements were spot on.
Fitting Monstro into the bender also presented another setback. I had to hack off half an inch on one side, so at 10PM when all the neighborhood was quiet and peaceful, the blaring noise of my grinder proudly made itself heard. Finally after putting the set back up - the fruit of perseverance. After some minor adjustments, the bender cranked the sturdy pipe into obedience with ease. There are still some issues about the die's clearance I want to address but its more on me being finicky about perfecting the design. For now the main thing is it works. It works good. I've always kept this story to heart ever since: Thomas Edison failed more than 900 times before perfecting the incandescent light bulb. When asked about failing so much and how he didn't lose hope he replied: "I didn't fail 900 times, I discovered 900 ways how not to make a light bulb."There is something precious to gain even in failing if you look close enough.
