Fenders by Grandprey |
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Wooden Bicycle Fenders
Wood Fenders by Grandprey are all hand made using solid hardwoods. They are glued up in 5 layers, sandwiched together. Because of this type of engineering design, the fender has a lot more stability and is much less likely to warp or twist as the time goes on. I do not use any veneers, nor do I bend the wood in any way. I start out using small pieces of hardwood, about 2 inches by 10 inches. This allows me to use scraps and left over pieces from other projects when possible. It takes about 40 pieces that are 2 x 10 inches, to make a set of fenders. The individual pieces are sized, then radiused for the back curve and glued together using premium weatherproof glue. All the joints are staggered to give additional strength. They are then shaped using bandsaw, shapers and routers – all standard woodworking. No part of the process is automated. There is a 26 step process from start to finish, all by hand and individually for each order. Each set of fenders are built to your specifications, size and wood species you require. Engineering Wood Fenders by Grandprey are designed to wrap around your tire just as a metal one would. We allow about 3/8” clearance from the top wheel to the fender. The fenders are range from ¼” to 3/16” thick. Our standard width fits a tire that is 1-1/2” wide, or in the 35C range. We can increase or decrease to width of the fender to match your tire size. Finishes Wood Fenders by Grandprey are stained to your specification. Outside surface is finished with an exterior grade Spar Urethane. This gives the outside protection from sunlight, rain and temperature changes. This is the best finish for exterior as it has a UV inhibitor and will help to prevent sunlight from fading the wood. The inside of the fender is finished with 3 coats of a 2 part epoxy. The epoxy protects the wood where most of the water, dirt & grime are deposited. The epoxy also adds additional strength to the fender.
Pricing / Ordering: I usually take about 4 to 6 weeks to fabricate, sometimes less. When I do build a certain size, I always try to run an extra set and sometimes 2 sets of the more popular sizes. We would stock 26,” 650B, and 700 all about 1-1/2” wide. Feel free to call and I will let you know what I have.
Material Considerations: There are 3 price categories for the wood fenders.
Ordering Information Required: Below is a list of information I will need at time of ordering. Please include actual measurement within (1/8”).
Prior to fabrication, I will send out a drawing to confirm size and species. I have some cross sections of fenders that are about 6” long that I use for checking clearances. Contact me and I can send one out so you can check the clearances. Technical Drawings
Payment: There is a 50% down payment required at time of order. Balance is COD or paid prior to shipping. At this time we do not accept credit cards or Paypal.
Mounting: I have a PDF with tips on installation. See “Tips on Installing Wood Fenders”. Mounting and mounting hardware is not included in the price. I can mount the fenders if you are in the San Diego Area. Contact me for price. Suggested Hardware: Below is a list of hardware that can be used in most instances. There is other hardware that is available and works just as well. All hardware can be found at Velo Orange.
We recommend the following hardware:
Note on Fender Stays: I have made my own Fender Stays for all the fenders that I have installed. I was not able to find stays that were large enough to fit very well. I also wanted a stronger stay than aluminum. I make them out of 3/16 stainless steel. Please inquire if you would like to have me provide the stays We are in the process of developing a hardware kit and finding a vendor for hardware.
A word about the care of wood fenders: Wood fenders are not for the everyday hardcore commuter. They take more care than steel fenders. Wood breaks - steel bends. If you tend to fall off your bike or run into curbs and trees, then you will have broken wood fenders. The advantages with wood fenders – they can be repaired and refinished. Just keep the pieces and I can usually put them back together. I have had to repair mine due to a fall. Wood Fenders can always be sanded down and refinished to bring them back to like new condition. Wood fenders do not stand up in the rain as well as steel fenders. I build these fenders using epoxy finish to withstand the rain, however, I live in San Diego - Not a good place to test long term water wear. The sun can damage wood also. I would sugest lightly sanding and applying a coat of spar Urethane once a year. I use Minwax Spar Urethane. You can get it in a spray can. It takes less than 15 minutes once the fenders are off.
Wood fenders are beautiful and can add so much class to a bike.
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