Frequently Asked Questions
If you've got questions, we've got answers!
Ordering
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Payment
Q.: Do you do work for trade?
Generally speaking, no. I’ve had repeated offers for such, and I almost always refuse. Partly because of the constraints on my time, and partly because past experiences have soured me on the process. This is not to say that I’ll adamantly refuse everything, but if I do accept an offer, it’ll have to be highly enticing, and I’ll want to put an agreement in writing to protect both of us.
Q.: Can I haggle on price?
No. My price is my price. I already charge less than most other builders, and since I outsource my paint/powdercoat, I don’t make much money on the sale of a frame.
Q.: I’m family/friend/famous/whatever — can I get a discount?
Sorry, but my days of the “bro deal” are over. Based on the amount of time it takes to build a frame and my already-thin margins, I simply cannot offer more special rates.
Materials
Q.: How much input do I have in my bike’s construction?
Well, that depends on how you look at it. During the process of getting your sizing and talking about the types of riding you do, and how you want the bikes to feel — then you have a bunch of input. If you’re trying to dictate the fine details on tubing selection such as wall thickness or material type, then you’re going to find you don’t have much in the way of input.
Q. Do you work with materials other than steel?
As of right now, no. I plan to start doing some research and practice work on stainless steel in the near future, with plans to offer it as an option sometime down the road. I’ve also been eyeballing the Titanium/TIG class at UBI for awhile now, but simply don’t have the money to invest in both that and all the equipment necessary to undertake such things.
Q. What tubing do you use?
As of this writing, I have worked with Columbus, True Temper and Reynolds. If you want a homogenous frame of all one material type, that’s fine, but I generally mix and match tubing to achieve the end result I’m seeking.
Education
Q. Do you teach framebuilding?
Not at this time. If you’re in Minnesota, I highly recommend you email Paul Wyganowski, who will teach you the craft (never call it an “art” while you’re around him). Otherwise, there are several other places to learn: UBI, Yamaguchi, Doug Fattic, etc.