Framebuilders - Tubeset prices?

How much does a tubeset for one bike cost? Do the stays cost more than the main tubes? What about teardrops and aero tubes? WHo is more expensive, Reynolds, Tange, or Columbus (if they still exist)? I know you cant get tubesets from QBP, but is there a distro somewhere? What is the price difference between different 853 or 631 tubesets, or between similar tubesets in 853 and 631? 631 is a material, right? And there are different 631 tubesets, right? Then why arent bikes built with 631 listed as what tubeset they are built with? :D :D :D :D :D :o :eek: :D

I have a 58 cm Columbus SLX tubeset [frame/fork] that cost me about $110 in 1988. I imagine it's cheaper now. That doesn't include any lugs - it's just the tubes, dropouts, braze-ons, etc. It was part of a special project that never got worked on. I should build that thing up once I get my garage insulated, buy some lugs, build a jig, learn to silver braze and... just give it to a professional to build into a commuter.

Gee what a set of questions. Try asking the people on the list of builders near the top of this thread. The cost of the tubes is tiny compared to the labor and equipment costs. Things like 831 vs 631 vs 666 :D commonly refer to the percentages of differing alloying agents. A pretend ratio would be 6% aluminum, 3% chromium, 1% silicon with the balance the main metal say 90%Iron. Some Reynolds alloys are stronger than others thus lighter but harder to weld. How the metal is produced matters a lot. Heat treating, cold drawing etc. A buddy once built a frame using exhaust pipe tubing 'cause it was cheap and could take welding abuse. When he got the shape he liked a pro builder make it out of a type of tubing he and the builder agreed on.

How much does a tubeset for one bike cost? Do the stays cost more than the main tubes? What about teardrops and aero tubes? WHo is more expensive, Reynolds, Tange, or Columbus (if they still exist)? I know you cant get tubesets from QBP, but is there a distro somewhere?

Look under the Framebuilding Supplies heading on this page:

http://anvilbikes.com/story.php?module=listLink

A question to those of you building with Ti. Are you buying your tubesets from Anotech, TST or someone else?

Try this site- http://www.novacycles.com/catalog/index.php
They've got both Columbus and Dedacciai sets.

Try this site- http://www.novacycles.com/catalog/index.php
They've got both Columbus and Dedacciai sets.

Nova is a good shop that caters to the professionals more so than the garage builder; basically, they charge quite a bit more money to those people that don't have a resale license. Joe Bringheli has the best tubing/lug prices that I've found in the US. He is at bringheli.com but does not have a web interface so you have to call him for a price list.

Hope this helps.