Framebuilders - Custom fork price range?

Assuming I wanted a custom, carbon-steel fork, approximately what price range would I be looking at to obtain one?

Specs would be simple: 26" MTB wheel spacing, no rake, no disc-tabs, V-brake bosses included, 1" threadless steer-tube.

Alternately, is there a place to buy such a fork "off the shelf?"

Thanks!

http://www.universalcycles.com
I bought a fork there. Take a look at the selection.

http://www.universalcycles.com
I bought a fork there. Take a look at the selection.

Every forkbut one that I saw there was 1&1/8" steer tube - not 1". The sole 1" was a threaded - not a threadlesss. Does it matter or are the 1" threaded & threadless interchangeable?

Im sure you can cut the threadded end off if the steerer tube is long enough.
They are extremely helpful on the phone. Give them a call about what you
are looking for.

USD200-250 for a custom steel fork.

By 'no rake' I assume you mean 'straight bladed'?

He actually means no rake, see posts below.

I have some fork projects on the go. The problem with forks is the cost of materials etc... is way out of proportion to what you pay for the finished part. Like a steel 26" fork runs about 30 to 70. My materials cost for non-fancy touring grade stuff is 58 bucks, not counting consumables, paint, machining, or very high fixture costs. My material costs for the frame I am making is only a little higher, but a good stock frame is 400. So I am saving a lot of money on the frame even versus the stock product.

"....cost of materials etc... is way out of proportion to what you pay for the finished part."

Well, that's because you have labour and overheads and a gazillion other expenses to add to the cost of those materials. If you were buying a pile of tubes to use as a windchime, that's one thing. If you want a nicely hand crafted bicycle fork, that's a whole different issue.

As for the 'no rake' thing, I don't know anyone that would make a no rake fork. I mean, why? Do you want the bike to handle like crap specifically, or is there some other reason we're not aware of? Obviously I'm missing something here.

...As for the 'no rake' thing, I don't know anyone that would make a no rake fork. I mean, why? Do you want the bike to handle like crap specifically, or is there some other reason we're not aware of? Obviously I'm missing something here.

Yes, you're obviously missing several things here.

This fork is for a recumbent bike. The original fork had no rake at all. If I add a fork with rake, the trail (which determines the bike's stability) will become either zero or negative. I don't want to reverse-engineer the design on this one - if they used a zero-rake fork, so will I. I can assure you that the bike, as-designed, does not "handle like crap."

The only reason I'm changing forks at all is because the bike was originally designed for narrow, 650c tires, and I want to use wider, 26"-MTB tires. To fit the wider tires, I'll need a wider wheel and fork. Why don't I just run wider tires on the 650c wheels? I've already had one rim split on me from using a tire wider than the rim was intended for, I don't plan on having another. Why don't I just run wider tires on the existing fork? The clearance is too small.

I hope this makes things clearer - I do have reasons for asking for the specific fork I made inquiry about.

Anvilbikes and henryjames both supply the framebuilder trade and have extensive links to custom builders around the US.
Since Anvil produce fork jigs as well as custom bikes, they may be a good place to shop for the unusual.

""....cost of materials etc... is way out of proportion to what you pay for the finished part."

Well, that's because you have labour and overheads and a gazillion other expenses to add to the cost of those materials. If you were buying a pile of tubes to use as a windchime, that's one thing. If you want a nicely hand crafted bicycle fork, that's a whole different issue."

Your 180 from my point. I'm saying the cost of those parts is much higher, proportionally, in the case of the fork than the frame, not that it is small compared to the price of similar finished forks. Therefore expect to spend quite a bit for a custom forks because it's about the same price to just buy the parts as it is to buy a reasonable quality finished fork of the type FH would likely settle for if his rake were available. The windchime costs about as much as the finished fork of similar quality bought retail. I'm using the same parts that go in frames costing 4000 dollars.

FH have you tried the hostel shop, they specialize in recs and have some pretty weird parts.

...FH have you tried the hostel shop, they specialize in recs and have some pretty weird parts.

Not yet, but thanks for the tip - I'll check them out.

OK, I tried Hostel Shoppe and they don't have anything close to what I need. That puts me back in the custom arena unless I can find one used. Assuming I can get access to a brazing torch, how much would a fork cost me if I did the assembly? Where would I shop to find fork tubing? Thanks again!

Dude, try Independent cycles in Massachusetts, ask them to fab one up. OR: I found mine at "recycle a bicycle" in Brooklyn; they have lots of used parts, check em out. The 1" threadless stuff is elusive, since it was only made a short while.