Is there a place on the web where someone can get info on the various types of steel used in bike tubing? I want to know stuff like generally acknowledged strengths and weaknesses, framebuilders/ brands that commonly use/d x type of steel, and so on. If this info extends to types of aluminum and Ti, that's a bonus.

I'm not a materials expert, but this is the basics of what I know and understand.

There's only really four general categories of steel used in quality bike frames.

4130
Micro-Alloyed
Air Hardening
Other

Yes they overlap and yes if you're a metalurgist you'll find some issues there, but for general discussion I think this is a fair breakdown.

As for brands and models, any two in the same category will be essentially the same. EG: 853 is essentially the same as OX Platinum and Foco. Comparisons between brands is beyond consumers because the nuances of dealing with them is up to the people who use them every day or for people who are metalurgists and have the knowledge to be able to debate the intricacies. We don't, so I won't. :)

All steels have ostensibly the same stiffness too, with is mainly a result of diameter or cross/sectional area of a tube. 835 is not stiffer than generic 4130, despite what people may like to argue.

Steels in different categories also have different strengths which allow them to have thinner wall sections for decreased weight.

Now as for lists of framebuilders, there's many. bikeschool.com has an extensive list, and if you hit up google naturally you'll find a dozen other lists too, all complete with their own biases and omissions.

If you're looking to get a frame built, you're better off looking for a company that you can identify with, is withing your budget, gives good customer service, and has the design and construction thing down. That will take some homework as there are hundreds out there, but if you set yourself some criteria and have a bit of fun looking, that couple of hundred to go down to 10 pretty quickly. Then you can get on the phone/e-mail/AIM/Skype and narrow that down to 2 or 3.

If you have a specific requirement, let us know and perhaps the peeps on this forum can point you in the right direction.

Have a look at the Columbus and Renolds web sites.

That should be Reynolds.

Will do!

carl strong has some good info
http://www.strongframes.com/material_tech/?PHPSESSID=0293276853b4f043f9ca702830729f0f

A couple of points about Thylacine post:

The stiffness of a tube is determined by the thickness and the diameter. Diameter is a greater factor but thickness matters also.

The higher strength steels allow the tubes to be drawn thinner. Thinner tubes are more flexable tubes unless the diameter is increased.

Foco is not air hardening like 853 and OX Platinum; Foco has a high level of heat treatment which does not degrade very much after welding this the tube maintains most of its strength. Air hardening alloys actually get harder and stronger in the weld zone. This extra strength is meaningless since the alloy is plenty strong to begin with.