Framebuilders - converting folding bikes to SWB folding recumbents?

It was suggested that I should post this thread link into the framebuilders forum to perhaps get some good input about such a project. Any input is appreciated.

Thank you

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=338147

I don't actually see a URL for the kit in question, long thread.

I think the best reason for building things is because that is what you want to do. Next best reason is because they don't make what you want. Saving money, probably never happens unless you already own all the required machinery and tools which in the case of bike building is huge. They have more stuff than guys that build choppers. Plus the skill level is considerable just to reach useable safe level, actually to make it pretty is less of a problem, depending on exactly what course yo have to follow. There are some first out of the blocks bikes that look gorgeous.

For instnace I gather the boom carries on from the hinge mechanism, is that what we are talking about, so to make it so you can go back and forth means that you need to make you own bracket attach it to a boom attach a BB, through pierce it for the headset, you are looking a 1 grand in reamers and facers right there, just for starters. 2-4 grand TIG machine.

Here is one good site for messing around below the level of acceptable industry standards:

http://www.sonic.net/~maryking/

also look over at atomiczombie.com he does off the cuff recumbents.

I find it fairly pointless to try to interest frame builders in discusions about alternative practices. It is an Uber concervative yet trendy trade, and almost any thread I have started along the lines of "what if" just isn't of interest. Not sure why, but it seems like almost everyone involved wants to sell stuff, or not step out of line with those who do. If that is an accurate perception then I can see why most threads of the type mentioned fall on deaf ears.

Wow, so far none of the modifications I was talking about required any kind of welding. I don't think a TIG welder is in my budget or consideration.

Quite possibly this kit is much simpler than I envisioned, but if you want to joint tubes to some other metal you need to be able to braze or weld.

There are all kinds of ways around stuff, like the all wooden recumbents, some of which are really nice. You can stick weld bike tubing, but it's not discussed all that much.