I'll chime in here since I've been mentioned and teaching framebuilding classes is my day job. I went to apprentice in England in the 70's specifically to learn the secrets of the trade so I could tell others how to do it here in the States. I've been doing that since 1976. I took an extra year of college to get a Michigan state teaching certificate and later got a master's in education as well. Over the years, I've developed methods that I think work well so others can understand how to make frames. Teaching has always been my passion just like making or painting frames.
Back when I started doing these classes most students just wanted to make a frame instead of buying a Colnago or something. Now the majority want to learn how to make more (but usually just on a hobby basis). That makes even a 2 week class shorter than many would like. Next week I start a 3 week class in which we can devote more time to finish work and then paint the frames in class. I teach other classes of various lengths.
I don't know Steve Garn at Brew personally. From information I have gathered he tries hard to have his students have a good experience making a personal frame with his help. His strategy, as I understand it, is to do the difficult parts so it only takes one week and still get good results. My goals are quite a bit more ambitious in that I'm teaching so that a student knows enough to make more.
A number of my students have already taken classes from Eisentraut, Yamaguchi or UBI. It wasn't that they were unhappy with those experiences but they realized they needed to learn more. I'm very aware of how those other classes are conducted and what they do well and what they don't cover. My ambition for my classes is the same as when I built or painted frames. And that is to do the very best job possible so there isn’t any lack or disappointment when compared with the competition. I don't believe all classes are equally well taught (in the same way not every custom frame has the same quality).
I always want to be respectful of those that only use a Paterek manual and the internet to learn how to build frames. We all should honor the passion and not criticize those with less resources. However I believe the very best way to learn is from an instructor that not only fully understands the craft but methods to teach as well. This can greatly shorten the learning curve. In every class I make literally hundreds corrections that if left unattended would reduce the quality of the finished result. This is particularly true with brazing. I know all the beginner tendencies and what needs to be done to compensate for them.
Lodging and travel are part of the budget equation. In the furnished house next to my shop is both bedroom and less expense sleeping bag space. Write me at <dougfattic@qtm.net> for more complete information.
Doug Fattic
Niles, Michigan - just north of South Bend, IN and 100 miles east of Chicago. It is an Amtrak stop (as is South Bend) and just off of I-80. There is a bus shuttle from the Chicago airports to the South Bend airports every 2 hours. Sometimes it is as cheap to fly into South Bend.