reddog3- There are both low cost and portable fixturing methods that one can use to build a frame from. Most start with a full scale drawing and then add devices to stand off the tubes above a flat surface (not necessarily a precision surface plate). A few pins in the lugs (or hose clamps) hold the tubes lengthwise WRT each other. Simple triangulated measurement points will hold the angle. (As an example for main triangle construction, other methods exist for forks and rear triangles). In a couple of hours one should be able to do a step or two and over many sessions end up with a frame. Slow, yes, but not complicated or needing a dedicated spot to leave untouched till next session. See my posts in this thread for more details. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ed-Some-Advice

I do agree that using bike specific tubes makes sense, as long as they're basic grade steel and not the thin wall super high strength stuff for the first frame or two. Andy.