Thanks for that, Dave.

My only custom bike is a polished 953 Waterford I had built in 2007 as a retirement gift to myself. It was brazed by Dave Wages before he hung out his Ellis shingle, and the price of the frameset (953 frame and chrome plated 531 fork) was $3,500.

I went through essentially the same cost exercise you did in your post and came to the conclusion I was getting a bargain. It's been a wonderful bike that I've put thousands of miles on, and it still looks and rides like the day I got it.

You and other builders with similar experience and well deserved reputations create masterpieces that are worth every penny you charge.