My first post I mentioned Ora in Taiwan, not a boutique builder at all but they do quality work and are known for that. I did mention some builders in the U.S. in one of my more recent posts yes but also mentioned another bike I have that would suit a lot better for someone on a budget. I have yet had issues with Soma or New Albion and have worked with Merry Sales for years without issue. However yes they could have had issues I am not aware of. I didn't say one has to buy a boutique frame but one should not buy the bottom of the barrel titanium frame from some rando on eBay/Alibaba.

It was cool you sort of half read what I wrote and complied an incomplete summary that kind of missed the point.



Atlas Shrugged In terms of Titanium yes anyone can put a TIG welder to it but to have it last the area and tubing has to be clean and you want to back purge with argon gas while you weld. Also to build a bike you have to have some precision just slapping something together won't last. Tom Kellogg is more than just a name (and part of a good balanced breakfast) he is a designer and someone who understood geometry and design of a frame. Putting tubes together is just part of the equation. It is doesn't have to be romanticized but honesty should play a part. If it isn't properly straightened and checked you can have problems and people do. If the welds aren't done right, they can fail. Look at, for instance, when Clark Kent outsourced frames, they had a lot of issues their original stuff made in house was good but they want elsewhere and had issues. I get it everyone can do anything, good inspiring stuff but to say it is just that easy is not entirely truthful to the craft.