I think the free mitering program is worth the 30 seconds it takes to run a profile, particularly when cutting with files that aren't a really close fit. Everything builds on everything else, so if you have perfect and easy to set miters, it makes fixtures easier to set up, and so forth. Of course skill will get you there too as SJ does it. Also with lugs a few of the miters can simply be scribed from the lugs themselves.


"I don't see how the home builder who does not plan on building more than one or two frames a year can justify the cost of those tools."

It is certainly a tight squeeze. Though at $150 a year you are probably clear in six frames or so. There are another few things to consider.

1) Folks following Paternek will read they need to chase these parts multiple times, during the building process. That isn't always true, he gets laughed at a little for that, but it can be true in the sense that reamers like to cut in little bites and keeping up with it is probably smarter than doing it once at the end, at least until you know your process well enough. It can also be true as far as mating the parts to fixtures, as when testing on a table for alignment using the BB as the reference surface.

2) checking parts before the build, it can be a good time to ensure the parts are in good shape, also keeps one from putting the BB in backwards, which a few builders seem to do every year.

3) I don't think every shop will necesarilly want to be part of an amateur build, nor will every builder want the final machining done by the tool meister in every shop. Enough stuff goes wrong without any variables.

4) Quite a few folks building frames start with a bike shop background, and have access to tools. I don't and I don't have a local LBS that will help.

5) Then there are the builders that own an Anvil frame jig, and it is a hobby for them to do it like the big boys. Like a regular rider with a fancy bike.