Peterpan, i think you are making it way too complicated. Gooey flux residue isn't gonna hurt a tool that cuts steel and if the bike shop is worried about liability concerns they could just tell him straight up. Its true, there are way too many lawsuits but we can't let that get in the way of doing what you want to do. If the shop is a quality shop they aren't worried about a little competition and I have found that most of the people I talk to in the bike business are very receptive to frame builders and they think its cool, thats just the ones I have done business with. Actually they usually give me a bigger discount and try to help me out however they can. I don't know who Pollyanna is but she needs to have a little hope and faith. The bicycle started with a simple concept, try not to make it so dificult.