Frame building schools
 

My ultimate goal in the coming years is to start building and selling my own branded frames. In order to make this a reality, I'd like to attend a frame building school and wondering which would be the best choice. As of now I'm leaning toward UBI in Portland and Ashland OR. I've also seen Yamaguchi in Colorado but don't know too much. I'm in CA and it seems traveling will be a must.

Anyone have any experience with either and have some words of wisdom?

Any other schools that I should consider?

Thanks in advance.

Brandon

This is much like the "best" chain lube posts :) It really depends.


Different classes have different goals (and not just ending up with a functional frame). Different instructors have different styles, some more hands on, some more foundational understanding focused, some classes have fewer students then others. Some are located in places with much else to offer (Portland) then others (Niles MI), but this also speaks to distractions.


I would do some homework about the nature of various schools and how one learns/interacts. Andy.

Don't overlook Dave Bohm Bicycle framebuilding school not too far from you, and afaik, the only school that gives you a choice between steel and carbon fiber.

Dave also has a list of framebuilding schools. Is it in a sticky here? https://bohemianbicyclesfaq.wordpres...lding-classes/

UBI in Ashland Oregon has one, they have the http://www.bikeschool.com/ domain address.

Thanks guys! I should have added more as to what I want for the future. Steel will be my primary material and eventually titanium. I want to braze and tig steel to start and and then likely move to some titanium as well. I would hope that going to a school would not only teach you each craft, but also assist in the tooling needed, to make it happen, as well as anything else that helps along the way.

I'll be sure to check out the links you've suggested as well. Thanks again.

Brandon

As far as I know all of the programs out there basically just help you build a frame for yourself. You will of course learn how to use whatever tooling that specific shop has in the process but you don't get anything from the course other than a completed frame and some knowledge of the process used to build it.

I decided not to go that route and I used the money I could have spent on a course on tooling instead. I spent many many hours reading, watching videos and looking at process photos online. I started just over two years ago and have now built 5 frames and done 4 repairs. 3 of those frames are my personal bikes that I race road, cross and track on.

Even though I have a lot of the additional knowledge one would need to start a framebuilding business I'm not particularly interested. I mean I'd love to spend my time building my personal vision of how bikes should be but I'm not convinced enough people would buy them to keep me afloat.

You might also look at whether the programs specialize in a particular style of bike, and what is included.
It looks like the Eugene Co-op (CAT) program is by far the most expensive, but it is also the longest, and includes housing.

CAT specializes in cargo bikes, and perhaps a little eccentric builds.

it's unlikely that you will learn both brazing and tig in a 3 week course. With UBI, I think that's 2x3week courses

I recommend Doug Fattic from Michigan. Super nice guy, and he's taught a boatload of American framebuilders. Here's one of his chrome frames from a swap in South Bend earlier this spring.

Words of wisdom;
Brazing aside, there are other facets that you need to concern yourself with; Stuff not likely covered in a frame building class...
1) How will your frames be different; IE better than what is already out there on the market.
2) Brand name: Coming up with a viable brand name for your frames.
3) Painting and paint schemes and decaling.

Brandon,

Chose carefully, not all schools are equal. I’ve taught framebuilding classes longer than anyone else and a surprising percentage of my students have already taken another framebuilding class somewhere else. There is a big difference in their training depending on where they went. Teaching is a separate skill from building. Some students just want to make something cool for themselves, while others have the ambition to make more. I get both kind of students. The 1st group only requires that I show them what to do and watch over them so they don’t mess up. And maybe help them with the hard parts so they end up with a professional quality of frame. The 2nd group demands a lot more of themselves and of the teacher. It isn’t nearly enough that there is just an explanation and demonstration, they need to leave class with enough knowledge in their heads and skill in their hands and documentation (notes, pics, video and class manual) so they can do it all over again without an instructor. It is for these students that my degrees in teaching education and years in a regular classroom come into use. My job isn’t done until each student “gets it”. And that path is different for every student. There is a huge amount of information that has to be retained if one is going to make more. This is part of the reason I typically teach 3 week instead of 2 week classes (although sometimes I do teach shorter classes) because one can only catch on so fast.

Doug Fattic
Niles, MI

Hi Doug,

Thank you for your reply. It is really cool to see a reply from someone that so many have people have referred. What you have said is exactly what I have been trying to "get out" of people or schools. Knowing that I don't just want a frame; I want a lot more. If it's okay, I'll shoot you a PM. Thanks again for reaching out.

Brandon

Liability insurance and business model/plan also