I am looking for suggestions on a builder that builds with lugs. I previously posted about my new steel lugged frame that cracked within 500 miles. The builder built another frame for me and this one cracked within 250 miles. In short I need another builder. I have spent hours online researching builders but I know that a lot of good, established builders don't have web sites. This has become such a time consuming process but I want a lugged steel frame so any suggestions will be appreciated.

Where are you?

Down south in the middle of nowhere. Between Mobile, Al and New Orleans, La.

Bilenky has a excellat rep. and has been building for many years I spoke with him some time ago, he's accessable and at one point, to a person who had one built. There's also Independant Fabrication & Landshark, both of which I've read here are good, I'm sure you already know that. Call Bilenky.

Yea, He's going on my list. His bikes have always seemed over the top with the fancy lug work but I have heard his name for years and have visited his web site. Obviously does quality work with years of experience. Thanks for the suggestion.

Hell talk to you or his right hand man will. He can dispense with the frills if need be. They'll mail you pics; satified custs. & the bikes. pretty funny.

Plenty of good ones out there. David Kirk. Bohemian. Cardinal Cycles. Spectrum. Ellis Cycles. cough cough . . . ahem . . . Shamrock Cycles. Goodrich. Zanconato.

Any of them will build you a work of art. Well, all of them except me. I'll just take your money and blow it on booze and loose women.

Give Dave at Southwest Frameworks a call. He's been at it since the late eighties. I have two of his bikes and I couldn't be more satisfied with the bikes or the attention he gave me. I don't have one complaint about the bikes or the experience. He stopped taking orders about a year ago, but I talked to him recently and he said he was taking them again, although his web site doesn't reflect it. www.southwestframeworks.com

Funny, I have the exact same business model!

I've just had a lugged frame built by M. Terraferma in Florida. He's affordable and as far as I know he's been doing it for 7-8 years. My bike is sweet

Let's see pictures - I know Mike quite well.

-Kurt

Well I don't want to hijack, but if it helps the OP here's the bike, seat cluster, headlug...

Nice, clean bike.

Where is that guy in Florida?

How is that even possible ?

Take a look at the work of various builders in the gallery section at https://www.bikelugs.com/

If you find the pictures posted before, the bottom bracket was under-filled. His builder is apparently more comfortable with fillet brazed bikes. The bottom bracket is the toughest joint because the shell is much heavier than the tube. And problems there will show up fairly quickly due to the cyclic stress.

I'll give plug for Franklin Frames in Ohio. You can get a lugged frame/fork for less than $12-1300. He does fine work, is highly experienced(30+ years) and easy to talk with. https://home.windstream.net/franklinframe/frame.html
His price list is mostly in his head I think, though he lists some.

I've had him build a frame and do some other repair work and painting. I'd buy another frame from him if needed.

--cheers