Hey everyone, just wondering if anyone has used this site as a supplier for building. Some quick searching on the forums didn't bring anything up!

Framebuilder Supply

My question is a bit late seeing as I've already put an order in... What struck me as odd is that some of their components' specifications don't quite match up. For example, the seat stays and rear dropouts don't seem to be exactly perfect matches. Is it common for this stuff to be off by .2-.4mm? As you can guess, I'm very new to frame building. (Experience = 0) but this spring break will change that a little, hopefully. The reason I chose them was because the components to make a complete frame were overall cheaper than at Henry James, considering the higher quality lugs they have despite their offerings of cheaper tubing. If all goes well, I'll start a thread documenting my first build if anyone is interested!

-Doc

edit:
now that I think about it, I believe it was the seat stays and braze on tips that may have not quite matched up. I'm assuming the stuff they sell isn't of the highest quality and may vary minutely from piece to piece.

I've never used them. Nova Cycles Supply is another resource for framebuilding supplies. As far as the seatstays and the dropouts, the seatstays are tapered. You can cut off the small end until it fits nicely in the dropout. You also need to take into account what type of filler material you are going to use. Silver needs a close fit up. Brass needs a bit more of a gap for the filler to flow into the joint.

You will find that none of this stuff is just plug and play. It will take some massaging of the metal to make things fit together.

interesting, don't see the info on who is running it. I was just thinking that it must be a difficult way to run a business, and someone steps up and starts a new one. Looks like it might be nice if someone lives in Portland

Please start a thread on your build.

IIRC it's the outlet for CoMotion to get rid of their extras and left overs. I've ordered from them a few times when I see neat stuff. never had a problem yet.

As to tolerances- .2/.4mm is pretty small a difference and for cut or machined products that don't have a press fitting need. So a drop out with that much more thickness or slot length is no big deal to work with. Tubes are often bowed y more then that amount. Now for the aspects with a fit need, like a seat post or crown race seat, we have cutters that size up the finished frame.

Socketed or plugged drop outs and the stay/blade fits always need some working with. It's common to have to reduce plug diameters or cut stays/lades to where their OD fits the socket. Andy.

that's cool then, adding them to the list of suppliers

Hi Everyone,

This is Tony from Framebuilder Supply. Just to clarify, we are not associated with Co-Motion, although they are great folk and we've visited their facilities. Co-motion's site is https://framebuildersurplus.com/ Easy to get those confused, for sure.

I would second dsaul's and Andrew R Stewart's comments above about fit and tolerance. But of course if you are ever not satisfied with what you got from us, please contact me at hello@framebuildersupply.com. I'm always happy to work things out.

And just to answer the question about who we are, here's a story that bikerumor wrote up about us a bit ago.

Thanks!

Thanks for the reply! That's kind of what I figured, makes much more sense now that you explain it a bit.

Will do!

Ah, I see. That's consistent with everything I have been reading on these frame building threads. I'll make sure to keep all of this in mind when I start the build. Thanks for the input!

Thanks for dropping in! I've checked out that writeup and it definitely helped nudge me towards deciding on ordering from your site. As of now, I have no doubts on what you are supplying and I'm excited to get to work!

-doc

thanks for clarifying, I added a link in the suppliers thread

As far as tolerances go, frame building is akin to blacksmithing sometimes. "show it who's boss" -- Richard Sachs
I'm not a big fan of plug or socket dropouts because making things fit together can be a lot of work

Haven't used them (yet). Nice to see some lugs for mixte frames are available.

Agreed! Nice to see another supplier. And the rack tabs look great too.