Would it be possible for a frame to be made without any welds? Just one big tubeset? Like a mold? Would it not be stronger that way?

Steel. End of.

OX Platinum will have been used in place of 853, not 953. There's a factor of two difference in price of tubeset, if not more.

What, like Trek's OCLV carbon ones?

Or in metals? Only titanium alloys are capable of being superformed by superplastic means to perform jobs such as this, but the tooling costs would be Biblical. Aluminium-lithium alloys can be superplastically formed, but they are too brittle, as far as I am concerned, for bike frames. Plane skins, yes, even parts of the superstructure, but by the time you've rammed your airplane into something, it's too late, so you wouldn't worry about impact toughness

In short? No, not really, unless the frame was laid up in some way.

However! For some time I have been considering the use of ultra-high-strength metallic whisker fibres in a low density alloy matrix, such as perhaps iron whiskers in an Al/Mg matrix. Now that would eb something to see. You're looking at about 30 grand a frame though

Falanx--
Being old fashioned, I am going with a hard tail for my new frame. Being even more old fashioned, I think I am going with steel. My brother loves his Gunnar Rockhound. You have any comments on their switch from 853 to OX Platinum? Also looking at the Jamis Dragon.
Thanks

No difference. The alloys are almost identical in both metallurgy and thermomechanical processing. I should imagine the reason they changed is more to do with securing shipments in an acceptable time frame, price of materials and quality control. As a general rule, and Reynolds are likely to get miffed at me here, True Temper steel is more consistent

Falanx, thanks for sticking with this thread. I'm learning a ton. If you don't mind one more question, what do you think of Columbus Zona and Columbus tubing in general compared to the popular offerings such as True Temper and Reynolds? Also, does triangulating the tubes, like Marin does, make them any more durable?

Thanks again Falanx. This is the most interesting thread I have ever seen in this forum.
Here is a reponse from a company that makes Sc frames.

Okay...well we are using it in practice and have found it to be quite
true. Our 29 inch is the best example. You just simply couldn't do a
pivotless softail from regular aluminum tubing. It would tear like the
pop can effect. We have also seen off the charts test results on our
scandium stems in direct comparrison to aluminum samples of the same
construction. Believe it or not..scandium is a real deal material. Its
always up to you to decide what you buy. If scandiums not for
you...then its just not fo you. Hope you find something that fits your
riding and research.

(Been a while since I've chimed in . . . been on a mini-vacation and away from the computer.) Don't get me wrong, 66, I love my job. I get to both write/edit and do graphic design work; so I get to carry a printed piece from start to finish. Much more gratifying than just being a production artist like I was years ago. We've also been blessed enough to be able to buy rural property we could afford and design (my old HS architecture skills) and build our 'dream house' on it from the foundation up (ourselves - no subs).

When I was in college, I missed having access to a metal shop so much I enrolled in an Ag Mech lab just so I could weld, mill and run a lathe again.

Since then, there are days when I really wish the metalworking part of my shop was more fleshed out. My old stick welder and oxy-acet tanks look a little lonely. I'm still holding out hope for 'someday' on the Bridgeport; but before that even, I think I'd like a forge