Originally Posted by WorldWind
The subtitle refinements in riding quality hoped for after brazening a one off frame can really only be achieved after years of experience both in riding and in fabrication.
In no way is this to be taken as an attempt to dissuade anyone from building his own frame. Only that it’s the baker’s skill that makes the pie not the brand of flower. And by golly you know how much we love our pie.
Having built a grand total of eight frames does not qualify me as an expert but I can say that tube selection makes a huge difference in the ride quality of the frame. I built two frames recently with identical geometery, but different tube sets, and one rides very firm, with a nice stiff bottom bracket, and the other rides smoother but has a little bit more wag when sprinting. Brazing/welding has no effect on how the bike rides but tube selection does. And yes, even a newbie like me can tell the difference.
Ed