Originally Posted by
smontanaro
Thanks for all the suggestions. That Miyata 1200 is just my size, and basically right down the street. Our instructor said Metals Supermarket in Niles, IL (and several dozen other locations across the USofA) is a reputable place. Also, I'm hosting a
vintage bike swap Saturday. Maybe someone will bring something I can justify cutting up. (And there's a sandblasting cabinet in the shop to boot, so I can get rid of any paint before heating things up.)
i'm more a freakbike builder than making serious frames, but i go to the local metal supermarket fairly often. they also have what they call a drop table. where they put short and remnant pieces for a lower price. i've also, as already suggested, gotten cast off frames from the local co-op for little or nothing, and flea markets and thrift stores for cheap prices.