Bicycle fabrication is a very expensive hobby that has the potential to pay for itself but rarely does.
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Not that expensive I would argue. Bicycle tubes do cost more than regular steel but they also keep me busier for longer 
It’s all the other gubbins on the bike that add up to a lot. That’s why a couple of my builds that were for me have been “frame replacements”.
We had a great discussion here about it all 
going into “animal laborans” vs “homo faber”.
There kind of is a trade-off between having fun and giving the customer the best value for money. I think so anyway, but there were some interesting and learned points made on both sides.
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Bicycle fabrication (for yourself) is something that starts with fulfilling a desire and ends with getting what you deserve.
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The first “problem” with this topic is that building stops being a hobby when you’re paid. So a hobby will never “pay for its self”, at least monetarily.
Then there’s the aspect of expense to build frames. Too many newbies get caught up in thinking the tools make the frames. Specific job jigs, mitering devices and true surface plates are not needed. There have been many bikes made with little more than common hand tools and, of course, some way of joining the tubes (welding/brazing/gluing). My first 8 frames were made with no precision tooling at all. Full scale drawing taped to the floor served as the geometry “jig” and good wheels C clamped to a bench top near the vise with the frame/fork in it was my wheel alignment “jig”.
It was only after making a bunch of frames that I decided this was something I wanted to do for a long time and then the cost for fancy tooling was justifiable. Additionally by waiting till you have a frame or three under your belt before spending big bucks you are more likely to avoid buying a tool that turns out not working well with your approach or style. The first real specific tool I got was a flat surface as by then I had learned that a frame jig didn’t insure the frame was straight. Andy.
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Yes I use hand-tools for everything, and home-made jigs. You also have a better idea of what you need after the first few frames, and sometimes it turns out that it isn’t much, because you’ve figured out ways to do all you need that work for you.
I did get a Chinese mini-lathe, which is pretty useful, but I made the first 3 or so frames perfectly well without it. Not having one just means you have to buy a few more parts like seat-post collars.
I don’t think precision tooling is necessary (apart from the obvious reaming and facing procedures). Of course someone can enjoy extra perfectionism, and I will never criticize anyone for that, but you can buy a frame from the shops that is visibly out if you measure it with string and the eyecrometer (i.e. worse than my frames which, after the first few, are perfect to the extent that I can measure them) and they ride fine.
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My original post was in the spirit of having fun, like one of those thoughts you have after dropping $500 on tools or something. But the information you shared was fascinating to read. I thought you’d appreciate a similar project that was conducted here in the USA, surveying the livelihoods of framebuilders. https://handbuildingvalue.wordpress.com/
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Very interesting report. I find myself to be extremely typical Except for one thing: I TIG everything. 67% of part-timers are doing fillet brazing (and 62% lugs, so many are doing both) and only 33% TIG.
How to spend 4K on a 2k frame but I am a tool addict so it’s more my fault. I do love nice tools plus I started from nothing.
I do love it though even though it’s frustrating at times.
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I think the author of that study is still around on the forums. I’m drawing a blank on their name ATM.
As Andrew said, once you start taking money, the game changes. Your conscience should compel you to have insurance. The insurance is to provide your customer with some security. Insurance wants you to have business license, documented QC processes, track each sale (who, when, what etc), pay (and charge!) taxes/VAT on what you sell, do the quarterly and annual reporting etc. etc.
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