Homebrew

If you don't get it already, my explaining probably isn't going to help; I homebrew.

Why go through all the hassle of making a bike frame when one could just buy one?

I can't even begin to tally up the total expenses or time spent on this project, but I can tell you how it gets started and how I justify it;  "Well, a frame would cost me $400, but a tube set is only about $200.  If I build a frame, I'm makin' money!"  Never mind the hours of work, all the tools purchased, the brazing gas, flux, brass, & silver.  Never mind the hours every night after work, hand filing joints in a frozen Minnesota garage, the cuts, the scrapes, the cold tools chilling my hands, my frozen toes, and the four thermal layers of clothes I have to put on just to stay warm.

I probably got started with these sorts of endeavors building homebrew electric guitar effects pedals when I was in high school.  Same approach, different product.  Why buy a pedal when I can learn some basic electronics and make my own pedals with some Radio Shack parts?  Or, with my homebrewing of beer and wine making.  Why drink crappy beer when I can make delicious beer @ the same price?  Or, why buy produce when I can grow a garden?

It's not just that I am "saving" on the cost of a frame.  How about learning something along the way?  How about making something the way I want it?  How about the pride of having done it yourself, knowing it was done right, and getting a better product out of it?