We sell only the best selection of tubing, tools, and consumables.
The best bikes deserve to be made with the finest materials. And the finest materials deserve the highest quality tools. Firsthand Framebuilding is committed to offering only best-in-class supplies from these quality-driven manufacturers.
Reynolds Technology Ltd. has been producing the world's best bicycle frame tubing in Birmingham, England since 1897. The original inventors of mandrel-butted tubing, Reynolds has produced some of the most sought-after tubesets in cycling history, including the famed 531 and 853 series tubes. Firsthand Framebuilding is proud to be the exclusive distributor for Reynolds in North America.
The Gasflux Company has been making the world's finest brazing fluxes and fillers since 1938. A 3rd-generation, family-owned and operated business, Gasflux produces supplies for silver and bronze brazing, and has been an integral partner for bicycle manufacturers since their founding.
Weld Mold Company has been a premier manufacturer of high-quality welding alloys since 1945. Located in Brighton, Michigan, USA since their founding, Weld Mold produces—among many other welding fillers—the finest TIG rod for bicycle framebuilding.
Wilh. Putsch GmbH & Co. has been producing WILPU ® brand saw blades in the same factory in Remscheid, Germany since 1867. Family-owned for their entire history, Wilpu is a historic German firm, widely regarded as one of the finest makers of hole saws in the world.
Family-owned and based in Marienheide, Germany for over 200 years, PFERD® makes the finest abrasives, grinding tools, and carbide burrs in the world. They are also renowned for their metal working files, having produced the first commercially-available farrier rasp (horse hoof file) in 1799.
Independent suppliers for independent fabricators.
Whenever possible, we stock items from independently-owned suppliers. We have strong admiration for private businesses that actually make the things they sell—just like our own customers.
White-label, "designed in", out-sourced stuff... that's just not our thing. We'll never stock stuff just because.
Is there a brand you'd like to see us stock? Get in touch.
Paragon Machine Works
We recognize that there are several items required for bicycle fabrication that we don't stock. While one-stop-shopping is great, so is supporting critical local businesses that make this small-scale industry possible in the first place. Our relative lack of machined parts is not an oversight. Paragon Machine Works has been producing the finest machined framebuilding bits in the world from a small shop in Richmond, California, USA since 1983. Support Paragon by buying directly from Mark, Calvin, et. all (Hi Coco!).
Our "Competitors"
There are a handful of other fantastic bicycle framebuilding suppliers located in the States. We hope our selection of tubing, tools, and consumables proves comprehensive, but if you're looking for something specific and we don't carry it, it is likely that one of these suppliers does. For the more typical offerings—including tubing from Columbus, Dedacciai, Velocpec, and Kasei, imported castings from Allotec, and imported machined bits—reach out to these spots. Tony, Andrew, Carl, and Anthony will get you well-sorted.
