The Recumbent Bicycle and Human Powered Vehicle Information Center

Tom Porter's Recumbent Bike Homebuilder Plans

Tools	Parts and Materials	Welding and Brazing	Materials Lists
Plans 2004	As Built 2004		Tom's other bikes
Plans 2005	Frame Build 2005/2006		Email Tom

Material And Parts Suppliers
Steel Tubing and Material
There are really not too many businesses that supply steel in the relatively small quantities that we will be using. The ones I have used consistently over the years are:

WICKS AIRCRAFT SUPPLY
www.wicksaircraft.com
800�221�9425
HIGHLAND ,IL

I use Wicks because they have many homebuilders supplies for aircraft and have a lower shipping and handling charge than:

DILLSBURG AEROPLANE WORKS
NO WEBSITE
717-432�4589
DILLSBURG, PA
CHARLES VOGELSONG

Dillsburg is the only place I have found to order 1.75� & 2.0� X .035 4130 TUBING in small quantity in the entire country ( I haven�t tried Fairing yet). Shipping & handling charge will be about 25% so I only use Dillsburg to order what Wicks doesn�t have.

There are some businesses that sell �metal by the inch�, these tend to be rather more expensive (you can usually buy a foot of material for the price of a few inches and always remember that a shipping charge will be added).

I know there are some recumbent supply businesses on the web that have some of the necessary pieces, I�ve never ordered any steel tube from them though. I usually try to order everything in one or two batches from my usual suppliers.

Bicycle Specific Parts
My advice is to build with as many used higher quality parts as you can. This technique saves a lot of money and used parts are still very serviceable. I�ve been using some parts for 15 years. Look for these at:

SWAP MEETS � such as the yearly one in Madison WI (Sat. before Superbowl weekend). All the tech weenies selling last years hot parts so they can indulge their bike parts lust for the new year.

A PRO BIKE SHOP � generally saves used high quality take off parts for the tech weenies , will be a bit higher but if you already have a good customer relationship they�ll treat you right. Downside is you will only find these shops in large cities and places like Madison WI.

NEW PARTS � Quality Bike Parts has virtually everything available but have reduced some frame builder specific parts lately. Wholesale only so only available through a dealer. So no dealer? INTERNET it, this seems to be the answer for all local businesses that don�t want to order/stock everything under the sun. I will have to order some things this way myself as my LBS doesn�t handle everything, I�ll write about these orders/recommendations later.

Enough verbiage for a while let�s get down to ordering tools and material and get with it. Later.