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Tom donhou has spoken about making a few frames and being a frame builder.
It's very hard to turn a craft into a career, brand and product.
With people now doing such boring jobs it's tempting to Jack it all in and sign up to a frame building course at dave yates, enigma, reilly, downlands or bicycle academy. Even geoff roberts does one to one classes.
The increase in builders has only increased the craftsmanship and only the fittest will survive. People like Tom at demon donhou and Ricky feather are now leaders of the small industry.
There is almost a craft beer feel that it's all getting too much now.
wildwest-
Yeah it's definitely a seemingly possible goal now for a lot of people disillusioned with their current jobs, once you've done a week crash course, on paper all you need is a good sized shed with basic hand tools, some kind of jig, a torch and if you have the money some kind of machine tooling (lathe / mill etc).
I've debated building a jig for years and having a crack at it but realistically what would set me apart from the countless others? A snazzy logo / brand name / paint job? Probably not the right attitude to have when debating a new career admittedly.
Not that I'm complaining about new builders, a rising tide lifts all boats and competition definitely brings out the best in people. I don't really know what my original point was but like you say, only the fittest will survive.
MBroady
Yeah getting to Bespoked is a good shout. Loads of top modern UK builders out there, Saffron, Feather, Rusby, Demon, Donhou, Rourke, Woodrup, Titchmarsh etc.
Somewhat related, I've just been looking at the list of exhibitors for Bespoked this year and barely recognise most of these new framebuilders. I think it was Richard Sachs (or someone else of that magnitude) who said you shouldn't be selling to the public until you've made 50 frames or something and you know they're all good, makes you think about the potential longevity of these frames.