Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark McM
From what I've seen re-branded Ti frames made by Litespeed often were made with different features and specifications, but generally had Litespeed level of build quality. In contrast, there were many re-branded Ti frames by Sandvik that had serious quality deficiencies.
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AFAIK Sandvik manufactures Ti tubing, and tubing decals with their name on them, but has never built frames. Ti requires specialized (no pun intended) equipment, processes and skill sets, Oxygen-free during the weld process and no cold setting are obviously complicating factors. I think the entire pre-carbon, post-cold war industry kind of went through a painful learning curve with Ti. FWIW, sample size of one, I still occasionally ride a TST (one of the larger American- made re-branders) frame made of straight gauge Sankvik tubing and the welds, to my untrained eye, look at least as good as any Litespeed or Lynskey frame I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot. But of course there's lots more to quality than precision welds, like design, tubing choice etc.