Well, Sam. You can always just MARRY a framebuilder, like I did. It was infinitely much easier than learning how to do it myself. My most recent PJ steel frame is a swirly-lugged steel track bike that I waited almost two years for. Basically, here's how it developed:
Christmas 1999 - Peter gave me a raw set of British cast lugs from the 50's. March, 2000 - Ooooh! a set of steel tubes with a bow around them. A great birthday gift. May 2000 - All tubes stuck into said lugs for my anniversary gift. Grazie! Christmas 2000 - A fork crown and two fork blades...Halleluyah!! March 2001 - Some silver solder added to frame (starting to take shape!) May 2001 - Fork completed. Frame almost finished. July 2001 - Finally! A track bike. Just what I always wanted! It was worth the wait.
Jan Johnson
SFO, CA