Hey, remember in May of this year, when Firsthand Framebuilding swooped in and saved the day when they purchased 100% of Paragon Machine Works? Well, the Portland-based framebuilding supply and education company has officially opened registration for its 2026-27 class schedule. And instruction is set to begin in November 2026.
Firsthand Framebuilding will be operating out of a newly renovated 8,000 sq. ft. facility, but they’ll keep class sizes to just six students. This maintains a 3:1 student-to-teacher ratio. That kind of access means you’re getting real, hands-on guidance rather than watching from the back of a crowded room.
The course offerings cover a wide range of experience levels and time commitments. Beginners can jump right in with traditional two-week programs that require no prior experience. While builders who already have some skills can dig deeper through focused weeklong courses.
There are also monthly multi-day seminars that round out the schedule, touching on a variety of fabrication methods. So, there’s a practical entry point whether you’re exploring a new hobby or working toward building bikes professionally.
Guest Instructors Too!
One of the more notable aspects of the program is its guest instructor lineup. For 2026-27, that list includes Mike DeSalvo, Tony Pereira, Joseph Ahearne, Bob Kamzelski, Oscar Camarena, and Tony Batcheller. All are established names in North American framebuilding. Firsthand’s in-house builders will also be teaching and assisting throughout, keeping the learning experience consistent across the full schedule.
Registration is open now across all class formats, and spots are going quickly given the small class sizes. For anyone who’s been looking for structured, hands-on framebuilding education, this looks like a solid opportunity to get time with builders who have real experience in the craft.
Those interested in learning more about Firsthand’s schedule and enrollment can register here.
