How Best To Repair ?

[93Rangie]

I’m after some advice please….shown is a small dent in the top tube of a Dave Russell 531 frame.

The frame will need a respray as the paintwork is in general poor with several patches as shown in the photo in different places on the bike.

As far as I can see my options would be to have the top tube replaced totally or frame block and fill. My temptation given it’s a steel frame is the latter.

The dent isn’t deep, not creased and no bulge in the surrounding tube.

Taking the paintwork back to bare metal isn’t an issue as frame needs a respray as I’m going to rebuild this Dave Russell which has all of its original Campagnolo group set minus brake levers.

Your advices and thoughts would be appreciated

 

[fossyant]

Probably fill it given what you've said and the photo.

 

[Oldhippy]

That's character that is!

 

[Chris S]

That's nothing a dab of P38 wouldn't cure.

 

[Hover Fly]

An old frame builder once told me about a rule of ten,
if a dent is deeper than 1/10 of the diameter of the tube, or more than 1/10 the length he replaced the tube, other wise a dab of silver solder and file it flush.

 

[midlife]

Frame block and hot metal

 

[93Rangie]

That's character that is!

Good point, very tempted the more I look at to leave as is and just service and ride.

 

[93Rangie]

An old frame builder once told me about a rule of ten,
if a dent is deeper than 1/10 of the diameter of the tube, or more than 1/10 the length he replaced the tube, other wise a dab of silver solder and file it flush.

That makes a lot of sense @Hover Fly. Very practical advice. Thankyou

 

[93Rangie]

Probably fill it given what you've said and the photo.

Thankyou @fossyant…..filling it seems to be the popular vote !

 

[93Rangie]

That's nothing a dab of P38 wouldn't cure.

Thanks @Chris S filling with some silver solder looks a good way to go….even if harder than a dab of the old P38 which I’ll admit I’m much more familiar with !

View attachment 601549

 

[93Rangie]

Frame block and hot metal

Thanks @midlife … some silver solder looks to be the answer !

 

[rogerzilla]

Looks too deep to me. OK for a down tube (in tension) but not for a top tube (in compression). I'd want a new tube, if the frame was worth the £180 cost.

 

[ClichéGuevara]

Block up all except one outlet, and blow down that one really, really hard.

 

[93Rangie]

Looks too deep to me. OK for a down tube (in tension) but not for a top tube (in compression). I'd want a new tube, if the frame was worth the £180 cost.

Thanks @rogerzilla its a bike I want to restore as an original Dave Russell and virtually identical in terms of frame design and groupset to the DR I had in my early 20s to time trial.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Time for new tyres