Steel frame repair

[Az B]

I've got a very small dent in the top tube of my Reynolds 853 frame. What would be the best way to repair this? Or is there someone in the southeast that can do this repair?

Az

[Peterpan1]

If it's actually a very small dent, and not something you fear will cause the frame tube to collapse, then I would fill it with epoxy or bondo. You could use something like red epoxy and just leave it to show your wear and tear, if you repaint, it could get expensive.

[raincrosswrench]

ditto to what peterpan said, but think about how you want to repaint before you choose a filler. If you are going to powdercoat, it needs to be a filler with enough metallic content to carry the electrostatic charge, otherwise, the powder wont stick to the area with the filler. I've heard you need to use stuff called Lab Metal to do this...

[Az B]

I did consider the filler and paint idea. That's not a problem... easily done.

But I would really prefer to get the dent out if it's possible. No idea? No one specializes in this kind of repair?

Az

[halfbiked]

most would probably consider it to be more trouble than its worth to fix a very small dent.

[trackasaurus]

if you're planning to repaint it anyway,

get a bicycle reserach tube block 25.4 or 28.6 depending on the top tube size.

sand off the paint 1.5 inches to each side of the dent.

grease up the top tube and the and the block,

clamp the tube in the block in a vice behind the dent.
in a slow back and forth motion, almost seesawing the frame, push the top tube through the frame block.

then repeat a few times. til you're happy

voila, after painting, the dent will be barely discernible.

good luck