Framebuilders - Frame Dent Repair?

Has anyone had success having a frame dent repaired. I heard of the tubing being rolled to, I assume, pinch-out the dent. I also know that individual tubes can be replaced. I bought this particular bike at a low price for its components; but the finish is extremely good and it is a desirable frameset. The dent is a significant dime-sized in the center of the TT. It’s a fine 531 frame, and would seem a shame to have to scrap it. The bike is not my size and perfectly rideable, but you know how picky C&Ver can be.

Here's a pic. At what point does it make since to have a tube replaced, which would also require repainting obviously, versus just giving the frame away to a needy person?
http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/ww1/rothenfield/86Trek400TElance007.jpg

you aren't going to be able to roll that one out given the relationship to the braze on. And rolling dents gets rid of the paint. To me, that is a rider, I'd ignore the dent

you aren't going to be able to roll that one out given the relationship to the braze on. And rolling dents gets rid of the paint. To me, that is a rider, I'd ignore the dent

What if I ground off the cable guide, rolled it, and used a clamp-on cable guide? I've come to the same conclusion; even though it's 63 cm ST and a nut-rubber for a 6 footer, the TT reach feels just fine. The finish is fantastic, and I think I'll build it to ride regardless of the dent.

you could, but I wouldn't. I've never rolled a tube, but I have never heard of anyone that has managed to save the paint when they did.

I like that color, it really is too bad.

you could, but I wouldn't. I've never rolled a tube, but I have never heard of anyone that has managed to save the paint when they did.

I like that color, it really is too bad.

I think I'm going to donate it to Paul Sadoff of Rock Lobster bikes. Maybe he will take the time to replace the tube and give the frame to some tall needy person.:(

http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/ww1/rothenfield/86Trek400TElance003.jpg

Any last suggestions before I give this frame away? It’s a desirable frame with a nasty dent in a place that makes it worthless apparently. It seems like a common problem, it’s a shame that someone hasn’t thought of a solution ‘yet’. Maybe I’ve just strategically place a firecracker up the TT…maybe not. Bye, Bye Beauty..

Do what a car repair man would do. Mask off the area to within an inch of the dent with masking tape.

Flat back the area immediately around the dent with wet and dry emery paper. Fill the dent with epoxy resin (my local discount store sells it for £1.00 in a small tube). Flat back the resin after it's hardened and feather to the edge of the paint. Use fine emery paper (320 or 400 grit) to blend in the repair so it's really smooth. Use primer (aerosol), then get your local trade car paint supplier to mix up an aerosol of matching paint, spray a couple of light coats then finish off with a few light coats of clear laquer. You'll need to remove the masking tape before the laquer stage to blend in with the existing finish. Polish the lacquer after a week with cutting compound. It should pass the ten feet test.

If this is too much like hard work, find a local car body shop and ask them to do it. It's an awful lot less work than taking out the top tube and brazing in a new one - which will mean having much of the frame re-painted anyway.

Or - leave it alone and accept it as a battle scar.

Do what a car repair man would do. Mask off the area to within an inch of the dent with masking tape.

Flat back the area immediately around the dent with wet and dry emery paper. Fill the dent with epoxy resin (my local discount store sells it for £1.00 in a small tube). Flat back the resin after it's hardened and feather to the edge of the paint. Use fine emery paper (320 or 400 grit) to blend in the repair so it's really smooth. Use primer (aerosol), then get your local trade car paint supplier to mix up an aerosol of matching paint, spray a couple of light coats then finish off with a few light coats of clear laquer. You'll need to remove the masking tape before the laquer stage to blend in with the existing finish. Polish the lacquer after a week with cutting compound. It should pass the ten feet test.

If this is too much like hard work, find a local car body shop and ask them to do it. It's an awful lot less work than taking out the top tube and brazing in a new one - which will mean having much of the frame re-painted anyway.

Or - leave it alone and accept it as a battle scar.

I’m tempted to send it to you to try your method. These vintage frames with a decent original finish are getting rarer and rarer. But I’m not a man of such resources.

In my opinion, over here on the left coast of the US, this sort of dent is the death-nail for this frameset; which seems a damned shame! One of you entrepreneurial types should figure out a way to economically repair this sort of problem. I think there is a market for it.

there is a market for restorations in general. I think the problem is that people have found out that it's not worth doing. I think when the car guy gets his touch up gun out, it's many hundreds of dollars, and on a car people don't really blink at that.

Put the bike to one side for a while. Find a local car dent repair man in Yellow Pages and give him a call for a quote. Or even better, ask around for a good, one man band car bodyshop that's been around for years. Go and be really nice to the guy - find out what beer he drinks and take a him a case. Give it to him on account. On account of you being a nice guy. Then ask if he would be interested in making a few bucks one weekend or after work one day. If no eyebrows are raised, drop the bike in and get a quote. $50-100 bucks in his back pocket in green folding drink vouchers and a couple of weeks later you'll have a top tube that looks like new. If you get no joy, you're out a case of beer. Just make sure it's cold when you deliver it.