Yo!

I have an older track frame that someone drilled for a bottle cage. Ridiculous.

Anyway, it's the downtube and I'm wondering if I should have the frame repaired or just fill the holes myself with the mig, sand em down, and respray. Frame is a lugged steel panasonic.

It's a commuter and I'm not especially bothered by them, save for the openings for water and the general crappy look of it. What do you think I should do?

NoReg

You could probably JB weld them, or other epoxy. Might not hold for ever, but it might work well enough. The holes look like they have a dimple, so you have surface area overflowing the hole to carry a plug. You could weld it, but it can pretty easily blow through on you. You could braze them.

HMBAtrail

Clean the paint off from around the area, flux it up, insert bolt, braze bolt into hole, cut bolt head off, file smooth, problem solved.

Yo!

Nice. I didn't think the whole tube needed replacement, but I find these rigged up cage holes a serious fault on an NJS track frame.

Nessism

Why not put a couple rivnuts in the holes and call it done.

Yo!

I spoke to David at southwest frameworks here in Dallas and he said that he could use a silver or brass filler to try and plug those up.

Honestly it seems like a lot of work when I could just as easily rivnut, like nessim suggested.

Tube replacement is only $125, but that means repainting as well at a steep rate. The top tube is already dinged and I'm just trying to make this an everyday street bike that's going to be unappealing to thieves, so new paint isn't really an option I'd like to pursue unless I decide to pull the trigger on a full on restoration.

Aside from the obvious in terms of rust etc, am I looking at a tube that's structural integrity has been compromised since those holes were not bossed?

unterhausen

the lower one looks like there is something in there. Is it possible there was a rivnut in it before? If you aren't going to restore it, I see no reason not to just put some rivnuts in there and ride it like that. If it does fail, it will happen very slowly.

Ferrite

If you do put a rivet or some JB weld be sure to de-burr/chamfer the edges (inside and out) of the holes with a small file so there is less chance of fatigue cracks starting.