Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 19,381
Likes: 5,528
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Neil- I just got done with some seat stay work myself about 15 minutes ago.
The top end looks about as good as you'll likely get things. The drop out end almost so. Clean off the drop out paint for about 1/2" away from the stay. The rest will burn off during the torch work, stay away from the fume plume. Consider pinning both top and bottom. The drop out is more my concern. Pinning will stabilize any displacement as well as serve to reduce the gap to be filled.
Keep the photos coming. Andy.