hazzak

As per the title, I have a Reynolds 653 TT frame which has an aluminium Campagnolo seatpost stuck in it. A well regarded local framebuilder is confident that the seatpost can be removed, preserving both the frame and seatpost and only damaging the paint around the seat cluster. However, a material scientist friend of mine warns that doing so would affect the strength of heat treated steel. Though I'm not sure if Reynolds 653 is actually heat treated or not (I recall that 753 had some very special requirements)

So basically I want a third opinion so I can decide whether I'll remove the seatpost with heat or dissolve it with sodium hydroxide (admittedly better for the paintwork than heat, but also a massive hassle since I'd have to do it myself)

Thanks