I recently picked up a ladies Falcon Westminster. Without looking harder the date codes on both hubs, Maillard, indicate 1987. Happy 30th. The frame is butted 531 and the forks are 531. The paintwork is plagued with rust but none of it looks structurally bad. Previously on 18-23 frames I have been quite happy to burn the paint off with a meaty Blow Torch prior to a respray but
AFAIK 531 undergoes some sort of heat treatment. I might be worrying too much but if I do go and Torch it am I likely to mess with the properties of the steel?