Originally Posted by
T-Mar
I've cold set frames with the Park frame alignment tools and home made tools. I've checked frames set by both methods using piano wire and rulers, Park tools and precision measuring equipment on granite surface plates. Guess what? They can all give the acceptable results, if you're careful.
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There's a big difference between learning to do something the careful, well-prepared way and then doing it again with more basic tools but based on that experience, and doing something in a way that could cause damage as you learn. I don't consider any of my frames replaceable if I cause damage. I know my hub axles are hard to replace (that is, Campy axles are getting rarer and dearer). I haven't bought a "hack on this" frame to learn with, and don't plan to. I'd rather put that $$ into either qualified services or good tools for me to use.
I appreciate your position of skill, T-mar, but I worry about the overbent chainstays we're hearing about.
Road Fan