micmat

I am looking at buying a 531 competition frame,but it has small rust pits all over it
I will never be able to replace the decals so do not really want to strip it etc---I thought a light go with fine steel wool would do the trick,but it will just rust over again unless sealed.
? any ideas
ps --the sticker says reynolds 531 competition,but does not mention "butted"--is there such a thing as straight gauge 531?

Thanks

repechage

This got posted in the wrong forum, hopefully it will get moved.
531c is a later name for Reynolds 531 in a lighter gauge.
And yes, there is straight gauge 531.

FastJake

When I buy a frame with rust/cosmetic issues I price it accordingly assuming that I can not or will not get it back to original condition.

I doubt you can "fix" rust spots without applying new paint, but maybe someone else knows something I don't.

tmoneygetpaid

You can replace the decals. They won't be original, but velocals probably has them or can make them custom. A good powder coater can fill in slight dings and pits and such. A great one won't charge you extra. But now we're talking $200ish for powder and $50 for decals.

You could also sand or steel wool and then clean it up with denatured alcohol and prime it with rustoleum metal primer and a small brush. If you're bothered by the look of primer against the color of your bike, you can find nail polish or model paint that's a close match to go over the primer. I'm gonna do this to a bike this weekend as a cheap alternative to powdercoating.

Ex Pres 

531 "competition" = 531c = the old standard 531 double butted tubing. Just given a new name in the 80's.
531 "professional" = 531p = the lighter weight 531 db tubeset that previously was known as 531 SL (special lightweight). [Maybe since Columbus called their premium tubeset of the day SL, Reynolds decided to change. Just a guess.]

there is 531 straight gauge tubing, but that's not the "competition" tubeset.