Listafino's,
I have just picked up an (unnamed) Swiss frameset (name withheld so you won't think I have an obsession with this manufacturer). It was reported to be NOS and I think I just realized why, 25 years after it was last touched by a torch, it was never sold....
I know in newer steal and ti frames there are holes drilled in the head and seat tube placed adjacent to where the top and downtubes meet them. I know in ti frames this is required to produce a path for the Argon gas to flow freely to flush out the oxygen to get a solid weld. I'm sure there are reasons for these holes in modern steel frames, but I am unaware of why although I assume they might be there for some sort of heat escape or something like that.
Anyway, this (unnamed at this time) Swiss frame does not have these holes -and- I noticed there are metal shavings of some sort inside the toptube which produce a subtle and mellifluous rattle when the frame is tilted for and aft or jolted in hand. In truth, these whimsical little noises are one notch above almost silent, but probably enough to be downright annoying over the long haul (sort of like that time Batman was placed into a large vase with tiny pebbles pinging off the top of his head as a type of villainous torture).
OK OK OK....i hate them.
A lot.
I see no way of ridding this frame of these noises outside of violating the integrity of the 531 by drilling a hole through the toptube, fishing them out with a magnet and then bondoing the hole shut prior to repainting, which I need to do to this frame anyway - but man-o-man, I shutter at the idea of having to do this.
Does anyone know any other place to make a hole that doesn't seem so destructive? I do not know of any drill which could make a hole in the proper place 'around the corner' so to speak into the head or seat tube to duplicate the holes found in newer frames once the thing is slapped together.
Any info would be helpful
rattled in LA,
Peter Grenader