[CR] Frame repair question

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To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:00:52 -0400
From: <jguerry@aol.com>
Subject: [CR] Frame repair question


Hello CR listers, I seem to have a knack for finding old Paramounts in poor condition. I bought a 73 P15 for 300 bucks and had Waterford repaint it for an additional 700 or so. I just recently found a 68 that is in pretty good shape but with a mish mash of incorrect components, and I have a 69 that I found at a garage sale for 10 bucks. The 69 is quite sad and had been left out in the weather for a long time. It is faded and every paint chip is rusted. It needs new chrome so rather than paying for chrome and new paint I am thinking of just having it entirely chromed. I recently had a 72 Cilo in similar shape chromed for a total cost of $300 and it turned out great.

My problem is the bike has one dent in the top tube. About an inch long and an eighth of an inch deep. I have a Burnz-o-matic Oxygen / Propane brazing torch that my Father had in his tools. I have never used it, but I am wondering if a proper repair for my dent would be to strip the area of paint and fill the dent with brass brazing material, and then file / sand smooth. If this sounds reasonable would anyone be able to give me some tips, such as how rough to scrub up the tube (file or coarse sandpaper?) and how hot to get the tube (should it glow orange before adding brass?)

John Guerry
Preparing for winter projects in
St. Louis, MO, US