Michael,
There are actually a whole pile of frame repair tricks. In many cases grinding, filing, and reaming are the best approach. Every case requires individual attention. Sometimes one method will leave behind evidence of a frame repair. I try to do a frame repair that is totally undetectable. I do run across frames that have been repaired that show tell tale signs of the work. Like Norris said, sometimes the old ways are best. There is a lot to know about repairing frames; way more than one might suspect. Sometimes lighting the torch to get a frame repair under way is how you actually open the can or worms. I avoid that situation by checking the situation out and deciding if I can do the job correctly and not leave any evidence behind. If I can't, I'll pass on the repair.
I should watch the video and see how it was done there, just so I can see what you guys are seeing. I watched a frame repair go down once (actually the guy was building a new frame and "something happened") that was one of the saddest/funniest situations I've ever seen. The person involved is no longer amongst the living; so out of respect I won't tell the story, which is complicated anyway. There is also a point where it's best to stop and rethink the situation, which didn't happen in this particular case.
Brian Baylis
La Mesa, CA
This video surprised me a bit. Please forgive my presumption as I am not a frame builder, but I agree with Norris that cutting off the head tube through the lug, then reaming, filing or grinding off the part of the lug left on the top & down tubes would be better practice. Although the color of the hot tube may not be true on the video, it sure looks like it got hot enough to mess up the crystalline structure of the steel.
Michael Shiffer EuroMeccanica, Inc. 114 Pearl Street Mount Vernon, NY 10550 (914) 668-1300 euromeccanicany.com
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