Any tips for telling whether a crack is the paint or metal?

[RadNomad]

Re:

One way to test a crack might be to bung / tape up all the frame holes (except maybe the seat tube) as best you can, immerse the suspect area under water, blow or pump air via the seat tube and watch for bubbles.

Or maybe easier, if the 'crack' is around the bottom bracket, just fit an old bottom bracket to seal the area, then fill up the frame with water and see if it runs out of the 'crack'.

Or.. go in a very dark room, shine a torch down the tube and try to see light through the 'crack'.

 

[02gf74]

Re:

Looks like poor welding the filler at the joint should melt into the tubes. Hard to say if it is just a gap or a fracture.

Should be dasy to clean up and reweld

 

[LikeClockwork]

Re:

Thanks for all the tips and advice guys, another frame on the way so no doubt this will just be hung up, I can't be bothered with it at the mo, too disappointed that it's not perfect like my other Kona! :x

 

[WD Pro]

I to think that it's a weld undercut - highlighted by the way it has been sanded.

The only thing that niggles me is why the paint would have cracked :?

WD

 

[LikeClockwork]

I to think that it's a weld undercut - highlighted by the way it has been sanded.

The only thing that niggles me is why the paint would have cracked :?

WD

The paint has cracked in several other places too, including under the seat stays where they join the seat tube... :?

Lots of other goodies to sort through and play with now though, so may well just sling this up the metal recycling and be done with it.