Rust spots - when to walk away?

[toaster999]

Half thinking of a steel frame but lots have rust spots in various places and in varying number.

Walk away from a frame with any rust spots?


Merry Xmas![/i]

 

[JamesM]

No.

 

[JamesM]

No.

 

[highlandsflyer]

Look in the chainstays if you can.

 

[sylus]

if it's surface then take it to a powder coaters who will blast it clean cheap

 

[xerxes]

I've seen a lot more cracked aluminium frames that are totally rust free than I have cracked rusty steel frames.

 

[belfastboy]

rusted Fat

I picked an '89 Fat Wicked that looked good, just needed a respray. I stripped the old and discovered the pitting went straight through....a series of small to medi;um pin holes. Took it to a local frame builder and he advised he could spot weld a repair. However, once he really looked at it and tested the entire seat tube there were way too many other holes abot to pop. It had rusted from the inside out and the paint was truly holding it together. If in doubt take it to a frame shop or welder and he can use his "inmpact" tester. (it has a technical name that escapes me right now). The scary part is if I had built it up without stripping would not have uncovered the corrosion until perhaps the frame failed. It was not detectable until I stripped it.

 

[Rampage]

I've seen a lot more cracked aluminium frames that are totally rust free than I have cracked rusty steel frames.

I take it the rusty aluminium frames bit is a joke?

 

[Anthony]

Re: rusted Fat

I picked an '89 Fat Wicked that looked good, just needed a respray. I stripped the old and discovered the pitting went straight through....a series of small to medi;um pin holes. Took it to a local frame builder and he advised he could spot weld a repair. However, once he really looked at it and tested the entire seat tube there were way too many other holes abot to pop. It had rusted from the inside out and the paint was truly holding it together. If in doubt take it to a frame shop or welder and he can use his "inmpact" tester. (it has a technical name that escapes me right now). The scary part is if I had built it up without stripping would not have uncovered the corrosion until perhaps the frame failed. It was not detectable until I stripped it.

Fat Chance seat tubes are prone to that though. With most makes, rust spots are harmless, surface issues that you can deal with easily - and don't necessitate a respray unless you're a perfectionist. But it all depends on ehat the rust spot looks like really.

 

[Raging_Bulls]

I take it the rusty aluminium frames bit is a joke?

Aluminium does corrode. Many see it as "rust", but the corrosion is much harder and actually protects it.