Frame cracked. Old Raleigh. Approximate cost of repairing/welding?

Hi! Noticed my frame has cracked, no idea how. What do you think would be the approximate cost of getting this repaired, and who would I seek out to do so. I'm kind of expecting the answer to be "it'd be better to just get a new frame". It's an old Raleigh frame, nothing posh, just a standard single-speed runaround bike. I'm in Stoke Newington, London. Thanks!

Where are you? There are frame builders in lots of cities, and if you can't find any try asking a bike shop - they are unlikely to do it in-house but might know someone handy with a welder.

Alternatively try a bodyshop (for cars) or general fabricator (the ones who make gates/staircases etc) - they might be willing or able to do it for a nominal charge, but then again they might not be interested. Best of luck - always good to keep an existing frame running if you can!

it'd be better to just get a new frame

Good shout on the body shop! I'm in Stoke Newington, London.

Is that because the cost of the repair is likely to equal the price of a second hand Raleigh frame? Cheers

It's because I thought it would be funny to answer with exactly what you expected to be told.

I can tell you that years ago I had a frame repaired and it cost maybe £70, which was probably a good chunk of the value of the whole frame. So the question is: how much is the frame, is it worth repairing (to you)? Maybe sentimental value will add some value. Maybe you can find a cheap repair. Personally, I like to repair rather than replace but if one part has failed, you will have to ensure other bits aren't also on the way out, ie. does the bike have rust damage that makes it less sensible to repair one break, because it might fail soon after elsewhere?

It wouldn’t be weldable as the steel would have been brazed on and the two wouldn’t mix. You could have it brazed back on though. Material cost is practically nothing, it would be the labour cost of someone doing it for a living that would make it too costly. Alternatively find a shed braze matey who can do it for you for a few beers.

I'm in Stoke Newington, London.

Ask Winston at Varonha frameworks, he'll probably give you a ball park figure of what you should expect to pay to repair it, probably worth it if the frame is otherwise sound, not rusted, and if you're attached to it?
Depending on the size you need, there was a really cool trek frame for £30 on classifieds recently, unless seller lost patience and has put it on eBay

Thanks. I'll give them a shout.

I'm 6'5", I think my inner leg is 98cm. I think my current frame is 63cm, and I think I ideally need a slightly bigger frame, maybe 66cm?

That looks like the tube has been formed into that shape (with probably an extra bit added to make the flat outside face) rather than it being a cast ‘top eye’ piece.

It also looks like the stay is quite rusty in near the seattube.

If I was repairing it I’d use a cast ‘top eye’. It may or may not be possible to get one that’s a good match for the other side. Viability of the repair would depend on how rusty the stay is, to fit the top eye you’d be cutting the stay back a bit so if it’s only the very end that’s rusty it might work ok.

For one side I’d charge about £50, or something like £75-80 I f you wanted both sides doing so they matched.

It’d need painted after that. I could rattle can or just lacquer it for you but wouldn’t take on a full frame repaint.

You’d also have to ship the frame to me and back.

Thanks. Where are you based? The issue is I probably only paid about £60 for the frame, and ideally I need one a few cm larger, so it might be more sensible to look for a new frame.

If I don't get this repaired, can I give it to anyone/anywhere who might have use for it?