Frame Dents and Repair - Kinked, Dinged or Bent Top tube, Dent Down tube, etc

Arrghhh.... Cleaned bike today, went down local bike shop to get wheels trued and came home. Basically, I live in a flat and the bike sleeps downstairs in the hall. As I wheeled bike into the hall, the front door swung shut (it usually stays put) and hit the top tube of my frame (Alu not steel). Has left a dent which you wouldn't really notice unless you ran your finger along the top tube or it catches the light. Now panicking (through annoyance as much as anything). Been told that dents in alu frames will lead to catastrophic failure akin to sitting astride a ticking time bomb or that I shouldn't worry about it. Any comment please.

Don't worry about it unless the dent is substantial.
The top tube is not under the most stress, so it should be okay. Put a sticker on it!

ok so have a dent in an old frame of mine, where the bars have swung round of course so not huge and quite far back... its a hack bike which is being resprayed,

is it worth replacing the top tube at bob jacksons or should these things just be filled in filed and resprayed?

t

p.s is there an easier way to strip a frame raw and lacquer it than using nitromors, wet and dry and some clear lacquer?

Oh dear, just fuck everything, it's the end of the world!!!!!!

Em.. no. Picture would help :)

I can't imagine it being bad enough to warrant swapping out the entire top tube, especially if it's a hack-bike!

As it's a hack-bike, why the respray anyway?

armourtex would do what you say - sand-blast the frame and then spray it with clearcoat.

Aren't 'hack bikes' meant to be full of dents and fucked up anyways?

yeah, but its potentially a sweet bike... wondering whether its worth faffing with...

its a chas roberts full on non drilled track frame with campy drops

I'll swap your hack bike frame for a freshly painted one?

In general, a dent that isn't more than a quarter of the diameter of the tube is ok, as long there isn't rippling and the tube itself is still straight.
report

^Quoted from another old thread.
To comment on paint I would have to see pictures.
WTP?

yeah, but its potentially a sweet bike... wondering whether its worth faffing with...

its a chas roberts full on non drilled track frame with campy drops

...ah.

I think you mispelled 'track' - H and TR are close together after all :)

I stripped my frame with Nitromorse. You have to get it right, and if you leave it in out in a tub too long while you wait for it to start stripping, when you put on some more it dont work aswell as stuff from the tin thats had the top on.
I stripped the paint from a frame and forks in two days, and i didnt work all day on it.
Just got to take your time with it and use a paint stripper tool thingy with a sharp stanley knife blade in.

I stripped my frame with Nitromorse.

Ha, "Nitromorse"

LOL
How long did that take you to do then?

just had a fucking hugly infuriating accident with my new frame (not even got to ride it yet)putting up a rack in my flat the frame slipped over and clipped my clothes rail right oon the fucking top tube making this dent,Im so pissed at myself at the minute, just hoping its not critical its 2 thrids of the way down the top tube nearer the seat.

if anyone asks - say you were hit by a taxi driver..

haha yeah,im so angry with myself right now!sods law first really nice frame i ever had and i fucking dent it before i have even had a chance to ride it.i should not be allowed near any form of household diy

oh man it was the tall beautiful colnago..
At least now you can use it properly as a vehicle rather than worry about it?..

yeap im assuming its nothing to worry about,and just a blemish,

[quote]Originally Posted by Buffalo Bill :
In general, a dent that isn't more than a quarter of the diameter of the tube is ok, as long there isn't rippling and the tube itself is still straight.
report

^Quoted from another old thread.[/QUOTE]
:-)

thank you for putting my mind at ease

cosmetic. bummer though.

if you're relly irritated, you could get it filled and sprayed, but matching the colour will be tricky.

maybe someone on here could recommend a painter? Not Vaz pls

Wrap it with red, white and green insulation tape - hey presto, your very own Italian flag...

oh man it was the tall beautiful colnago..
At least now you can use it properly as a vehicle rather than worry about it?..

you rang? ..oh ;)

You should speak to Build, he has had two frames dented lol, first one was like yours and he repaired himself for about 8 quid using epoxy, then had it painted.

Second one was his nagasawa, its a sore subject don't mention it ;)

hows that steam roller john?

i think it will be weakened structurally. hence i'll buy it off you so you don't injure yourself. say £100