My friend has a tig welded steel (Ultrafoco?) Scapin that's only a few years old. There is a large crack in the seat tube just above the bottom bracket shell (maybe an inch and a half long, running horizontally). Is there a way to tell if it's just paint or the actual tube? He is worried because there is some rust, and he believes that this particular frame had some kind of surface treatment that should inhibit rust (although I always thought that was on the inside of the tubes). Also, he is an art conservator and has access to all kinds of chemical agents, microscopes, etc., to do the inspection.
My friend has a tig welded steel (Ultrafoco?) Scapin that's only a few years old. There is a large crack in the seat tube just above the bottom bracket shell (maybe an inch and a half long, running horizontally). Is there a way to tell if it's just paint or the actual tube? He is worried because there is some rust, and he believes that this particular frame had some kind of surface treatment that should inhibit rust (although I always thought that was on the inside of the tubes). Also, he is an art conservator and has access to all kinds of chemical agents, microscopes, etc., to do the inspection.
Given his expertise, he should know how to tell, but I would think that a crack that long is unlikely to be just paint. It's also large enough to creak when riding, and to make the tube sound bad when struck.
To see for sure, you'd have to remove some of the paint, but it does not sound good.
--
David L. Johnson
__o | You will say Christ saith this and the apostles say this; but _`\(,_ | what canst thou say? -- George Fox. (_)/ (_) |
My friend has a tig welded steel (Ultrafoco?) Scapin that's only a few years old. There is a large crack in the seat tube just above the bottom bracket shell (maybe an inch and a half long, running horizontally). Is there a way to tell if it's just paint or the actual tube? He is worried because there is some rust, and he believes that this particular frame had some kind of surface treatment that should inhibit rust (although I always thought that was on the inside of the tubes). Also, he is an art conservator and has access to all kinds of chemical agents, microscopes, etc., to do the inspection.
Thanks, Cat
It's highly unlikely that it's just the paint. That's a stress point and the crack is right in the heat affected zone where it's going to crack if it's going to crack. New seat tube indicated. You don't have anything to loose by trying to braze it closed though. Drill a very small hole at each end of the crack and flow some brass. Might work, might not but the frame's scrap now anyway. Phil Brown
My friend has a tig welded steel (Ultrafoco?) Scapin that's only a few years old. There is a large crack in the seat tube just above the bottom bracket shell (maybe an inch and a half long, running horizontally). Is there a way to tell if it's just paint or the actual tube? He is worried because there is some rust, and he believes that this particular frame had some kind of surface treatment that should inhibit rust (although I always thought that was on the inside of the tubes). Also, he is an art conservator and has access to all kinds of chemical agents, microscopes, etc., to do the inspection.
Thanks, Cat
have to remove the paint to inspect. from your description, it's prime time in the heat affected zone of the tube - perfect for cracking. sounds like a warranty return...
