Lead loading on dented tubes

[rogerzilla]

This was a new one on me. 1982 Holdsworth frame, took it for powdercoating and, after blasting, they said there was a problem - filler under the (factory) paint. Turned out it wasn't polyester filler (aka bondo) but was metal. I thought it might be silver solder, which melts at about 600 deg C but they said they'd run the bare frame through the 180 deg C oven just to check first.

It melted. It's lead. The cheapskates used a top and down tube that had quite a few dents (nothing structural, but very unsightly) and filled the dents with metal to avoid wasting it! It's a Mistral frame, so full 531DB and presumably quite an expensive tubeset.

I got the lead out with a blowlamp and a damp cloth and am going to use body filler now. Sadly this also means a rattle-can job as even the specialist aluminium powder-enhanced alloy wheel filler is marginal at powdercoat fusing temperature.

 

[Drago]

Finish it with Spraymax lacquer. Its genuine 2 pack in a can. Not cheap, but it's as close to pro without someding pro money, and very tough.

 

[midlife]

"hot leading" I think it was called BITD

 

[rogerzilla]

Finish it with Spraymax lacquer. Its genuine 2 pack in a can. Not cheap, but it's as close to pro without someding pro money, and very tough.

Thanks. Just going to prime it for now as spraying anything glossy is a waste of time unless it's pretty warm and dry.

 

[wisdom]

Quality car sprayers used to use lead before modern fillers.It was an art and often specified on luxury cars.

 

[FishFright]

This was a new one on me. 1982 Holdsworth frame, took it for powdercoating and, after blasting, they said there was a problem - filler under the (factory) paint. Turned out it wasn't polyester filler (aka bondo) but was metal. I thought it might be silver solder, which melts at about 600 deg C but they said they'd run the bare frame through the 180 deg C oven just to check first.

It melted. It's lead. The cheapskates used a top and down tube that had quite a few dents (nothing structural, but very unsightly) and filled the dents with metal to avoid wasting it! It's a Mistral frame, so full 531DB and presumably quite an expensive tubeset.

I got the lead out with a blowlamp and a damp cloth and am going to use body filler now. Sadly this also means a rattle-can job as even the specialist aluminium powder-enhanced alloy wheel filler is marginal at powdercoat fusing temperature.

I heard of this the other day but that's the limit of my knowledge of the product . Not cheap but try asking for a cheeky sample

https://www.powdercoatingonline.com...pair-fillers-lab-metal-and-hi-temp-lab-metal/

https://www.frost.co.uk/hi-temperature-lab-metal-filler-repair-patching-compound-24oz-1000-degf.html

 

[Slow But Determined]

Quality car sprayers used to use lead before modern fillers.It was an art and often specified on luxury cars.

Yes, many years ago worked in a Rolls dealership and all body repairs were lead. Doubt there are many body repair guys still around who are skilled in it nowadays.

 

[12boy]

This was a new one on me. 1982 Holdsworth frame, took it for powdercoating and, after blasting, they said there was a problem - filler under the (factory) paint. Turned out it wasn't polyester filler (aka bondo) but was metal. I thought it might be silver solder, which melts at about 600 deg C but they said they'd run the bare frame through the 180 deg C oven just to check first.

It melted. It's lead. The cheapskates used a top and down tube that had quite a few dents (nothing structural, but very unsightly) and filled the dents with metal to avoid wasting it! It's a Mistral frame, so full 531DB and presumably quite an expensive tubeset.

I got the lead out with a blowlamp and a damp cloth and am going to use body filler now. Sadly this also means a rattle-can job as even the specialist aluminium powder-enhanced alloy wheel filler is marginal at powdercoat fusing temperature.

I feel your pain. What a shame.The

 

[Pale Rider]

Leading is a skilled and time consuming job.

Seems odd to me they would go to all that bother for a piece of tube - using an undented bit would have been a lot simpler.

Unless the frame was dented after it was built, but even then body filler would have been a lot easier.

 

[Drago]

40 years ago body filler was prone to shrinking with time, wasn't the stable and excellent goo that's about the place these days.

 

[Tenkaykev]

I worked for a short time in the body shop at " The Austin " at Longbridge, making Allegros ( sorry !! )
The Allegro line was immediately next to the Mini line and there were a few guys called " Lead Loaders " who used lead sticks and a blowtorch to fill any imperfections in the bodywork of the Mini. They were very skilled at their job as the finished metalwork always seemed mirror smooth to me.

 

[rogerzilla]

The irony of taking a lightweight butted frame and adding lead!

 

[rogerzilla]

Well, it's all filled and sanded nicely now - obviously I can't make it perfect because a dent slightly raises the metal around its edge, but it will look good if it's sprayed a light colour.

 

[burntoutbanger]

The Austin Allegro was actually one of the most reliable cars in the world, every time one of the wheels falls off... ...a leg grows...

 

[rogerzilla]

Dad joke