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I’ve found this patch of rust on an old (c87?) rockhopper frame. It’s got a approx 2mm hole through and corrosion marks through the paint. It’s on the seat tube about 1/2 the way between bb and seatpost.
The bike is just used for local commuting so could I remove the paint and coat with anti rust paint? What about the hole? It’s a special frame sentimentally, but not sure I can spring for ££ at Argos.
If the frame is special to you then id remove the paint and carefully grind back all the rust using a dremel (the hole inevitably will get larger) then get a good local welder to repair the hole
Afterwards id repaint the area with the best paint match you can get or cover with an era correct sticker
Time to hang it on the wall in my opinion. I have an old Kona that hangs in the garage and reminds me of simpler times!
Time to hang it on the wall in my opinion.
+1, the whole area will be rusty, it's just that's the first spot to break through.
Now you can use an internal dropper post.
Mate had similar about 20 years ago. Got it blasted ready for fresh paint. Blasting it wrote the frame off.
That tiny hole is not the only damage there.
Doesn’t sound great, thanks for the advice. Will take the paint off and see how horrific it is 🙁
Google filiform corrosion, which seems to be happening top right
Given that it’s corroded from the inside-out I’d suspect that the whole tube is shot, more worrying are that the chainstays will be similarly affected as water will have run down the seat tube, collected in the BB and chainstays. Is there any paint bubbling under the chainstays?
fit an internal dropper through the hole
It'll be rusted from the inside.
Which is the Real problem.
It's where, with complete hindsight, it needed some internal protection (akin to a lighter version of Waxoyl) 2 decade ago.
I've got a Shand, and that's something I'll be desperate to try to keep on top of.
Certainly check the inside.All three of my steel frames were coated inside from new.
When I saved a 1984 mongoose californian last year....after I got the frame rust off on the outside....the inside I sprayed with lanolin and rolled it around upside-down etc, I did the same with the forks and handle bars too....because a majority of the rust was from the inside out....also once I got the chrome back to a decent standard...I rubbed lanolin wax all over...still looks good now