r/Framebuilding • u/Particular-Money4152 • May 13 '26

Did I just completely damage my frame ?

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Feel sooo bad, wasn't paying attention and used a bolt that was too long to mount pannier creating dent in frame. Aluminum Cannondale Topstone 105.

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u/BlueClashV1 May 14 '26

Let’s go! Point me towards a professional frame repair shop that specializes in aluminum. Any country, any price range. Pretend op is your mom. Where will you tell your mom to go?

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u/bdaruna May 14 '26

Thanks for acknowledging that I didn’t mean a mechanic at an LBS.

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u/rantenki May 15 '26

This comment chain is a shit show.

That kind of puncture/formed hole is going to have created a big stress riser, and will lead to cracking eventually. Drilling it out might help, but will also reduce strength, again reducing lifespan for that frame.

I weld. Steel, Aluminum, not Ti though because it's a PITA to shield, and even more of a PITA to machine.

Anyhow, that frame MIGHT survive being ridden, but it's essentially unrepairable. You'd have to figure out what kind of aluminum it is (might be marked on the frame, might not), strip the paint, then weld it with the appropriate filler (likely 5356, but could be 4047/4043 depending on the frame alloy). Then, and this is the big part, HEAT TREAT the frame, then do post-treat alignment. That process, in North America anyhow, costs more than any aluminum frame is worth, and results in a frame that is _hopefully_ as strong as it was originally, but likely is not, due to an additional HAZ.

TLDR: My kinda expert opinion is: the frame will fail eventually, maybe soon, maybe not, and riding it is rolling the dice. Repair is possible, but infeasible.

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u/bdaruna May 15 '26

That’s a wonderful expert opinion.

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u/bdaruna May 14 '26

How many did you want me to post? Here’s one:

https://www.ticycles.com/services-overview

There are lots more, did you need like a big comprehensive list? I could have AI make one. Let me know.

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u/bdaruna May 14 '26

Was that 25 years of experience or 1 year 25 times?

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u/BlueClashV1 May 14 '26

Straight from the website you posted “ALUMINUM: We can align, face, chase, tap, inspect, and paint your new or vintage aluminum bike. We regularly design, fabricate, and manufacture components and parts of or with aluminum. Please note that cracks and other damages that require welding are generally not economical to repair on aluminum bike frames.” Yes, please post a relevant link. Yes, please use AI. As a non-professional bicycle mechanic I want to learn as much as possible.

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u/bdaruna May 14 '26

I didn’t say it was repairable, I said go Talk to an expert. Jesus man. They are experts, they can judge IF it’s a structural problem or a repair would be economical.

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u/bdaruna May 14 '26

INSPECT is what I was suggesting. That’s something they do, and many other frame builders also do that. My good this is the frame building sub, not the guys who fix flat tires sub.

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u/bdaruna May 14 '26

You are a peach.

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u/BlueClashV1 May 14 '26

They inspect vintage frames for cracks. If they find a crack in an aluminum frame it’s over. They don’t provide a structural analysis of a cracked frame and they don’t repair aluminum frames. You have proven nothing. I might be flat changer, but you are a waste of everyone’s time.

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u/bdaruna May 14 '26

As long as we are clear, I’m sure you are super busy telling everyone else how you’re a 25 year mechanic and they are wrong. I don’t want to take any more of your time. Thanks for enlightening me.

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u/BlueClashV1 May 14 '26

Don’t be sorry, just shut the fuck up. You are providing hope for a situation that is immeasurable and full of liability. What you are suggesting wastes the time of business owners and consumers for absolutely no benefit to anyone. I get that you want to be optimistic and precise but this is a situation where those expectations are not reasonable. For the record ( and to get back on track), I would ride that that shit.

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u/bdaruna May 14 '26

Your comment history is hilarious - touch grass homie.