Removing "brazeons" from aluminum frame

[Jordan300]

Is it safe to remove all the cable stops on an aluminum frame? Do I just grind them off and then smooth them out? I am converting a cheap roadbike I just got that is practically junk, only savable thing is the wheel set and the frame. (- a few spokes) It's one of those Target roadbikes.

[Bill]

If your good, and lol I am guessing your using the dremel , I would not go into the actual braze itself for sake of frame stabilization and durability.

[Jordan300]

yeah, I am slowly cutting them off with one of the hard sand paper wheels, it takes a while to do each one, but that way I know I'm not cutting into the frame at all.

[Bill]

You know I thought of saying something about a hacksaw until the other little voice told me "DUH, nice way to cut into the frame!". So I was like Nahhhhh.

[Jordan300]

Oh I started with a hack saw, and as soon as I made the first few cuts I saw the angle was not going to be easy to keep it parallel. So I went to the dremel.

[Jordan300]

I smoothed them all down and sanded them. Only blemish is where I tried to hacksaw the one. Luckily it's on the underside of the frame.

[jr14]

I use a cutoff wheel then a sanding drum on my rotary tool. (Man, I'm seeing a pattern here with this rotary tool thing!)

Always works like a charm.

*edit* If you get the flex extension for your rotary tool, you can be MUCH more precise with whatever you're doing.

[Jordan300]

(01-16-2010, 09:44 AM)jr14 Wrote:  I use a cutoff wheel then a sanding drum on my rotary tool. (Man, I'm seeing a pattern here with this rotary tool thing!)

Always works like a charm.

*edit* If you get the flex extension for your rotary tool, you can be MUCH more precise with whatever you're doing.

The dremel has been a popular tool with me in the last week. I saw a flex extention at the store yesterday, that might not be a bad idea.

[Jordan300]

Update: Got the flex extension. It's awesome. Also I wanted note that I have been in contact with the new owner of the bike I cute the braze-on's off of and no problems as of yet. It did not seem to affect the integrity of the frame at all even after it was professionally sand blasted.