I love my steel Sunn Tzar to bits but I found a small (around 10mm across), shallow (<1mm) ding in the top tube about 100mm from the seatpost. Will I die if I leave it or can I/should I get it brazed/TIGged up by a person who knows their onions? I’d prefer not to die or have to look for another lovely slack 26″ steel frame.

I wouldn’t worry. Owned/known a steel frame (kona) and a very racey alloy one which both went on for years with far larger dents than that in the top tube.

I agree with Julian.

My last Aluminium alloy frame had a bigger dent in the top tub in a similar location for the entire time I owned it. I’d ride it and not worry 😀

had one about the same size and place on my R8 for years with no problems, a mates GT Tequesta went on for about 5 years with a huge dent in the downtube just below the headtube after being kicked by a horse (I wouldn’t have ridden it after seeing the size, but shows just how bad it needs to be before it really is an issue).

pfft, that’s tiny and in a steel frame will be fine.

Thanks for the replies- I am suitably reassured that I won’t die if I ride it, which is nice 😀

All that can be done is fill it with braze anyway

I thought that even a little braze filler would be less likely to crumple like call-me-Dave’s footballist credentials than just the ding if I left it. It’ll be fine, I have some good, sturdy stickers here… 😀