Here's the situation:

A hi-hat stand, really nice and sturdy, but someone has managed to kind of "flatten" the outer (= lowest) tube out a bit in one region. I guess this was done by tightening the wing nut way too much that holds the legs in place. Often.

Cosmetically, well, it's a pity, but I can live with it (it's not very visible, and no chrome is gone). But the big problem is that the inner tube is stuck. Can't move it up or down, because the outer tube is sort of dented like that. So I can't adjust the height of the hi-hat :p.

(Edit: the hi-hat functions fine, the (whatyacallit?) "inner rod to which the clutch attaches" moves fine. It's just that I can't adjust the height of the thing, because the tube inside the outer tube can't move.)

Question:

Is there a (n easy) way to repair the outer tube without heating it?

I have read on some places (bicycle forums seem the place to be :p) that they put something under high pressure in the tube (water => ice, air) so that a fair amount of pressure works on the walls and then they heat the spot so the tube regains its circular cross section.

But with the chrome and my inexperience, I'd rather not do that.

(Also, I'm not sure it would fit in my freezer without taking food out :p)

I was thinking of some sort of circular washer/nut or something that expands, so that if you put it inside the tube, it will slowly push out the "dent". I know I'd have to force out the inner tube for that first, but I can live with that if it's necessary. But I don't know whether these exist, and whether they are strong enough to round out a steel tube.

Is there a way to fix this, so the stand becomes functional once again? I don't want to throw it away...

I do realize chances are the chrome will be damaged from the process, but if it's necessary, so be it. It's a stand to be played (well, the hats are :p).

Thanks!