Cutting a Carbon Steerer

[blackgoff]

Easy ?

 

[winjim]

With the proper tools, yes.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Perhaps @Roadrider48 can say how it went.

I have to cut down my carbon steerer tube by about 11/2 inches.

His thread (from a while back) (though you've probably already searched for this and read it (?):
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/carbon-steerer.171582/

 

[lpretro1]

Wear a face mask though you do not wnat to breathe any of the dust in - nasty stuff

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Dead easy to cut, just use a decent blade and take your time. Don't go right through from one side, cut about 2/3 down and then turn over and start again. I used an old stem as a cutting guide.

 

[sight-pin]

I've never cut one... but an old trick to cut a round tube etc is to wrap a straight strip of paper (A4 etc or whatever) around so it lines up and tape it in position, then carefully saw around by turning the tube a little at a time using the edge of the paper as a guide. This is the most accurate way i know without a machine... if this is of any help.

 

[robgul]

VERY easy to cut the tube at angle if you're not careful - investing about £15 in one of these would be a good idea - mine was used this morning by a fellow cyclist who came round to my house.

ebay - or Google "steerer cutting guide" - Evans, Tredz etc

Rob

 

[Globalti]

The cut doesn't have to be super square as the cap can take a slight angle.

 

[ayceejay]

The old saying goes "Measure twice cut once" but I would be more cautious than that with a carbon steerer. I would cut it long and have a couple of spacers above the stem until you are dead sure but even then I might leave one spacer above just in case. After all you could cut it a dozen times as the cutting itself is not difficult but if you cut it too short you are fuxed.

 

[YahudaMoon]

Id have thought any generic pipe cutter would cut it finished off with some light sandpaper?

 

[night cycler]

I've never cut one... but an old trick to cut a round tube etc is to wrap a straight strip of paper (A4 etc or whatever) around so it lines up and tape it in position, then carefully saw around by turning the tube a little at a time using the edge of the paper as a guide. This is the most accurate way i know without a machine... if this is of any help.

A similar but possibly easier way that I use for tube cutting is a jubilee clip (aka hose clip). Simply fasten the clip around the tube, and keep the hacksaw blade to the edge of the clip. The clip will not move, and provides a firm guide.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Id have thought any generic pipe cutter would cut it finished off with some light sandpaper?

Is this based on experience (ie of cutting a carbon steerer)? As expressed it sounds like a 'thought'.

 

[TheDoctor]

Don't use a pipe cutter on carbon, as the pressure will cause delamination. A hacksaw with a sharp / new blade is the way to go.

 

[User6179]

With the proper tools, yes.

 

[Cubist]

I tape a couple of old stem spacers either side of the measured line as a guide, then a hacksaw with a new blade.