Carbon Steerer - Cutting

Mystique

Hi All,

I'm sure this must have been asked a thousand times before, but...

How should I go about shortening a carbon steerer - Is it just a careful hacksaw job, or are specialist tools needed.

Cheers,

Graham.

APIII

Unless you are very confident I'd get your LBS to do it.

Mystique

Thanks APIII - I'm pretty competent with things mechanical (built bikes, restored cars etc). Just need to know if there's any potential bananskins compared to shortening an alloy steerer.

y tin

Get a 32tpi blade.
Measure the steerer. Mark it
Measure it again. Check the mark
Get your mate to measure it. Check the mark.
Both of you measure it again.
Cut.

Pirahna

Best thing to use is a proper guide with a hack saw, if you don't have one either buy one or take them to a trusted shop who does. They're around £15 to buy.

Be very very careful with carbon steerers,. they crush very easily (me) and will de-laminate on the inside. Without a cutter guide it's possible to de-laminate a strip on the outside (a mate). Finally, fully assemble the fork with spacers and stem before measuring how much to cut off. Once you've measured it, do it again just to make sure. I will confess to having cut a steerer so it aligned perfectly with the top of the spacer with no hope of ever fitting a stem on it.

redddraggon

Mystique wrote:

Thanks APIII - I'm pretty competent with things mechanical (built bikes, restored cars etc). Just need to know if there's any potential bananskins compared to shortening an alloy steerer.

When you cut the carbon steerer don't cut all the way through, once you get halfway start from the other side and finish the cut, otherwise you might split a bit of the steerer off as you get to the end (hard to describe).

Smokin Joe

A big sharp axe and a swift, clean cut is all that's needed. Show it who's boss.

Mystique

Thanks all - I have a 32tpi blade in the workshop so will measure, measure again, check the measurements, re-measure, re-check & start cutting.

Reddragon - I understand what you mean, thanks for the tip

Smokin' Joe - Now THAT'S precision engineering

Graham.

grimpeur

Buy a steerer mitre clamp to hold the steerer square so you get a clean cut. Additionally put a couple of wraps of masking tape around the edge where you are cutting it to prevent splintering when you are at the end of the cut.

APIII

Mystique wrote:

Thanks APIII - I'm pretty competent with things mechanical (built bikes, restored cars etc). Just need to know if there's any potential bananskins compared to shortening an alloy steerer.

In that case, beware of the dust. There will be quite a bit and it is hazardous, so you'll need a good mask.

Mystique

APIII wrote:

Mystique wrote:

Thanks APIII - I'm pretty competent with things mechanical (built bikes, restored cars etc). Just need to know if there's any potential bananskins compared to shortening an alloy steerer.

In that case, beware of the dust. There will be quite a bit and it is hazardous, so you'll need a good mask.

Good point, thanks.

redddraggon

grimpeur wrote:

Buy a steerer mitre clamp to hold the steerer square so you get a clean cut. Additionally put a couple of wraps of masking tape around the edge where you are cutting it to prevent splintering when you are at the end of the cut.

That's the word I was looking for........

z000m

i use a pipe cutter for cutting stearer tubes on alloy forks its nice, clean & easy but i dont know if they are suitable on carbon.

grimpeur

z000m wrote:

i use a pipe cutter for cutting stearer tubes on alloy forks its nice, clean & easy but i dont know if they are suitable on carbon.

Buy one of these,

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/P ... d127dc1449

z000m

its a toothless blade thats needed, 32tpi is a standard hacksaw blade.

robbarker

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readcalv ... asp?id=196