Cutting Carbon steerers

The Big Cheese
The Big Cheese Posts: 8,651
edited February 2011 in MTB workshop & tech
When cutting a carbon steerer tube, is it the same principal as an alloy/steel steerer.

I have a saw guide (a proper one) and a decent hacksaw.

Measure twice, cut once and all that :wink:

Anything else I should be weary of?

Thanks

Comments

  • mattv
    mattv Posts: 992
    Use a very sharp saw, I prefer a fine toothed blade. Also, dont use a starfangled nut. Get a Hed doctor or similar.
  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,651
    mattv wrote:
    Use a very sharp saw, I prefer a fine toothed blade. Also, dont use a starfangled nut. Get a Hed doctor or similar.

    Thanks, I have just ordered one of those carbon-steerer friendly expander plugs...

    Need to get me a new fine tooth blade for the hacksaw then.

    Thanks
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    32T blade or finer.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
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  • aaronmroach
    aaronmroach Posts: 341
    Dont rub your fingers over the cut edges until you have dressed it with some wet and dry!!

    Your body wont reject carbon shards and could cause a form of cancer, wear a dust mask for the same reason!! Clicky for more info!!!

    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/scien ... ref=slogin
  • thel33ter
    thel33ter Posts: 2,684
    Best guide for doing this really, but as nick said, fine tooth hacksaw and away you go.

    http://www.eastoncycling.com/bike/wp-co ... Carbon.pdf
    And now you know, and knowing is half the battle
    05 Spesh Enduro Expert
    05 Trek 1000 Custom build
    Speedily Singular Thingy
  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,651
    Thanks guys, didnt think about the dangers of inhaling the dust etc,

    SO, 32t or finer blade
    Wet and dry fine grade
    Masking tape

    A little list for B&Q. Weirdly enough, I don't flinch cutting a steel or Alu steerer, however, I am a bit aprehensive about cutting the carbon, you'll probably see me riding around with 60mm of spacers..... :lol:
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Carbon is easy, just like plastic.
    Or you can just stick the end in water and it will melt. So I've been told.
    I don't do smileys.

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  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,651
    Right, after much dabate with myself I nipped into my LBS to discuss above, and he said he would do it for a tenner, but I had to insert the fork into the frame, fit all spacers/stem etc and mark the cut line, he then said he will cut 3 mm below such line as per the rules.

    BUT

    Being carbon, how the hell am I going to mark it? As a black marker (my usual tool) wont show up. I dont want to scor it with a knife (don't ask me why lol)

    Any ideas, I shall be drawing around the top of the stem, so no white markers etc.

    I got myself into such a state, I couldnt bring myself to cut the steerer - allu/steel, not a problem at all......
  • thel33ter
    thel33ter Posts: 2,684
    Bit of masking tape?

    Or just a tiny groove all the way around with a pipe cutter or hacksaw.

    Or tipex?
    And now you know, and knowing is half the battle
    05 Spesh Enduro Expert
    05 Trek 1000 Custom build
    Speedily Singular Thingy
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Chinagraph pen.
    Cutting carbon is horrible. It makes an otherworldy amount of really nasty dust.
    When I used to make parts for RC racing cars, I found that having a hosepipe lightly spary water onto it the whole time made a big difference.
  • thel33ter
    thel33ter Posts: 2,684
    I've done two steerers, no mask or anything, the first killed a nice white pair of socks, but I haven't died... Yet :lol:

    I found doing it outside in a breeze was quite effective too.
    And now you know, and knowing is half the battle
    05 Spesh Enduro Expert
    05 Trek 1000 Custom build
    Speedily Singular Thingy
  • craker
    craker Posts: 1,739
    I've just used a pipe cutter on mine, spin it round and round tightening as you go and you get a neat dust free cut. Simple, though I was a little concerned about applying too much pressure with the cutter and cracking it.

    Something like this
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    I tend to cut them with the guide and the blade wrapped in a very damp cloth. Inside of the cloth gets very very black but hopefully not much comes out.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,651
    LOL - Im doing the right thing and getting the LBS to do it, that way I can pick them up and fit them straight away - no messtins as sheepsteeth says :)

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