I have an orbea ordu which I need to cut off about 1/2. I took it to my LBS (I did not buy it there) and they said they were not an orbea dealer and would not cut it. We dont have an Orbea dealer in my city.
I was wondering if anybody had any advice on how to cut a carbon seatpost making sure I dont damage it.
Your feedback is appreciated.
search this forum for tons of tips.
but wear a respirator, the dust is toxic.
It’s not hard, get a fine toothed hacksaw blade (the finest you can find, I believe you can get a 28 or 32 TPI). If it’s round and small enough I would use a Steer Tube guide, if it’s aero tape it off or do something to use as a guide.
Then cut away, just remember measure twice! There’s nothing special about it just that the last little bit may want to splinter, just like cutting through wood, only way to prevent it is to have the end placed on a piece of wood so it is supported while you cut all the way through.
DO NOT USE A HACKSAW…DO NOT.
Sure it can be done…but why?
Get yourself a “RotoZip”, “Dremel” or other high speed rotary cutter. This will this will cut a nice edge on the post and not catch, nor will it cause you to scratch the crap out of your post on the bench or in the clamp you have it in.
If you do gut it with the hack saw it is not uncommon for the saw to catch and peel out carbon or just plain be a pain in the freaking ass. Another thing is that it just does not matter how straight and square the cut is being that it will be in your seat tube and you will never ever see it in a million years.
Is the trouble of cutting it worth the weight?
My advice just dont fill your water bottle up all the way and you will save the same about of weight.
It has nothing to do with weight. The seatpost is too long for me. On Ordu’s, there is a stop point and the Seatpost can only go so far down.
i just cut a carbon post with a 4.5 inch grinder. it worked well.
Put tape arround it.
Clamp in vice grips .
Take out side to disapate the dust.
Start 5… away from desired shortening to allow trueing.
I also cut my fork tube this way.
it ain’t rocket science .
Had never thought of this idea but would totally agree that would work so much better and totally prevent splintering.
I have an orbea ordu which I need to cut off about 1/2.
I too have an Ordu (2008/ 2009) and I am trying to figure out what you want to do…
You need to cut HALF off your seatpost, or you need to cut 1/2 inches from your seatpost? If you need to cut half of it away, then your frame is too big for you so I suggest you consider options of getting another frame. If you need to cut off 1/2 inches, then that is a different story. Is your measurement quite precise that you know what you need to cut? Could replacing your saddle for a shallow one solve the problem?
I’m curious.
Sorry, poorly written. 1/2 an inch. I brought my bike to my LBS and had a 2 hour sizing. They told me I am a 54 to a tee. Frame is perfect. I just need to lower the seat by 1/4 of an inch. I like my seat and dont want to change it. In fact, I kept this seat from my old cervelo and sold my cervelo with the seat from the Orbea.
You could not be more wrong. Every MFG I know of makes one post for all of the sizes in a line. Tracys bike for instance - an XS Giant we cut fully half of the seat post off to get the bike to size.
You could not be more wrong. Every MFG I know of makes one post for all of the sizes in a line. Tracys bike for instance - an XS Giant we cut fully half of the seat post off to get the bike to size.
I wasn’t referring to a Giant frame. I was referring to the Ordu, which I also own. The Ordu seatpost is not that long (regardless of the size of frame) and cutting it in half would not make any sense. Besides, the OP clarified that he was not cutting it in half but by half an inch.
To the OP, how tall are you? I am 5’9" and my ordu is a 51 and it fits me perfect.
I just cut 1" off my brand new Look 596 carbon seat mast. If I f*ck it up I’m out $5,000. It was a scary proposition.
I meaured 10 times, marked 5 times and thought about it for an hour just to be sure I thought of everything that could go wrong.
I went to Ace Hardware and bought the most expensive hacksaw I could find. I also bought the most expensive blades I could get my hands on. Whats an extra $20 when I just spent $5,000. Using the mast guide I sawed through the mast in about 2-3 minutes taking my time and going slowly without alot of pressure. When I removed the guide I’d have sworn it was done by a professional. The cut was perfect, no marks, zero rough edges. I was grinning from ear to ear. AND, it was the right length : )
Its easy…take your time…use a high grade hacksaw and the best blades you can find (tinyest teeth you can find) !
Lots of good advice here. Just a few tips to add, place masking take over the portion you are cutting and mark the cut line on the tape. The tape will help prevent any delaminating as you finish the cut. Get some fine grain sandpaper (emory cloth) and sand the cut to remove rough edges and any stray fibers.
It’s not that hard, and unlike a fork steerer, any slight imperfection is going to sit inside your frame with zero load on it…you could probably do it with a ginsu knife and be ok.