It should be simple, right?
So I measured and clamped this tool onto the carbon steerer tube
Unfortunately the cut is not a clean straiht cut. I used a fine metal saw.
Could it be that this unclean cut is the result of a saw with a blade too short and therefore I had too much movement?
What kind of saw do you use to cut carbon steer tube?
thanks
Was the clamp on the guide tight enough? I always use a brand new 32 tooth blade and wrap the area to be cut with masking tape to prevent splintering. You can even it out with a fine tooth file. I always smooth it off too.
clamp was on tight. how long is your saw?
I use a grit blade to cut through carbon. It’s longer than yours, but I doubt that ‘length’ is why you’re getting a an un-even cut.
Did you remove the fork? OR cut it on the bike? IF on hte bike how did you keep it from moving around. A clean cut is easier when the piece is tightly secured, so only the blade is moving. Otherwise you’re trying to cut a straight line on a moving target.
I have cut the end of extensions while on the bike but I accepted that the cut probably wouldn’t be perfect… and it wasn’t.
I’ve always removed the fork and Laid it flat against a table. But I only hold it with my hand, so it could still move around. …but with the guide on, there’s not that much wiggle room
Use sand paper to clean up the roughness. That’s pretty standard. If you are saying that the cut is straight but at a slight angle instead of 90 degrees there is a pretty good chance that it doesn’t matter. If the high side of the cut is the length you wanted then the only possible issue will be the inner piece that expands inside the fork will look funny with a little space on one side. If it’s the opposite depending on how much clearance you had you might need another spacer. If necessary or because of OCD you could always use a file or a grinder to carefully even it out.
I use a hardware store hacksaw and have had no problems. I also clamp the cutting guide into my vice to make life easier.
+1 as for what Juanmoretime said. I also make sure that I have the blade of the saw up against one side of the guide. The blade is thinner than the opening so if you start on one side of the guide and end on the other, you do not get a perfect 90 degree cut. It will be off a little bit but as others have said, you can sand it or file it perfectly 90 if you like. I am very OCD when it comes to the bikes so after I cut my first steerer I sanded it perfectly 90 but I also realized that I let the blade wonder in the guide.
I must be the only one here that can draw a line around a steerer tube and cut right on it without any guides
.
Round carbide grit blade. Same thing they use to cut graphite golf shafts.
I must be the only one here that can draw a line around a steerer tube and cut right on it without any guides
I just break it over my knee like a branch.
I must be the only one here that can draw a line around a steerer tube and cut right on it without any guides
Pretty much. I just used a bunch of masking tape and rolled it around on either side of the cut line a few layers deep to create a ‘guide’ slot. Really doesn’t need to be THAT exact all the way around; once you get going, it will pretty much ride that trajectory all the way through. For the OP, if your sawing motion is off-kilter that can cause it to drift, so you just need to be mindful of keeping your elbow in the perpendicular plane otherwise there’s a natural tendency for it to flare with each stroke and then you’re trying to cut in more of an arc than you should.
Once it’s inside the stem it won’t be noticeable anyway; just be sure not to cut it too short and you can always clean it up a bit more with a sanding block.
I wish I had steadier hands, but since I don’t I was a big fan of using two extra stems as a guide with a triple checked line marking my cut. Triple b/c sometimes I get a case of the stoopits. Even Simple Jack can make a fine cut with stems as cutting guides! As far as the cut goes I used the super cheap pipe cutters from Lowes. Probably half a dozen makes and models to choose from, but for $5 it was worth it to have a super fine cut.
I must be the only one here that can draw a line around a steerer tube and cut right on it without any guides
I just break it over my knee like a branch.
hahahaha
.
I wouldn’t cut the fork while it is on the bike. I tried to keep the blade against one side of the cutout slot (guide) of the first tool I pictured above but I still had movement. Just bought a longer saw and cut it very nicely. My fist saw was pretty small and I must have moved around too much. With a bigger saw it was very easy.
thanks for all the responses.
dremel tool! cuts very easily with the simple dremel too cutting bits. masking tape (several wraps) on both sides of the cut to prevent splintering.