What is the best way to shorten your carbon seat post as it is currently to long and won’t go any shorter.
A) hacksaw
B) mitre saw
C) axe
D) none of the above
Tape off the area with masking tape then use a hacksaw.
Measure twice, cut once.
Use masking tape to mark a straight line. We use carbide cut off wheels or fine hacksaw blades – minimum of 32 teeth.
A good 32 tooth hacksaw does the job perfectly. Make sure to masking tape over the cutting surface (prevents tear-out) and mark you line on top of it. Use a vice to clamp the post. If its round you can use a pipe cutting jig, but its not really necessary. Just go slow and remember the hacksaw only cuts material in 1 direction. You can clean up the cut with some steel wool if necessary.
If you are using a vice without tube blocks, clamp the part of the post you are losing. Still be careful of crushing the tube. And yes, fine tooth blade.
don’t breath in the dust you will produce
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Hacksaw -yes
Tape -good idea
vice or workstand -yes
I cut a lot of carbon posts, steerer tubes etc so I invested in a diamond blade for my sawzall. works like a hot knife through butter. Much better for carbon as well since you are abrading material away instead of cutting/ripping material with a saw blade. In anycase the finer tooth the blase the better.
You can also use a cutoff wheel on a dremel, but keeping the line straight around the tube is nearly impossible.
Finish up with some fine sandpaper to remove burrs and take off the sharp edges.
Hold your breath and cut away (don’t breath the dust if at all possible.)
Cheers
I use a hacksaw and a waterbottle full of water, I squirt water on it a bit ever few seconds to keep from breathing in carbon dust.
works like a champ
I use a Dremel tool.
E.) Crash
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Seriously though:
Use a fine hacksaw blade.
Wear a mask or bandanna to avoid breathing the dust.
Place masking tape over the cut to prevent loose fibers.
Cut 3/4 of the way through from one side, then finish the cut from the other to avoid any delamination at the end of the cut.
Use fine grain sandpaper or a nail file to trim away any loose fibers or sharp edges.
If you’re taking a lot of length off, make a short practice cut on the bottom to get a feel for it.
I use dremel. Advantage of a powered device like this, is that you can clamp the saw, then set up a jig so that you butt the seatpost up against something and then turn it around on the cutter. Perfectly even cut right round.