Bicycle Mechanics - Cutting a carbon steerer tube

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cyclingshane73
03-18-04, 06:35 AM
The subject says it all really. Do I need a special hacksaw blade or will a blade with a fine tooth count do the job?

The intructions for the fork say I need a blade designed to cut composite materials, except I cannot seem to find one anywhere, even in the local hardware stores.

Calvin Jones
03-18-04, 06:43 AM
A 32 tpi steel blade works well with the carbon fork. Press lightly and allow the blade to do the work. Also, keep the blade wet to keep the dust down.

For more on fork sizing see http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/howfix_forksize.shtml
gruppo
03-18-04, 11:32 PM
I don't recommend using a standard hack saw blade, regardless of the tpi (I say this from experience and while the 32 tpi blade can be made to work, there's significant risk - and risks should be minimized when dealing with carbon fiber components). Simply go to your local lbs and have them order you the correct blade from one of their suppliers. It's worth the short wait and reasonable cost. Good luck!

kevntri
03-19-04, 06:13 AM
Remember to wrap the cut line with masking tape to keep the fibers together