JanMM

Or, wait and save till you can buy some aluminum bars, which would be much easier to cut.

HillRider

Do schools even teach shop classes anymore? I assumed the liability concerns would have pretty much eliminated them.
If these are really aluminum bars an OA cutting torch could cause WAY more fun than you imagine. Ever hear of Thermite?

Noobert

thats true.

pointatopointb

I never said it would be BETTER, just more FUN: I love cutting with my O/A. if the bars are alum, they'll run away before the flame touches them. I worked in 3 schools in the past month that all have schop classes. Liability limits what they can do (most shops won't use power tools for example, or offer trade certs anymore), but they still do exist.

HillRider

I'm not surprised at the limits these days. When I was in Jr. High in the mid-1950's our shop classes included hands-on experience with wood lathes, metal lathes, drill presses, band saws, power hacksaws and heat treating ovens as well as a full range of hand tools. AFAIK, we never killed, or even hospitalized any one.

I can see modern parents throwing up there hands in horror if the school even suggested letting their little darlings near such dangerous devices. We are the poorer for the loss.

nitropowered

I've cut a 4" steel pipe and an I-beam with an OA rig. it is a lot of fun.

Noobert

Ya I use to have a set of tanks, one day I decided I didn't really have a use for them, and frankly they scared the crap out of me sitting in my garage un-used. Used them a bit though. THe cut is so rough. But obviously, some times its the right tool for the job. LOL but not really for bicycle mechanics.

As cyclists we don't really like things that can blow up (like cars.)