squeegeesunny 

..

Zef

Yes, a hacksaw will cut through your bar. Recommend you mark the bar where you intend to cut and then wrap some tape adjacent to the marks to use as an inexpensive rudimentary guide.

-j

Metzinger

It will be difficult to get smooth, even cuts through your steel bar with a hacksaw.
Will your grips cover up these gnarly cuts? If so, go for it.

squeegeesunny 

My god -.- I made a horrible typo. I meant
he can lend me a HANDSAW. would handsaws work?

Metzinger

To clarify.
This won't work. Handsaw.


This won't work. Handsaw.


This will work. Hacksaw.

MJH100

---

Fidelista

I'll pay to see someone try to cut through chromed steel handlebars with either a handsaw or sandpaper.
The advice given here and on the other thread where you asked about this is correct. You need either a tube-cutter or a hacksaw and a couple of files, and preferably have the bars held in a vice.
Live with the bars until you can afford a hacksaw etc., or see if you can find someone to do it for you.

dabac

On an aluminum bar a handsaw would work, after a fashion. But cutting steel with a saw intended for softer material is asking for misery. If nothing else it'll destroy the saw. Then again a handlebar isn't much of a challenge, even something like the right blade on one of those swiss army knives or leatherman pliers will defeat it if attacked with a degree of determination.

If money really is such an issue, and you truly can't scrounge up an appropriate tool from somewhere - why not settle for a hacksaw blade? Wrap one end in a few rags or tape and you have a perfectly serviceable saw for something like two cuts in no hurry.

They sell for $1.33 on amazon, so even one from a hardware store shouldn't set you back much.
Here's one:

Or get the simplest handle possible, something like this: . Still shouldn't cost more than a meal at Mcdonald's.

MJH100

cool

MJH100

Expect the video soon.

MichaelW

Ive just cut down my bars with a hacksaw and finished off with a metal file.
If your bars are steel , you should still be able to cut them.
Mark the cut with an indelible marker using your grips as a guide. Leave it for a few days to make sure the mark is in the right place. Leave enough room for your grips, brake levers and gear controls.
Make sure you cut along the mark, bars can be twisty/bendy things so get the saw angle right.
Getting the first bite of the saw can be tricky. Use a new blade and let the blade do the work. Saw slowly and evenly and use the index finger of your grip hand to point in the direction of sawing.
You will need to finish with a metal file and dont forget to take the sharp edge with a bit of emery cloth.

MJH100

Mmmmhmmmmm

dabac

What is this? a "make-a-mockery-of-your-signature" contest?

Fidelista

Sure...make me a video showing how to cut through a chromed steel handlebar with a handsaw and/or just as much abrasive paper as you like. Should be hilarious.

Fidelista

Actually...I had completed a four year apprenticeship as a shipwright with formal training in using metals, timber and composites and I had ten years hands-on experience building ships and boats...before you were even born.
Since you were unfortunately inflicted on the world, I've acquired another 21 years experience. I've been working on bikes for forty years or so.
So...what's the extent of your professional experience?
If you have any at all.

dabac

More like boring to the point of being lethal I believe, unless he shoots it in time-lapse. Maybe one frame every 2nd second or so.

Besides, you know that in a twisted way he has a point - Once you've got something hard enough to scratch metal you've got something that's hard enough to cut metal. The rest is down to simple tenacity.

It'd be hopelessly impractical, like using a belt sander to cut a 2x4, but not entirely impossible.

Fidelista

It's possible to scratch the polished back of one of my chisels with a nylon kitchen scourer...
Wanna try and cut through a 2" chisel with a nylon scourer?

dabac

Only if it'd be the bar in the window of my prison cell and I didn't even have my shoe laces...

HillRider

To the OP: you can get a usable hacksaw for a only couple of $ at any Harbour Freight, Big Lots or probably the local Dollar Store. As mentioned, you could use just a plain hacksaw blade with one end wrapped in tape to protect your hand if you are patient.

A wood saw (aka handsaw) will not cut steel and will be damaged cutting aluminum. Use the proper tool.

enine

I have a hacksaw I bought from sears for$4.99 back in 1995, surly you can afford that.
If you want to make a nice straight cut a small miter box usually used for wood saws will work with a hacksaw, the $5 wood one that ACE/True value hardware sells works fine.
If you try to cut metal with a wood saw you will ruin the saw.

MJH100

Film the wwhole thing, then speed it up.

squeegeesunny 

ah... thank you for the tips. the only reason i was trying to avoid buying a hacksaw by myself was because my mom wouldnt let me because she doesnt trust me with saws/powertools and also because my dad basically payed for 70% of my new bike and he is like "why would you want to cut your handlebar?"

so yea.. i am only 15 so i dont have full control of everything i do



Thanks for all the tips!

Noobert

MJH100 is obviously screwed up in the head.

But Im pretty sure he was trolling the whole thing, and not seriose.

pointatopointb

wait til school's back (it's only like 3 weeks), go to the shop class and borrow one there. You're only taking off a couple inches, so your dad shouldn't notice, especially if you re-use your grips. just make sure you clean up the cut with a file afterwards or the burr will ruin your grips. If you're lucky enough to have a shop class this upcoming semester, wait until you get to the oxy-acetelyne part and flame cut them (not much faster, WAY more fun).

or you could just suck it up and live with your bars the way they are.

nitropowered

You can't really make a clean cut with an OA rig