Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Tip - cutting an aluminum seatpost

Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Tip - cutting an aluminum seatpost

Old 06-06-10, 01:16 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Evansville, IN
Posts: 161

Bikes: CAAD10 and TMR01 daily riders

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Tip - cutting an aluminum seatpost

I just installed a new KCNC Ti Pro Lite seatpost to replace my stock Roubaix seatpost. It was significantly longer than I needed.

A copper tubing cutter that is used for plumbing makes a GREAT seatpost cutter. Very clean cut.

FWIW.....
Gearhead65 is offline  
Old 06-06-10, 03:57 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656

Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!

Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,095 Times in 741 Posts
The only problem with pipe cutters is they tend to leave a raised ridge on both sides of the cut line. You have to file or sand this off after cutting to make the post fit properly.

I've cut over-long seatposts down using the same cutting guide and 32 tpi hacksaw I use for cutting fork steerer tubes. It also works well but I do file a bevel on the outside cut end of the post to make insertion in the sea tube easier.
HillRider is offline  
Old 06-06-10, 06:29 PM
  #3  
rebmeM roineS
 
JanMM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216

Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 345 Times in 225 Posts
Tubing cutter works great for aluminum handlebars.
How about for steel bars?
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
JanMM is offline  
Old 06-06-10, 07:06 PM
  #4  
Used to be Conspiratemus
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Hamilton ON Canada
Posts: 1,512
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 297 Post(s)
Liked 245 Times in 163 Posts
Originally Posted by HillRider
I've cut over-long seatposts down using the same cutting guide and 32 tpi hacksaw I use for cutting fork steerer tubes. It also works well but I do file a bevel on the outside cut end of the post to make insertion in the sea tube easier.
Good to file a bevel on the inside cut edge too, just so you don't cut your finger on the burrs left behind by the saw (or pipe cutter) when someday -- you will -- you stick your finger into the end of the post. Finish with emery cloth. Nice.
conspiratemus1 is offline  
Old 06-06-10, 07:20 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656

Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!

Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,095 Times in 741 Posts
Originally Posted by JanMM
Tubing cutter works great for aluminum handlebars.
How about for steel bars?
Tubing cutters have to be used on cylindrical sections as they will cut a spiral groove on anything tapered so they don't work on all handlebars.

There are cutters made to cut steel pipe but the average hardware store cutter is intended for copper pipe and steel tubing will ruin the cutter in short order. A fine tooth hacksaw is the way to go on anything steel (or carbon for that matter).
HillRider is offline  
Old 06-06-10, 08:05 PM
  #6  
headtube.
 
zzyzx_xyzzy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 803
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by HillRider
There are cutters made to cut steel pipe but the average hardware store cutter is intended for copper pipe and steel tubing will ruin the cutter in short order. A fine tooth hacksaw is the way to go on anything steel (or carbon for that matter).
There was one project where I used a typical hardware store tubing cutter to make 195 cuts on steel electrical conduit, seemed to hold up fine. Handlebar tubing might be harder but they are up to cutting mild steel.
zzyzx_xyzzy is offline  
Old 06-07-10, 09:25 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Gaseous Cloud around Uranus
Posts: 3,741
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 38 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times in 7 Posts
They are up to cutting hardened steel,they have a solid carbide wheel in them.
Booger1 is offline  
Old 06-10-10, 06:55 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Evansville, IN
Posts: 161

Bikes: CAAD10 and TMR01 daily riders

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by HillRider
The only problem with pipe cutters is they tend to leave a raised ridge on both sides of the cut line. You have to file or sand this off after cutting to make the post fit properly.
Hmmm, didn't experience this. I believe my tubing cutter had rollers set to roll that raised ridge back down.
Gearhead65 is offline  
Old 06-11-10, 06:36 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
snafu21's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: The Mangroves, UK
Posts: 1,896

Bikes: None.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I used both and prefer the pipe cutter. A tip from the MTB hacksaw boys who hack bars down in the wild, is to use the lockrings from a lock-on h/bar grip positioned either side of the proposed cut to keep you square.

No good on fatter seat tubes.

Last edited by snafu21; 06-11-10 at 06:43 AM.
snafu21 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Campoli
Classic & Vintage
17
03-27-15 05:31 AM
josh.d
Classic & Vintage
3
07-26-12 03:15 PM
Leukybear
Bicycle Mechanics
9
04-24-11 12:56 PM
deepakvrao
Road Cycling
12
02-21-11 12:09 PM
WeirdOddity
Bicycle Mechanics
8
04-01-10 09:12 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.