Cutting down handlebars...
05-17-05, 06:28 PM
#1
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Cutting down handlebars...
...any best way to chop them to length? They are old chromed steel and have already been flipped to create bullhorns.
05-17-05, 06:31 PM
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A vice (or a friend holding the bike with the bars in the stem) and a hacksaw or pipe cutter has always worked for me.
05-17-05, 06:32 PM
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I would guess a pipe cutter, but I could be wrong...
05-17-05, 06:35 PM
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1 - Use a hose clamp as a cutting guide.
2 - Use a nice new hacksaw blade
3 - A nice vice is helpful for clamping them in a workable position
4 - Make a couple practice cuts further down from the intended final cut
I chopped my bars this past winter
2 - Use a nice new hacksaw blade
3 - A nice vice is helpful for clamping them in a workable position
4 - Make a couple practice cuts further down from the intended final cut
I chopped my bars this past winter
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This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
05-17-05, 06:38 PM
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The pipe cutter option is definitely the cleanest way, and less chance for slipping...But I love dobber's idea of using the hose clamp as a cutting guide...probably cheaper than buying a pipe cutter.
Have fun cutting!
Have fun cutting!
05-17-05, 06:42 PM
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I'm wondering - would a shallow pan of water be useful to make sure that the cuts were exactly the same on both sides?
05-17-05, 06:42 PM
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i used a grinder with a cutting blade and eyed one longer than the other, i was going to fix it but now im used to it. dont listen to me
05-17-05, 07:00 PM
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Thank you. I'll go buy a new hacksaw tomorrow.
05-17-05, 07:07 PM
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Originally Posted by HereNT
I'm wondering - would a shallow pan of water be useful to make sure that the cuts were exactly the same on both sides?
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This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
05-17-05, 08:09 PM
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i just eyeballed the bars and put electrical tape on the bars so it looked even and so i had a straight line to guide my cutting and i hacked at it..
05-17-05, 08:29 PM
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I'm going to second the hose clamp saw guide suggestion. Hose clamps are only like $.79 or something, and if you cut carefully, you can still use the hose clamp after on your kitchen sink or hose or something.
Use plenty of oil when cutting; it makes things much smoother and easier. I used 3in1 oil, real cutting oil would work, as would motor oil, and maybe even chain lube!
Use plenty of oil when cutting; it makes things much smoother and easier. I used 3in1 oil, real cutting oil would work, as would motor oil, and maybe even chain lube!
05-17-05, 08:39 PM
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i used tape and a hacksaw. a bit rough, but very functional
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05-17-05, 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by BostonFixed
Uhh- Handlebar end plugs?
I was hoping to use a time trial type brake lever, but the tubing
is just a bit too small in diameter for it to seat into the bar end.
05-17-05, 09:27 PM
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i used a friend's rotary grinder. Worked great. And I got the added bonus of lots of sparks.
05-17-05, 09:31 PM
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A couple notes regarding pipe cutters. If you get one, get a decent one. I have one that I used to cut a steerer tube and handlebars and that's about as far as it got before massive chunks came out of the blade. Also, be light-handed and careful using one to cut aluminum bars - it is a lot easier than you think to ovalise the end that you just cut. Finally, if you do ovalize the end of your bars, fix it before you jam a bar-end lever in there or you will NEVER get it out again without about 90 min of work, some spilt blood, and a lot of swearing.
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05-17-05, 09:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Fugazi Dave
Finally, if you do ovalize the end of your bars, fix it before you jam a bar-end lever in there or you will NEVER get it out again without about 90 min of work, some spilt blood, and a lot of swearing.
05-17-05, 11:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Shadow
Thank you. I'll go buy a new hacksaw tomorrow.
05-18-05, 12:13 AM
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1. get a pipe cutter at a flea market for five bucks...
2. cut your bars...
3. throw away the pipe cutter cuz it's now toast...
2. cut your bars...
3. throw away the pipe cutter cuz it's now toast...
05-18-05, 12:28 AM
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no need for a vice, I just held the bar against the ground and went at it with a hack saw, then filed it a little. The saw went through the bar real easy.
05-18-05, 07:47 AM
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Originally Posted by Fugazi Dave
A couple notes regarding pipe cutters. If you get one, get a decent one....
Last edited by etchr; 05-18-05 at 09:54 AM.