Originally Posted by
fietsbob
Tube cutter Will raise a Burr around the inside of the tube,
as said measure many times , before you cut..
You can always run with spacers above the stem, so as to get the low position..
The burr on the inside isn't too much of a problem. Even if you use a hacksaw, you'll need to dress the inside of the tubing. Get a deburring tool like
this.
Originally Posted by
Burton
Already had this discussion with a shop owner that thought using a hacksaw and guide was passee and a waste of time. I actually decided to let him `educate me` with a demo on a new fork, LOL
A tube cutter doesn`t cut metal - it DISPLACES it. Which means that the outside diameter within 2 to 3 mmof the `cut` areas will be too large for the stem to go onto, and the inside dia will be too deformed and small to insert a star-nut.
Of course if you insist you can always check and see for yourself!
A tubing cutter works but, as you say, it displaces the metal rather than cuts it. However, it's easy to file the raised ridge off. Even a saw cut will need some cleaning. If you really want to make the tube nice and smooth you should use a pipe reamer like
this one. This one is a very good one but you
can find them cheaper
Originally Posted by
fietsbob
Starnut, Id say, is only a good piece to use on steel fork steerers . scratch becomes aluminum stress riser
becomes crack, becomes a break, too easily.
I've never used anything but a starnut on steer tubes. I've got lots of aluminum steer tube equipped forks that have starnuts in them. Most of those are mountain bike forks too which take a lot more abuse than road bikes. Haven't had one crack yet. The top of the steer tube doesn't see all that much stress anyway. I don't think it's an issue.