I think I used a hacksaw last time I cut a carbon fork tube but was wondering if a pipe cutter will work. Anybody have success with that combination?

you are not serious are you, or just not thinking like a mechanic?

Use the hacksaw. A pipe cutter doesn't cut in the sence of a saw it shears by displacing the material.

Nah, it'll work fine!!! I think I just need to find my hacksaw. I know it somewhere. Its just that my pipecutter is right there out in my toolbox.
Yah, i'll look for that hacksaw and tape around where I need to cut

Yah, that's the technical term I was looking for "displacing". Guess I need to spend some time looking for that darn hacksaw.

use a steerer tube guide and a hacksaw

I keep forgetting I have one of those guides!!!!

Drop saw + cut off wheel. You'll never use a hacksaw again

Just Don't inhale any fiber dust,its biologically a permanent irritant, like Asbestos.

Why do you need to cut it anyhow ?
does it bottom out on a waterbottle boss before it's short enough?

Seat post was the topic, disambiguating from fork steerer which has an overlength ..

DAng! I wish!!!! That'll be pretty cool

Thanks! I didn't realize that. I wonder if I inhaled some of that stuff from cutting carbon forks?
Yes, it *may* bottom out. I have a pretty small frame. 49cm or so. And I stupidly won a carbon seatube from ebay.

Cite?

Table saw...

Has a guide...cuts quick...throws stuff against the wall...scares the kids into behaving...

j/k

According to the MSDS, carbon fiber dust is considered a 'nuisance' dust with no long term effects in testing.

Carbon nanotubes do cause lung issues, but that's not the same thing as carbon fiber.

Never a pipe cutter on carbon fiber, but a hacksaw isn't the best either. I'm from the class that believes abrasive cut-off wheels is the best option.

Having cut hundreds of CF shafts (golf), abrasive cut-off is the answer. Hacksaws have a tendency to tear fiber strands from the inside, and consequently lead to failure. Steerer tubes are most likely laid up differently than golf shafts so may not present the same problems, but... why chance it?

If you have to use a hacksaw frame go with a diamond grit blade rather than a toothed blade. If you have to use a toothed blade, at least go with the finest you can find- like 48t, and use very little pressure. Let the saw do the work and don't force it. Inspect the inside of the tube after cutting.

Not having access to a suitable size cut-off wheel, I've successfully used a 32tpi hacksaw to cut numerous carbon steerers with no damage or shredding of the interior. Your advice to use very little pressure and let the saw do the work is spot-on.

I would note that while a precise 90° cut is nice, it's not essential as the top of the steerer is not the pressure face for headset adjustment, the top of the stem or a top spacer is. You want to be close to a square cut but needn't agonize over it so a hose clamp cutting guide is adequate if a purpose-built cutting guide isn't available.

I need coffee now ... ~o) is a hot cuppa icon..

It's just right that you have used the hacksaw since pipe cutter will not work well with the carbon fork tube. It will be nicer if you'll also use a steerer tube guide to cut it quicker.