I've never gotten around to shortening the stainless steel support stays on my fenders, partly because the steel is so hard. I tried cutting them with wire snips, and it dented the tool. Anyone have any suggestions for simple way to shorten fender stays? A hacksaw would easily cut the stays, but would require that I remove the fenders from the bike first. I'm looking for the lazy man's option -- eg, a tool that would easily cut the stays and not cost a fortune.

bolt cutter

you know you wanted to buy one anyway... they come in handy for all kinds of stuff. 18" should be plenty big.

I marked mine with a sharpie, took them off, then with the stay secured in a clamp, shaved off the excess with a hack saw. Kind of a cave man method, but worked with my limited tool choice.

... thats the quick and easy one used at the LBS.. then file the end smooth ..

some , like the Planet Bike use a plastic collet , so the cut end is covered.

I use a Dremel.

I used a Dremel tool with a cut-off disc and then rounded the end with a grinder bit.

+3 dremel

Dremel, of course. Why didn't I think of that. I've got a Dremel that I rarely use, so that's a bonus.

It finally dawned on me last weekend that I should trim the stays after my shoes kept hitting them. Going on a bike tour next week and the toe striking would be very annoying.

The Dremel is one of the most useful tools I own.

Put a piece of cardboard or something behind the stay while you cut it, so the sparks don't hit your paint.

The Dremel would be too easy. I vote hacksaw, and don't be careful.

I use a tubing cutter........ then just snap It off.

I haven't tried cutting stainless stays, but I have to ask which wire snips you used. My Channel Lock™ wire cutters have never dented on anything I've used them on. On the other hand, the Harbor Freight cutters I bought can't cut anything but dandelions.

I've Dremel'd mine in the past,but I've also seen a few bikes where the stays were artfully bent into curves which shortened them. Done right,it looks really nice.

I'm planning to just bend the stays a bit to avoid all the tool buying - bending should take up the excess length and should need just a pliers.

Small bolt cutters or heavy linesman pliers to cut.
Then file the beveled edge.

Last time I used a Dremel with a metal cut off wheel.
Fast, easy, smooth, done.
Gorilla glued the caps back on.
Done.
2-3mins.

Tom... didn't you say in another post that you never regret buying tools? Revise that to say that you never regret buying good tools?

4 inch cut off wheel...

I am having a hard time picturing the issue at hand here. Photo?

- Andy

I used the Dremel to shorten stays on one of the fenders, but it didn't cut as well as I expected. Perhaps I was using the wrong attachment. I'm thinking a bolt cutter would be the right tool for the job, and will probably break down and buy one.

Andy - I'll look for a photo on-line, but here is a better description. The fenders sold by Planet Bike, SKS, typically have adjustable stainless steel stays that run from eyelet at the dropouts to the fender edge. Because they are adjustable in length, they typically run longer than needed, extending an inch or so beyond the bracket where they attach to the fender. For most of the stays, trimming them is more of an aesthetic issue. However, the lower front stays cause a toe-strike issue if too long, so that is what I am most concerned about.

Just bend them down a bit. Does the job.

Dremel with a fiberglass reinforced cutoff disc:
https://www.amazon.com/Dremel-Cutoff-...=Dremel+cutoff

These will cut through hardened steel and those stainless stays are not hardened. Use eye protection.

Goodness, yes. I haven't completely sworn off Harbor Freight, but close.

I recently bought Nashbar cable cutters for $15. So far, so good. If I regret it later, another lesson learned.

Dremel with cut-off wheel. This is the same answer given for the question: "How do I cut/shorten my..." over and over again on this forum.

Rotary tool = standard equipment for any home shop for dozens of jobs...

The thing about the Dremel, is you have to let the tool do the work. It's super fast, just let it work its way through the metal without using much force. You will then usually have to file down the sharp ends, or just put a plastic cap on and be done.

I actually cut the black bracket things so the end cap comes off--and then I put it back on when I have the stays cut.