Cutting down a steerer tube...

My lbs has the baddest tool for cutting fork steerers. It's kind of a V-shape, has a little circular blade on one end of the V. You put the steerer in the tool and turn a knob to clamp the blade onto the steerer. You then turn the tool until it feels like it's coming loose, and when this happens you tighten the knob again. You repeat this until it's cut through the fork. I was surprised how quickly it cut through a steel steerer. And it was smooth as fuck! I'll post a pic tomorrow unless anyone knows what tool I'm on about in which case they might be able to post a pic...

Yep, pipe cutters - got one for £8 at my local DIY place -
look like this (don't know why this one is so expensive)
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/84140/Hand-Tools/Plumbing-Tools/Pipe-Cutters/Irwin-Record-Handicutter
Perfect straight cut, no need to file off burrs or anything. Use it for chopping your bars too...

Hacksawed mines. Leave nuts on to assist in setting the cut threads. Mark cutting line with tape allround, so you can folow the line. File off burs, job done.

Yep, pipe cutters - got one for £8 at my local DIY place -
look like this (don't know why this one is so expensive)
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/84140/Hand-Tools/Plumbing-Tools/Pipe-Cutters/Irwin-Record-Handicutter
Perfect straight cut, no need to file off burrs or anything. Use it for chopping your bars too...

you know, i had a feeling it was a simple pipe cutter,, the kind of thing that plumbers use, but for some reason i thought it might be a specialist tool for cutting steerer tubes, so when i couldnt get the result i was looking for with 'fork steerer cutting tool' i didnt bother googling 'pipe cutting tool'

and to think i was actually going to take a pic of it in the bike shop and upload it here...

embarrassed

Can't imagine pipe cutters would be good on a threaded steerer, I would expect them to follow the groove, we've got a few around but I just use a hacksaw... cut straight and you're fine.

Can't imagine pipe cutters would be good on a threaded steerer, I would expect them to follow the groove, we've got a few around but I just use a hacksaw... cut straight and you're fine.

theyre only good for threadless, and youre right they follow the groove of the thread if you try on threaded (the partially sighted trainee mechanic tried it, it was rather amusing) "it doesnt feel like it's cutting! why isn't it cutting?"

Thanks all, I'm gonna hack the sonofabitch

This looks familiar..

Bikehut in St Pauls, we'll do it for you, not sure about labour, won't be too much.

I'm finally getting round to sorting out the current build (been on hold for a few months - bloody hate it when work gets in the way!) and need an extra 2" of thread cut on some chrome forks. Reckon its do-able?

Is it possible to attach an AHead style stem to a 1" fork?
Is there such a thing as 1" stem (ahead not quill).

All 1 1/8 stems should come with the shim for a 1" threadless fork (just pop into any bike shop they will probably give you one...if you really struggle I probably have one...).

There should be lots of 1" ahead stems kicking around as well on ebay etc...

As to whether you can use an 1" ahead stem on a threaded fork without any issue I am not sure. You can get 1" threadless forks although they are less and less common these days.

an easy bit of kit to use would be the Ahead converter adaptor, simply cut fork steerer to size as mentioned in earlier answers as if you were fitting a quill stem then purchase a converter that pops into your steerer/headset tighten up the internal 6mm allen key then clamp your Ahead stem onto the unthreaded protrusion....et voila!

ps: we sell them in our shop for £9.00 and have used one for years with no problems at all

I have a die to re-cut the thread if you're still looking for a solution, haven't got time to trawl thru the whole thread so sorry if I missed summat. Can also cut it with proper jig too. I'm in SE1, I'm around tomorrow after 12 and on and off from now till Monday, PM if you want to pop round. Only proviso is if the fork steerer has thick chrome I might be asking you to go and remove that yourself, it dulls the teeth on the thread cutter. Cheers, H

^ err, ignore that, I didn't check the date the thread actually started! Ooops...

Pretty much explained in the title but, recently got some threaded forks, steerer's a bit long, wondering if there is any proper way to cut it down: 1. Horizontally and not all wiggly. 2. so that i don't completely ruin the threads so that i wont get the headset back on.
Thanks :)

Thread a nut onto said threads. Below your cut mark... when you have finished the cut, squared and de burred it : P ..... back the nut off.

You LBS should be able to do it for it,
small price of for free usually, personally i would even try doing it by hand.

best if that said nut is steel one.

a good tip is to tighten two nuts against each other to stop them from slipping while you work

this will provide a rock solid point from which to work

I bought one of these, to make the job idiot proof. Use a fine hack saw, and file a bit after.
http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=NP08530

many thanks will try on the weekend :)

What about cutting a carbon steerer? Thinkin' bout getting an easton ec90sl full carbon fork but I hear there's death gas inside.

Use a plumbers pipe cutting tool. They cost less than a fiver.

Really? On another forum someone said not to use a pipe cutters on carbon.

Hi all,

Does anyone who goes - and will be going this week - to Westie drinks have some tube cutters I can use?

Kind regards

Anthony

What, like a hack saw?

yup, hacksaw

NO. He means tube cutters.
this is a very precise tool, not to be used by a lamen.