Anyone got any methods to cut a steerer that doesn’t involve a hacksaw?
Used the hacksaw method a few years back and the LBS mentioned that it looked like it had been chewed off!!!
Are there any neater options that would be better suited to by limited DIY expertise?
Ta.
Errr....you could try a hacksaw and then file down the rough the edges. Make sure you have small toothed blades suitable for metal.
Most workshops just use a guide clamped in a vice to help you get a straight cut.
You could use and angle grinder or a jigsaw if you'd rather.
I use one of these and it does a nice neat job very easily.
What JEngledow said.
Remember, measure twice, cut one.
Is the steerer aluminium/steel or carbon? There are guides available for this which means the blade is running down a narrow slot ensuring a perpendicular cut, they are worth getting if you do a lot of this. If not and the steerer is metal mark it using a thick spacer ring and use a fine toothed hacksaw and go carefully. For carbon, take it to the shop armed with biscuits.
I used to do them a bit wonky, have developed a steady hand by practice.
I put masking tape around the cut area and stick the fork in a workmate-type vice.
No vice and last time it was so wonky I'd have still been there today filing it neat!
At £7 may give the tube cutter a go.
Is a steel steerer.
For just £21 I'd buy the right tool for the job.
Hacksaw + file + emmery paper. Done loads and never had a problem.
What JEngledow said. +1
proper wheeled pipe cutter will have it away with steel or Al. Dead straight, low effort. Wont need loads of deburring work afterwards either.
I use a dremel to give a nice bevelled edge to the cut...
I took ages to get the courage to do a couple, eventually got a decent hacksaw and gave it a bash with perfect results. It's not hard, really.
Pipe cutters are great, although you will still need a file as it creates quite a thick burr. The trick to doing it with a hacksaw is to tape a sheet of paper round the tube to give a perpendicular line to cut against. Once you are through the tube make your cut around the tube, rather than trying to cut through both faces at the same time – this always give a wonky cut.
at an angle, . . . .
you'll be surprised at how much pent up anger and frustration can be expelled from ones body! 
The other thing is that if you did it a few years back and it's been fine does it matter what the LBS says it looks like? Not like you ever actually see it!
If on a tight budget a jubilee clip around the steerer will act as a saw guide.
Hacksaw and an old stem as a guide, hasn't failed me yet!
I bought the icetools guide and it did the job perfectly, worth £20.
If it's a threaded steel fork the plumbers pipe cutter wont work, It'll follow the thread.
hacksaw is fine, just smooth off the edges as above, as long as its smooth i cant see what difference it makes, you never see the thing anyways...
I used a power saw. No point in buggering about.
If you're using a star fangled nut, and you think there's a good chance a freehand hacksaw cut will come out wonky, you can choose between spending money on a SFN banging-in tool or a saw guide.
Might not make any difference in use having a wonky cut, but bodging in a SFN with a hammer and the bolt is well-nigh impossible.
I fished a Hope Hed doctor out of the tool box. The SFN is still in there, on its side...
Park Tools saw guide for me - nice chunky bit of kit to secure in the vice - never fails.
That pipe cutter above looks like a bargainous way to go though.....
I use an angle grinder with a cutting disc and a piece of angle iron to ensure a straight cut. Remember measure twice, cut once.
Star nut installation I use a socket, 19mm iirc, to knock it in with and ensure it's inserted evenly.
i did consider getting a pipe cutter, as the coward's option. using a decent hacksaw takes about 5 seconds to do the cutting and you also have a decent hacksaw for other uses!
Star nut installation I use a socket, 19mm iirc
clever. I'll remember that.
Went for the pipe cutter, £4 from ebay and worked a treat, thanks all.
Only took you 3 weeks.
Yep, 1 turn a day
I hacksawed mine quickly as I had to get the bike put together to go riding - it looks like cut it with a blunt axe - I'm not bothered though as you can't see it
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