Cutting carbon shafts with a file

[Jim]

I know this is not a new idea but all the processes I've seen for it seem a little more time consuming than I've found necessary. If you use the edge of your file like a saw blade it cuts quite cleanly through carbon shafts (I've only done this with Beman MFX Classics though). It leaves a little burr on the bottom (as you cut it) of the shaft. A quick pass with the file at the end cleans it up. I knocked up a very simple jig to help me keep it square:





Handy for tuning shafts at home if you're a bum like me and don't own a lot of power tools

[Ian Turner]

Hi mate, love the jig and its simplicity; I was wondering how I would cut carbon shafts at home and keep the cut square when tinkering and tuning.
Any tips re cutting aluminium shafts?
Cheers
Ian

[alaninoz]

I've cut carbon shafts with a triangular jewelers' file and that seemed to work OK. For cutting aluminium I used a good quality pipe cutter. It didn't compress the shaft if taken slowly, but it did leave a small burr on the inside of the shaft. That was removed by reaming.

Now it's woods all the way, and a Japanese dovetail saw.

[Ian Turner]

Thanks mate.
Yeah I thought a pipecutter would turnr the end of the shaft in an reduce the diameter so the insert would not fit.
Cheers
Ian

[Jim]

Sorry Ian, I've never cut Al shafts. Glad someone else could tell you how to go about it