Topic
Cutting carbon tubing
Forum Posting
A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!
Home › Forums › Gear Forums › Make Your Own Gear › Cutting carbon tubing
- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
Apr 16, 2010 at 5:05 pm #1257810
Hi, I'm going to be buying some carbon tube for a tent pole (straight).
Can anyone reccommend a good way to cut CF tubes ? Ta, Jules
Apr 16, 2010 at 6:01 pm #1598812I use CF arrow shafts for my tents.
Archery shops cut CF arrow shafts with a small diamond saw in a custom jig. Very clean cut. (Think Dremel disk.)
I cut CF arrow shafts with a very fine saw while holding the CF tube inside another close-fitting Al tube. The idea here is to prevent peeling of the outer layer at the last minute. Then I very briefly touch the end up with some fine wet&dry paper. This works well enough that I haven't bothered getting a diamond saw blade.
Cheers
Apr 16, 2010 at 6:13 pm #1598816Are you using the carbon poles in tents where they assume an arc-like shape?
If so, are you bending the carbon tubes, or are you using bented joints?Apr 16, 2010 at 9:36 pm #1598872I use a product called mini-cutoff saw available from the tool outlets like Harbor Freight and Northern Tool. It has a 2" steel blade with a thin kerf, a little vise to stabilize the tube, and slices right through carbon arrows. Also like that that the steel blade will not shatter like the composite ones can.
But it will only handle up to about 1/2" dia. tubing. Looked for a small cutoff saw with a blade around 3", but no luck yet. The arrow saws, available from Cabela's and the archery outlets, only handle arrow size shafts, and you have to push the shaft into the blade, rather than stabillize it in a vise and lower the blade over it as with a cut-off saw.
If your straight shafts are under 1/2 inch, the mini cutoff might work well. They are under $50, including a supply of replacement blades.
Should also mention that I use a small buffing wheel to buff the ends of the shafts after cutting.
Apr 16, 2010 at 11:32 pm #1598891Thanks all. I have a dremel – I guess this might be an avenue to check out. Or I will do as Roger does.
My poles are just straight uprights (I don't use trekking poles).
Roger – I am looking at getting some from one of the kite retailers that are on your 'FAQ'. I have yet to fully figuire out the grommet / socket setup to use yet (any recomendations ?). Lenghts are only 86 and 107cm total so I just want a few sections to make them packable in the backpack.
Apr 17, 2010 at 12:47 am #1598902Hi David
> Are you using the carbon poles in tents where they assume an arc-like shape?
Yes, but I limit the radius of curvature to 1.8 metres.> If so, are you bending the carbon tubes, or are you using bented joints?
Both. See:
http://www.bushwalking.org.au/FAQ/DIY_RNCSummer.htm#My1Cheers
Apr 17, 2010 at 12:50 am #1598903Hi Julian
I make up a nylon tent pole foot, fairly conventional shape, with the tip the right size to go into a grommet. See:
http://www.bushwalking.org.au/FAQ/DIY_RNCSummer.htm#PitchCheers
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Forum Posting
A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!
Our Community Posts are Moderated
Backpacking Light community posts are moderated and here to foster helpful and positive discussions about lightweight backpacking. Please be mindful of our values and boundaries and review our Community Guidelines prior to posting.
Get the Newsletter
Gear Research & Discovery Tools
- Browse our curated Gear Shop
- See the latest Gear Deals and Sales
- Our Recommendations
- Search for Gear on Sale with the Gear Finder
- Used Gear Swap
- Member Gear Reviews and BPL Gear Review Articles
- Browse by Gear Type or Brand.