WHAT IS IT? A clamp-on hacksaw guide that insures every cut is straight and true.
WHAT'S IT COST? $26.95.
CONTACT? www.parktool.com or (951) 736-0700.
WHAT'S IT DO? Park Tools SG-6 Threadless Saw Guide ensures a straight, clean cut on tubing from one-inch to 1-1/4 inches in diameter. Designed originally as a bicycle tool for cutting the head tubes on mountain bikes, the Park hacksaw guide works perfectly on motorcycle handlebars.
To use the Park SG-6, all you have to do is clamp the threaded clamp down onto the bar and insert the hacksaw blade into the slotted guide. The SG-6’s non-scratching composite body incorporates steel threads and a steel reinforcing plate to withstand the rigors of heavy shop use.
The MXA wrecking crew is always cutting handlebars down to fit a particular purpose and, as a rule, the hacksaw blade always twists and forces us to cut a severely angled end (which we have to fix on a grinder). The Park SG-6 hacksaw guide (the actual product name is the Park Tools Threadless Saw Guide), makes every cut perfectly straight. And unlike with rotary tube cutters, you do not have to worry about wearing out the pizza cutter blade, since you are using your own hacksaw to make the cut.
WHAT STANDS OUT? Here's a list of things that stand out with the Park Tools Threadless Saw Guide.
(1) Performance. Nothing could be easier. In most cases, we simply put the SG-6 hacksaw guide into a vise and then insert the tube or handlebar. The steel guide plate, which is removable, has an extension that sticks down to make it easier for the vise to clamp onto the tool. After clamping the tool’s internal vise down onto the tube, we insert the hacksaw blade and make a preliminary check of whether the blade is in the correct spot or not. Then we saw away. If you don’t have a vise, or don’t want to remove your bars, the SG-6 will fit directly onto an existing tube.
(2) Size. Although the Park SG-6 claims to cut tubing from one inch to 1-1/4 inches in diameter, we had no trouble clamping it down on 7/8-inch handlebars.
(3) Weight. At 15.5 ounces, the Park hacksaw guide has some heft to it, but it is only two-inches wide by two-inches tall by 1-1/2 inches thick.
(4) Outlets. Although Park has a complete line of motorcycle tools, it is often easier to find Park Tools at your local bicycle shop than at a motorcycle shop. Luckily, Park Tools web site lists their dealer network by region and zip code to help you find the tool.
WHAT'S THE SQUAWK? No complaints (except that we probably cut a thousand crooked handlebars over the years before this tool was available).
MXA would give this tool five-stars, because we are always cutting tubing, welding things together and working on a bevy of bikes. But for the average garage mechanic, it’s a four-star product because of its limited uses on motorcycles.
