Martin318is said:
Woah, woah, WOAH!
guys - be a little more careful with the advie you are handing out!
Please note, it is important to take into account some safety issues when filing down carbon and in particular some of the more recent high modulus carbons. Non-tube technology is great but the reality is that if you go sanding or power grinding a nano-tube material, you will be throwing microscopic carbon tubes into the air. These in turn can get into your lungs and have carcenogenic affects that are potentially similar to asbestos.
If in doubt, always be sure to protect yourself from carbon dust when modifying.
It has been a while since I comprehensively looked for research on this issue, but to the best of my knowledge, carcinogenic effects of inhalation of carbon nanotubes remain speculative as opposed to evidenced (though the speculation is quite plausible). However, the potential for manufactured carbon parts to release particles meeting the theoretical criteria for causing pleural inflammation (with the potential to lead to mesothelioma) is limited, as the fibres are bound to the resin. Sawing and filing by hand would almost certainly not release small enough particles, although high speed grinding (or using an abrasive cutting wheel) conceivably might.
Even as far as asbestos itself, the dangers are very strongly dose-related, with those subject to long-term industrial exposure most affected.
I'm not saying "don't take precautions", but the likelihood of ill effects to weekend warriors from cutting, filing or even grinding one or two small carbon parts seems small to me. Obviously if you're mucking about with raw carbon nanotubes (or grinding manufactured carbon bike parts) on a regular basis it might well pay to be more cautious.
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