Bottom Bracket Facing Cutter

The 1699.1 BB facing cutter is the working head of the 1699 facing tool. The cutter is what trims the face of the BB shell back to square; the frame, guide, and handle exist to hold this piece coaxial and feed it forward in a controlled way. Like any cutting tool, the 1699.1 is serviceable, replaceable, and the part of the assembly most likely to need refreshing first.

What this piece does

The 1699.1 is a premium plus carbon steel rotating cutter (officially Unior's bottom bracket reamer, Ø44 × 29 mm, 197 g) that mounts onto the 1699 facing tool frame and cuts a fine pass off each outer face of the BB shell. The cut is light by design; the goal is to bring the face flat, parallel to its opposite, and perpendicular to the bore, not to remove visible material. A correctly-set 1699 will produce a uniform metal ring around each face on the first pass, with the original anodize or paint visible nowhere on the cut surface.

A workshop running the 1699 system already owns this cutter as part of the bundle. The 1699.1 is the spare / replacement, ordered when the cutter starts producing chatter marks on the face, when the edge has worn enough that the cut is uneven, or when a kit comes back from a heavy production season and a cutter swap is the obvious refresh.

Compatibility

• Mounts on the Frame for 1699 Bottom Bracket Facer 1699.2/4
• Part of the Bottom Bracket Facing Tool 1699 bundle
• Works with both BSA and Italian facing operations (official coverage is BSA and ITAL; the cutter is the same, the 1699.4BSA or 1699.4ITA guide is the piece that changes). The 1699 system has no T47 facing guide

Specs

• Material: premium plus carbon steel (A 29 mm, D 44 mm, 197 g)
• Function: shell-face cutting head for the 1699 BB facing tool
• Drive: receives torque from the 1699.2/4 frame via the modular handle
• Made in Slovenia by Unior; Unior lifetime warranty

Includes: One 1699.1 facing cutter (Ø44 × 29 mm, 197 g). The 1699.2/4 frame, 1699.4BSA or 1699.4ITA guide, 1699.5/4P wrench, and 1695/4BI handle are sold separately; the five-piece 1699 set includes this cutter.

Made in Slovenia, since 1919

Unior has been forging hand tools in Zreče since 1919, and sponsors professional road and mountain-bike race teams. The cutter's edge is the surface that determines what every BB cup the shell will ever accept clamps against. A cutter that rounds off in service produces stepped faces; a premium plus carbon steel cutter holding its edge produces faces that bearings sit square on. The 1699.1 is the replaceable edge of the 1699 system.

Pro tip from our mechanics

Unior's facing procedure installs the cutter on the 1699 holder, sets spring tension (too much vibrates, too little cuts unevenly), oils the reamer, and turns clockwise only. Repeat the sequence on the other face, with the guide in the opposite side of the shell.

Oil the reamer before starting; failing to oil can damage the frame or the tool. Add cutting fluid often during the pass, especially on steel frames.

The full facing sequence for threaded shells is covered here: Frame prep: threaded bottom bracket shells →

FAQ

Is the 1699.1 a complete facing tool, or just the cutter? Just the cutter. Officially it is Unior's 1699.1 bottom bracket reamer, the replaceable head that mounts on the 1699.2/4 frame and is driven by the 1695/4BI magnetic handle. The five-piece 1699 set already includes one; this listing is the spare.

Does one 1699.1 cutter cover both BSA and Italian shells? Yes. Official compatibility is BSA and ITAL. The cutter stays the same; the threaded guide is the piece that changes (1699.4BSA or 1699.4ITA). The 1699 system has no T47 facing guide.

What is the 1699.1 made of, and how big is it? Premium plus carbon steel. Official table: thickness A 29 mm, diameter D 44 mm, weight 197 g. Article 1699.1, SKU 617592, covered by Unior's lifetime warranty.

When should I replace the cutter, and what else do I need to face a shell? Order a spare when chatter marks appear or the cut is uneven. Facing also needs the 1699.2/4 frame, a matching BSA or ITA guide, the 1699.5/4P guide wrench, and the magnetic handle; those pieces ship together in the 1699 set. Oil the reamer before every pass.