Bicycle Tutor

What is the best way to fit a star nut, especially how you you secure the fork when banging the nut in.

If you have a vice clamp handy you could clamp it gently but firmly by the steerer tube. Push the star nut down about 1/2 an inch. You'll find a lot of ideas for ways to punch them in this discussion.

If you think you'll be doing this a few times, I recommend getting a Park TNS-1. It makes it easy to evenly punch the nut down to the correct depth.

I am intending to buy a vice. I think I will need to hold the fork as I cut it. Am I looking for any thing in particular in its design?

Also the fork has an aluminum post attached to a carbon fork. Do I need to wrap anything between the tube and jaws?

Any sturdy vice clamp will do. Use some wood or rags in between the vice jaws and the fork to protect it, and be sure only to clamp it as tight as it needs to hold it in place.