When it comes to cutting through your PVC piping, it’s important that you follow certain methods so that you can do so properly.
There are an abundance of PVC accessories and cutting tools to choose from, whether you use a miter saw, saw blade, PVC cutters or a hacksaw as your pipe cutter, it is important that you choose the right tool for you needs.
Once decided on your tool, it might be tempting to simply hack away at your PVC pipe, but this is just a one way street to wonky, uneven piping that won’t be much good for anything.
So this is why it’s always important to mark your piping before you start to cut it. If you’re not sure how to prepare your PVC piping for cutting, you might find our article on How To Prepare PVC Piping To Be Cut! helpful.
But PVC piping – as with any piping – features a curved surface. This makes it much harder to create a smooth finish than working on a flat surface.
So how can you mark or score your PVC pipe so that you can get the accurate and even marks that you’re after?
And how can this help you to get the clean cuts that you’re after?
These are the questions that we are going to answer for you today.
We’re going to take a look at several methods that you can use to help you score your PVC pipe so that you can cut it properly.
We’ll also show you how to use these marks or scores to help you to get a clean cut that will give you the even finish that you need.
How Do You Mark PVC?
It’s important to always mark your PVC pipe properly before you start to cut it. There are several methods that you can use to do this.
However, we are going to cover the two most popular ways to mark PVC. Either of these will be ideal for marking your PVC so that you know exactly where to cut.
So as long as you use one or the other, you will be able to get the clean cut edge that you’re after.
Let’s take a look at how to mark PVC!
Use Paper And A Marker Pen
One of the quickest and easiest ways to mark your PVC pipe is to use the paper and marker pen method.
Once you have measured out where you’ll be cutting the PVC pipe with a tape measure, mark the spot with a line on the surface.
This will be as simple as picking up a sheet of A4 paper, then using this to form a circle around the PVC pipe.
Make sure to measure how much pipe you need first, as this will help you know where exactly to mark the PVC.
You can use a pencil or your marker pen to make a small mark where you would like to mark the pipe all the way around.
Next, you will need to wrap your A4 sheet of paper around the PVC pipe so that it forms an outer covering.
Depending on the size of the PVC pipe that you are trying to mark, it will be best to do this lengthways so that you are giving yourself more paper to work with.
Match up the two sides of paper until they join neatly, and ensure they are tightly in place. You can use a bit of tape to keep the paper still by taping either side together.
If you need to mark several points of the PVC pipe, you can then gently slide the paper tube up and down the piping, marking it properly when it gets to the right position.
When you have moved your paper where you need it to be, you can then use your marker pen to draw a circle around the edge of the paper so that it marks an even, ruled circle around the diameter of the PVC pipe.
You can do this as many times as you need to along the PVC pipe so that you make as many marks as you need to before you cut it.
You may then need to make multiple cuts around the outer rim until you get through cleanly.
Use A Cable Tie And A Marker Pen
Don’t want to worry about the paper moving or being at an awkward angle? Then you can instead use a cable tie if you have one of these tools handy.
It will be best to try and fit this to your PVC pipe beforehand so that you have the right shape circle for your needs.
You will need to make sure that the cable tie is tight enough to fit flush with the PVC so you can make accurate marks, but not so tight that it becomes difficult to move it up and down the PVC pipe as needed.
Similar to the method that we have mentioned above, you will need to measure your PVC pipe beforehand.
Once you have made a small mark using a ruler, you can then slide the cable tie into place.
Use your marker pen to draw a perfect circle around the PVC pipe, which will then show you exactly where to cut.
How Do You Score A Pvc Pipe?
If you want to score your PVC pipe first before you start cutting, then there are several ways that you can do this.
After you have measured your PVC pipe, and made a small mark using a marker pen or pencil, you can then score it using your hacksaw to show you exactly where to cut.
The other option is to use a set of rotating pipe cutters. It will be best to mark your PVC pipe with a marker pen first so that you know you’re scoring it in the right place.
Simply squeeze down on the pipe cutters, then slowly rotate them around the diameter of the pipe. This will score where you need to cut.
It should be noted that PVC pipe cutters only work best on one-inch plastic pipes, so if you are working with thicker pipes, then it may be worth using a miter box or saw blade for better results. For a detailed guide on cutting larger PVC pipes, check out How To Cut Straight Down The Middle Of A PVC Pipe.
In Summary
So there you have it! You now know that there are actually a variety of ways that you can mark your PVC pipe so that it’s ready for cutting.
You can use either a piece of paper rolled around your PVC piping or a cable tie wrapped around your PVC piping to help you get the even marks that you need for efficient cutting.
This will help you to mark exactly where you need to cut so that you can get the even slice that you need.
By using one of the two methods that we have outlined in more detail above, you will be able to get the consistent results that you need.
You can then use the marks that you have made using either the paper and marker method or the cable tie and marker method to show you exactly where you need to cut with your hacksaw or pipe cutters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How To Remove Burrs When Cutting PVC Pipe?
Cutting a pvc pipe can be difficult to get right the first time, even with all of the best tools of the trade.
You may be left with burrs or rough edges on one side, instead of a clear straight line where you’ve cut.
To solve this issue, the most common way is to use a deburring tool. For a comprehensive guide on this process, see How To Properly Use A Deburring Tool On PVC Piping.
This will get rid of any rough edges on the inner and outer rim of the plastic pipe, by removing any remaining burrs on the material.
To use these tools, simply turn them on and apply some pressure to the burrs until they simply come away from the edge of the surface.