When you’re doing any DIY projects with some PVC piping, it can be tricky getting the right length of piping for your needs.
PVC pipe products can be a tricky material to work with so it’s important that you use the right tools for the job. So how can you cut your PVC pipe to size?
What should you use for cutting PVC pipes? How do you go about doing this efficiently?
That’s the question that we’re going to answer for you today!
We’re going to show you the best method for cutting PVC pipes to size, and what tools you’ll need to do it.
So let’s take a look at everything we need to know about cutting a PVC pipe properly.
We’ll also discuss below the tools that you shouldn’t use to cut PVC piping, and why it’s important to have the right tools to hand for the job.
How Do You Cut Plastic PVC Pipes?
You’ve likely researched online of all the different ways you can cut plastic pipes and PVC plastic.
There are an abundance of tools that can cut through the pipe surface, but some may be better than others.
The good news is that there are a couple of ways that you can cut PVC pipes.
You may have thought about using cutting tools like PVC pipe cutters, a cutting blade, or a vast variety of tools from your local hardware store.
So below, we’ve got the three best methods to use to cut PVC piping properly.
Using A Handsaw To Cut PVC Piping
The best way to cut PVC piping is to use a handsaw. This is a tool that the vast majority of people will have in their tool kit, regardless of how much DIY you do.
Using a handsaw will be better than using any other kind of saw, as hand saws will give you much better flexibility in terms of how you use it.
If you were to use a larger, full length saw, then this could be a bit unwieldy to use for cutting PVC piping.
First things first, you will need to clamp your PVC pipe so that it can’t move anywhere while you’re cutting it.
Then, you may need to use a tape measure to see where you’ll be cutting the pipe.
You can then use your handsaw to make a light mark or cut mark where exactly you want to cut your PVC pipe. Alternatively, you can mark this point with duct tape to see better.
Learn how to cut PVC without exact measurements.
It will then be a case of simply sawing away back and forth around the pipe until the pipe separates into your desired lengths.
The only thing to bear in mind is that a hacksaw can be a bit messy, and can leave unsightly burrs along around the pipe where you have cut the PVC .
You will need to remove these burrs using something like a butter knife so that it will be ready to use.
Using A Plastic Pipe Cutter To Cut Pvc Piping
One of the more specialized tools that you can use to cut PVC piping is a pipe cutter. There are two types of pipe cutters that you can use: a ratchet cutter and a rotating pipe cutter.
As the name suggests, the ratcheting pipe cutter uses a ratchet mechanism in order to apply repeated pressure to your PVC pipe via the sharp blade.
This has to be done on a stable surface in order to cut the pipe effectively.
While this special blade can make very accurate cuts, it can be dangerous to use, so safety glasses are advised.
A rotating pipe cutter will need to be clamped down on the piping and repeatedly rotated so as to cut through the plastic. Just make sure you fit it perfectly at your desired cutting point.
This is an efficient way to cut through PVC piping, but can put a lot of strain on your hand. There is a risk of getting repetitive strain injury using these tools.
Using An Electric Power Miter Saw To Cut Pvc Piping
If you have an electric power miter saw to hand, then you can of course use this to cut your PVC piping.
This will make the whole process super quick, so will be a lifesaver if you have a ton of piping to cut to size.
You will need to make sure that you use the clamping method that we mentioned earlier so that you can be as accurate as possible.
However, you will need to bear in mind that this can be a highly dangerous piece of equipment.
So it will be important that you concentrate at all times to prevent any unwanted accidents whilst during the cutting process.
Can I Use A Saw To Cut Pvc Pipe?
Yes, you can use a saw to cut PVC pipe. In fact, you can use virtually any type of saw!
Some prefer to use a cable saw for this job, but this is best used for PVC pipes in tight spaces, and may not fit around larger pipes.
But the best saw to use for cutting PVC piping will be a hand saw. Despite these often being used for cutting wood, it’s a great tool for cutting pipe too.
This will be small enough to make the incision that you want, without being too unwieldy to the point where it could cause a serious accident if the saw were to jerk to one side.
A hand saw is also great for cutting smaller pipes quickly, but the back and forth movement can quickly cause aching hands, so other tools can be more efficient.
In addition, you can use a miter box for more guided cutting of pvc.
Can A Knife Cut A PVC Pipe?
No, a knife should never be used to cut pipes.
This is because a knife hasn’t been designed to cut plastic pipes, and you will risk the knife jumping off the piping to slice into your hand or other parts of your body.
Instead it will be best to stick with one of the methods that we have mentioned above – such as the hand saw method – so that you can cut your PVC piping safely.
Alternatively, you can use different tools such as these heavy duty pvc cutters www.ezygrind.com for cutting pvc pipe products, as that’s exactly what they are designed to do!
They’re a simple, small tool that really gets the job done.
In Summary
So there you have it! You now know that there are many different tools, and a couple of ways to cut PVC piping, but that the best method to use is a hand saw.
This will give you the accurate results that you need, as well as give you the flexibility needed to do a good quality job.
However, you may also need deburring tools after cutting through a plastic pipe. A deburring tool can really give you that fine, smooth edge you’re looking for.
It will be best to clamp your PVC piping in place on your tool bench so that it doesn’t move when you’re trying to cut it.
There are other methods you can use as well, of course.
A pipe cutter can come in handy if you have one of these in your tool kit, however, it can start to hurt your hand after a while because of the repetitive clenching action.
This is where heavy duty tools can help you out.
You can also use an electric miter saw if you have one of these in your tool shed, and it will be extremely useful for cutting through lots of piping.
However, this is a dangerous, heavy duty piece of equipment, and should be treated with caution.
When cutting pipes, you should never use something like a knife or kitchen knife to cut PVC piping.
It’s best to stick to more a expensive tool like pvc pipe cutters that will be more capable, or try the hand saw method!