Thread: Cutting 150mm PVC

I have never cut 150mm but have cut 90 and 100mm with a hacksaw and then run a file round the inside and outside of the pipe to remove the rough edges

I knocked up an over sized mitre box(just the square cut) and clean up with a deburring tool

for the shorter lengths less than 3600, i just cut them on the panel saw. set the blade to be fairly low (20mm high or so), set a length stop, and then feed the pipe into the blade enough so it cuts all the way through the wall of the pipe. roll it so it cuts the full circumference. make sure when you are rolling, you are feeding into the saw in the correct direction. if you climb cut it it will spin out of your hands, BANG! and you will probably have a smelly deposit left in your pants.

for longer lengths, i just mark a line all the way around the pipe and cut it with one of those cheap $10 handsaws with the hardened teeth.

Thanks folks. My main saw is a bandsaw which definitely won't work, so I think a quick and nasty mitre box and a handsaw (or maybe the cordless reciprocating if blade length/vibration isn't a problem) will be what I end up with.

mark a line all the way around the pipe and cut it with one of those cheap $10 handsaws with the hardened teeth

That's how I do it. I wrap a bit of paper tightly around the pipe so that the overlapping edges are aligned and line it up with the mark, then draw a line around using the edge of the paper as a guide.

Cutting on a power saw can be done but things can go wrong with a bang. DAMHIK.

In order of preference

1. Drop saw going slow and careful
2. Hacksaw
3. Rolling across a low blade on the table saw with the blade set about 1/2" up
4. Panel saw

I suggest you don't use a reciprocating saw unless you want to end up with a pile of PVC randomly shaped pieces.

I have used all of the above with success. The drop saw using a multi purpose or cross cut blade gives a nice smooth square edge and is by far my preferred method. I have never bothered with a mitre box when cutting by hand.

Originally Posted by rtyuiop

Thanks folks. My main saw is a bandsaw which definitely won't work, - - - - - .

Thats what I use.

If you want to fit PVC properly to PVC fittings the pipe should be cut as square as possible.
If the pieces are too long I roughly cut a cm or so over length with either a high TPI point handsaw or hacksaw and then I use the bandsaw to cut it square.
Shorter pieces up to 1m long I deal with myself - longer than that you will need a hand.
A bandsaw leaves a very clean cut compared to most other saws.

For pieces shorter than the bed of my mini lathe I have a 4 and 6" expanding jaw chuck and tailstock support that can hold PVC.
I use this to taper turn the outer edges of short pieces to give a better fit t
I also use this to part short pieces like joiners for 45º elbows
The jaws will also hold these joiners so the inner edges can be rounded over for minimal resistance.

In order of preference these are what I use

SCMS
Bandsaw
Handsaw

Using a bandsaw is a bit tricky as it can roll and pull into the blade and one bent blade can be the result so slow and steady is the answer.

I used both a hand saw and a jig saw with metal cutting blade. Both worked well.

Originally Posted by silentC

That's how I do it. I wrap a bit of paper tightly around the pipe so that the overlapping edges are aligned and line it up with the mark, then draw a line around using the edge of the paper as a guide.

I've always used a sharp hard point crosscut saw, works great. A stainless steel 'curly girl' scouring pad cleans up the edges a treat, fast too!

Tip: Smear a small amount of vaseline onto the joints - it makes it a lot easier to take apart if you ever have to - and you know it will happen sooner or later:

Just to feed back my own results in case it's useful for anyone else - my preference is mitre saw followed by hand saw. Only two annoyance with the mitre saw - my 12" SCMS still needs at least two separate cuts to get through 150mm pipe, and more importantly... It makes one hell of a mess!

Originally Posted by rtyuiop

......... and more importantly... It makes one hell of a mess!

Is there an irony in that we need dust collection to make a dust collection system?

Pete

Hey Danny,
I made up a jig for the band saw to cut my 150mm pvc. Just a piece of ply set to run in the mitre track with a piece of 2" wide scrap on top set at right angle to the blade with a 90 degree V notch for the pvc to sit in. 2 second cuts, all you need to do is make sure you hold the pvc firmly in the jig so it doesn't roll during the cut.
Hope this helps,
Cheers, Ian