Knowing how to cut PVC pipe the right way is a skill every homeowner should know. PVC has many uses around the house, other than the plumbing purposes it was designed for. Cutting PVC is much easier than you think. Read on to find out what the best way to cut PVC pipe is with the use you have in mind.
PVC pipe is a plastic pipe that is available in various sizes. It’s possible to cut it with a large variety of tools, and we will be discussing several of them in this article. There are three tools that are the most commonly used to cut PVC pipe. The number one tool is a hacksaw. Next is a ratcheting PVC pipe cutting tool. And the third most used option is an oscillating cutting tool. There are benefits to each of these options that we will talk about in a bit.
The most common use for PVC is low pressure water transportation. An example of this is using it in a sprinkler system like one used to water a lawn. But the versatility of PVC is endless, as it is also a commonly used material for many crafts and DIY projects.
Personal Protective Equipment
It’s important to make sure you use proper safety equipment when doing any type of physical work that has moving parts. Cutting PVC pipe is no different. There are a few places that you can get injured, so for that reason we use protective equipment to help limit any injuries.
It’s the hands and eyes that are the main places that can take an injury from this project. That means the two pieces of protective equipment to use are safety goggles, and work gloves.
The safety goggles are important because several of the methods for cutting PVC will create burrs. It’s possible for these burrs to get in your eyes, so that’s why we wear safety goggles.
Gloves are helpful because any of the methods used to cut PVC use sharp objects. We don’t want to risk cutting ourselves, so we wear gloves. They are also helpful with gripping the pipe during the cut.
Make Your Mark
The first step for making a cut is to know where it’s going to be. You are going to do this on pvc by using a tape measure and a felt tip marker like a sharpie.
Hold the tape measure to one side of the pipe, and pull it out past the length you want to make the piece. Make a small mark with the sharpie at the location it is supposed to be.
When you are cutting the pipe you want it to be as close to this mark as possible. Don’t leave too much extra space because you will need to make another cut. An even worse problem than this is if you cut the piece too small and need to start over. Try to be as accurate as possible.
Best Methods For Cutting PVC Pipe Using Hand Tools
Now it’s time to talk about the method of cutting the pipe. There are two main camps we put the tools for cutting PVC pipe in. The first are hand tools, and the second are power tools.
The main goal when cutting PVC is to make the cut straight. If you are cutting it to attach fittings on the end, you are allowed to be a few degrees off of 90, but not much. Let’s talk about some of the different hand tools we use to cut PVC pipe.
Cutting PVC Pipe With Hand Tools
There are various tools that are commonly used for cutting PVC pipe. The first grouping we will talk about are the different types of saws. After we go through the saws, we will take a look at one hand tool that specializes in cutting PVC pipe.
The common feature for all of these saws here is they have small teeth. This is a feature that is used for a fine cut when working with wood, or is needed for cutting metal. A fine toothed blade is important for cutting PVC because if the teeth were larger like on a hand saw used for cutting wood it would catch on the pipe and possibly tear it rather than cut.
The biggest downside for cutting with any of the saws listed below is you will need some space around the pipe to use the saw. Saws are used by pushing and pulling it back and forth. This means they require several inches to about a foot on either side of the pipe. This will not work very well if the pipe is in a tight spot like framed into a wall. Thankfully we have a solution for this predicament.
Cutting PVC With A Hacksaw
The hacksaw is a commonly used tool for homeowners to have in their tool box. Using it to cut PVC is one of the most popular uses. There are a few things to focus on when cutting a piece of PVC with a hacksaw.
Hold The Pipe Steady
Like cutting anything with a saw, PVC needs to be held stable in order to make the cut. The best way to do this is to lay it on a solid surface, and hold it with one hand. If you want to be sure the cut is going to be as accurate as possible another thing you can do is use clamps to hold it down.
How To Cut PVC Pipe Straight With A Saw
A miter box is an open top box with several tracks (or grooves) that a handsaw fits in. The tracks are positioned in several commonly used angles, but in this case we are going to use the straight 90 deg angle.
Use one hand to hold the pipe inside the box, but located towards the front of it. The other hand will use the saw. Place the saw in the track that is for a 90 degree cut and rest it on top of the pipe.
Pull the saw towards you and away from you while applying downward pressure on the pipe. You will get a feel for how much pressure is required as you make the cut. You may need to rotate the pipe periodically to have access to the uncut part of the pipe.
Using a Pipe Saw to Cut PVC Pipe
A pipe saw is a lot like a hacksaw. The big difference is the type of blade you use. The blade is more narrow with a hacksaw, and is attached to the saw at both ends of the blade. The pipe saw blade is wider, and holds its shape without being attached to the handle on both sides of the blade.
Use a pipe saw the same way as a hacksaw. Start by resting the saw blade on top of the pipe, and pull it towards you. Then push the blade away from you on the same mark. Do this over and over until it cuts all the way through the pipe.
A pipe saw can be used with a miter box to make a straight and accurate cut.
Using a Dovetail Saw to Cut PVC Pipe
Dovetail Saw/Miter Box
A dovetail saw is a fine tooth saw used for woodworking. It’s a common saw that many homeowners have in their garage. The nice thing about using a dovetail saw to make a straight cut on PVC is it is a tool that works well with a miter box.
The miter box makes it easy to hold the PVC still while you make a straight cut. It’s best if the miter box is attached to a surface like a workbench. Start by holding the pipe with the mark at the zero degree slot on the saw. This is the slot you are going to use to make your cut. You also want it to be tight against the wall of the box closest to you.
Place the saw in the slots on the box you will be using. You want to make contact with the pipe at the heel of the saw. This will let you make a pull cut to get the cut started. Do this until you have a groove the saw blade fits in comfortably.
Make a cutting motion with the saw until you have cut all the way through the pipe. Cutting a PVC pipe this way is an effective method of cutting PVC. The only down side is it will create some PVC shavings that need to be cleaned up afterwards.
Using a Ratcheting Tool To Cut PVC Pipe
The ratcheting PVC tool is the best hand tool option for cutting PVC pipe in tight places. It works much like pliers where it grips from both sides of the pipe. The main difference is one of the sides is a knife-like blade that will cut through the PVC. The minimum amount of clearance is the width of the side of the tool that does not have the knife blade. As long as you can fit this side next to the pipe the tool will work.
To use this tool start by pulling the two ends of the handle apart. This will use a spring to open the jaws of the tool. Place the pipe on the curved side of the tool, and rest the blade on the mark you want to cut. Squeeze the handles until you can’t. Then loosen your grip where it can ratchet automatically. Repeat the process of squeezing and relaxing until the blade cuts completely through the pipe.
Aside from being able to work in tight places, there are a couple of other benefits to using this type of cutting tool. The second best benefit is it doesn’t produce any burrs. The blade cuts through the pipe, rather than removing material from the pipe the way saws do.
Another benefit for using this tool is it makes a straight cut with ease. The final result is going to consistently be pretty close to 90 degrees. The straight blade makes the finished cut very clean.
Power Tools To Cut PVC Pipe
Power tools make light work of cutting PVC pipe. The fact that there is a motor means you are exerting very little energy. Just hold the tool up to the mark you want to cut and let the blade do the rest of the work.
Cutting PVC Pipe With An Oscillating Tool
The oscillating tool is a power tool that has many uses. There are a variety of blades you can attach, giving the tool a wide variety of uses. The oscillating tool can cut a lot of different material types, but cuts PVC quite easily. It can cut pipes in tight spaces because the blade doesn’t require much room to oscillate.
I recommend using a metal cutting blade, which has finer teeth, but a wood blade will work for this purpose as well. Hold the tool with two hands, and move it towards the mark you want to cut.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to cut PVC pipe?
The best way to cut pvc pipe is with the pvc pipe cutting tool. This is because it makes a straight cut when used right, and it leaves no shavings to make the cut. You are not removing any of the material, but rather you are slicing through it. These tools are simple to use as well.
Can you cut PVC pipe with a sawzall?
PVC pipe can be cut with a sawzall. It is a good option in a pinch if it is the only tool you have that will cut PVC. It is recommended to use a blade that is designed for cutting metal. This is because they have fine teeth that will be able to make a clean cut. You also want to get a blade that is several inches longer than the thickness of the PVC pipe. I would look at an 8 to 12 inch blade for this type of cut.
Do you need a special blade to cut PVC pipe?
You do not need a special blade to cut PVC pipe. As you can see from the article above there are several types of tools that will cut PVC pipe. What matters more is that you have the tool that works for this job, but also know how to use it well.
Does PVC need to be cut straight?
PVC does not need a perfectly straight cut. If you are fitting connections onto your pipe, you have a few degrees of leeway with the angle of your cut before it becomes a problem. This is usually around half an inch before it becomes a problem when gluing it up.
Can you cut PVC with a utility knife?
PVC can technically be cut with a utility knife. This can be a hard task because the blade of the knife is not very wide compared to the width of the pipe being cut. There is also a large amount of force required to cut through a material as dense as PVC pipe.
Conclusion
There are many ways to cut PVC. Each method listed in this article will get you to the same goal. If you are cutting PVC pipe to attach fittings, the best method is the ratcheting PVC pipe cutter. But all methods listed here will work.
I hope this article helped you find the best method of cutting PVC pipe for you. Here at Castle Remodel I am dedicated to bringing you the best tips and tools to turn your home into your castle. Check out the other articles in this blog for more great tips to help you create your castle!
Happy Remodeling,
Kevin
