Broke my brand new tubing cutter

[whateg01]

I needed to cut some conduit to fit in the car for the ride home from Lowe's, so I bought a new Klein cutter, then left without buying any conduit! Doh!

Anyway, I did use it eventually. It works great and the shape of the knob is easier on the hand than my old one. And they use an actual carbide deburrer. But the piece that the carbide bit spins in is plastic, so the first time I used it, it snapped off.

I'm debating whether to try to get it replaced or not. I like the idea but maybe I need to just make a replacement for that little part from metal so it doesn't happen again.

Oh, this was supposed to be a rAnT! Dang Milwaukee, I mean Honda, I mean Klein quality isn't what it used to be! And I used self checkout! And touchless payment!

 

[Wamsutta]

That entire tool is cheesy. Get your money back.

 

[four.cycle]

But the piece that the carbide bit spins in is plastic,

WTF?

What are they thinking? What professional tradesman is going to use a plastic tubing cutter?

Are they kidding?

 

[PCustoms]

WTF?

What are they thinking? What professional tradesman is going to use a plastic tubing cutter?

Are they kidding?

Well it looks like he broke the deburr feature....

Must deburr tools I have used are plastic.

 

[TOWLC]

Unfortunately a lot of Klein is now made in China. Found out the hard way with their newer nut driver/screwdriver sets. All of my older Klein stuff is still going strong though.

 

[whateg01]

Well it looks like he broke the deburr feature....

Must deburr tools I have used are plastic.

Mine all have plastic handles, but the working end is all metal. This one could have had a plastic body probably be okay but for the deburring tool, that part needs to be metal.

I was initially very impressed with the fact that it was actual deburring tool instead of just Little triangular thing that the cheaper cutters have that turns one continuous Burr into a whole bunch of little burrs. I was much less impressed after it broke LOL

 

[PCustoms]

Mine all have plastic handles, but the working end is all metal.

Yeah I think you're right now that I think about it more

 

[Shiftless]

That entire tool is cheesy. Get your money back.

WTF?

What are they thinking? What professional tradesman is going to use a plastic tubing cutter?

Are they kidding?

I‘m glad I have 2 of these that I picked up at garage sales for a couple of bucks each.
This is an obviously superior design.

 

[whateg01]

I‘m glad I have 2 of these that I picked up at garage sales for a couple of bucks each.
This is an obviously superior design.

I have a couple of them. They work but I hate them, especially the deburring thing that doesn't really

 

[Shiftless]

How about the Ridgid Model 15? I’ve never used one but it looks like a serious tool. I’m just a home gamer and I go years in between jobs making a few cuts on conduit.

 

[Shiftless]

They work but I hate them, especially the deburring thing that doesn't really work.

For my little DIY jobs, I’m not trying to beat the clock or anything and often use a round file to clean up and deburr the cuts.

 

[Beerhippie]

Just buy the real thing and never whine about it again. Aluminum handle, carbide cutter.

My tubing and pipe cutters are Ridgid.

 

[whateg01]

Just buy the real thing and never whine about it again. Aluminum handle, carbide cutter.

My tubing and pipe cutters are Ridgid.

I have three of the real thing already. They live in the drawer next to the mill. I do use them sometimes at the house when cutting tubing. I thought it looked pretty handy to have it built into the tubing cutter though because it's one less tool I have to round up when I go do something.

 

[Shiftless]

Just buy the real thing and never whine about it again. Aluminum handle, carbide cutter.

Absolutely right. But better buy 2 or 3. Looks like a separate tool that would get misplaced.
But that is an heirloom quality tool. Should last for years even in daily use.

 

[Firebrick43]

Its bs that the used plastic there/it broke. But before it did break was it actually useful or should I say easy to use?

I have the smallest to a large 4" ridgid branded cutters and I cant recall the last time I used they durable but flunky to use deburring tools mounted on the small to mid size ones?

I always use the titian/shaviv deburring handle/blades in my hand box right next to the pipe cutters. The manual manipulation is so much easier, faster, and end result a better.

And I don't even go for those skinny #2 pencil size deburring handles, I splurge and spend the extra 5 dollars for the 13 dollars handles so they are comfortable to use and have extra blades in the end for when one breaks

 

[whateg01]

Its bs that the used plastic there/it broke. But before it did break was it actually useful or should I say easy to use?

Not as natural a feel as a standalone tool, but it wasn't bad. I would use it again. I'm leaning toward remaking the plastic part in metal so I can keep using it.

 

[Beerhippie]

Absolutely right. But better buy 2 or 3. Looks like a separate tool that would get misplaced.
But that is an heirloom quality tool. Should last for years even in daily use.

I believe that there are five of them in my plumbing Bucket Buddy. This is one of the three that haven't been opened.

 

[willf650]

Unfortunately a lot of Klein is now made in China. Found out the hard way with their newer nut driver/screwdriver sets. All of my older Klein stuff is still going strong though.

You can still buy the American made nutdrivers, your just not gonna do it at Lowe’s.

Order them or hit an Electric supply house.

 

[Shiftless]

I believe that there are five of them in my plumbing Bucket Buddy.

Good strategy. Having 5 of one tools might seem wasteful to some but you and I and most other GJ members probably agree that time wasted looking for a little inexpensive tool is more wasteful than the cost of a few spares.

I‘m sure I have at least 8 tape measures scattered about in various drawers upstairs and downstairs and in the garage.

(Being an older fellow with a job maintaining equipment at a small brewery sounds like a dream job.)

 

[willf650]

I‘m glad I have 2 of these that I picked up at garage sales for a couple of bucks each.
This is an obviously superior design.

Actually those aren’t good compared to a Rigid or Imperial Eastman. I’ve never seen a professional with one. They are a homeowner grade tool.

 

[TOWLC]

You can still buy the American made nutdrivers, your just not gonna do it at Lowe’s.

Order them or hit an Electric supply house.

Are you talking about this? I bought 2, the regular and short one. Both snapped the tip and the shaft is machined too small so it binds in the nut drivers. Found out they were made in China. Bought off Amazon when they first came out. ***** because I love the idea and would use it a lot. Didn't know until reading later that some Klein stuff is now made in China.

 

[KnurledNut]

I needed to cut some conduit to fit in the car for the ride home from Lowe's, so I bought a new Klein cutter, then left without buying any conduit! Doh!

That's not rated for conduit, just copper and aluminum.

 

[four.cycle]

Well it looks like he broke the deburr feature....

Must deburr tools I have used are plastic.

Yes. Correct.
The piece that broke appears to be made of plastic. It is the piece which holds the "debur" tool.

And HERE is why it is exactly the wrong material to use:

in my plumbing Bucket Buddy

^ That's it right there.
And what does @Beerhippie do with that cutter when the job's done?
Does he very carefully lay it gently into the "Bucket Buddy" so as not to disturb any of the other tools or create any more dust?
Or
Just toss the thing into the bucket and say "Time for a beer?"

Other than the handle, putting a piece of plastic on that tool is only going to result in tool failure.

Whoever designed that thing simply failed to "read the room" and understand his prospective customer was not about to treat it gently - he's working on the clock.

 

[willf650]

Are you talking about this? I bought 2, the regular and short one. Both snapped the tip and the shaft is machined too small so it binds in the nut drivers. Found out they were made in China. Bought off Amazon when they first came out. ***** because I love the idea and would use it a lot. Didn't know until reading later that some Klein stuff is now made in China.

No, your standard individual hollow shaft nut drivers are still available and made in the USA.

In the past year or so Klein came out with another individual hollow shaft nut drivers set they sell at Lowes that is made overseas.

The American ones can be ordered and are still the standard fair at the electrical simply house.

 

[KnurledNut]

Are you talking about this? I bought 2, the regular and short one. Both snapped the tip and the shaft is machined too small so it binds in the nut drivers. Found out they were made in China. Bought off Amazon when they first came out. ***** because I love the idea and would use it a lot. Didn't know until reading later that some Klein stuff is now made in China.

That should be Taiwan. But yeah, the OP's cutter is made in China.

Edit: Some of these are made in Vietnam.

 

[bluedog225]

Klein. I think they make some pliers in the US. I think all my Klein stuff is Chinese. Plastic **** is to be expected.

 

[willf650]

Klein. I think they make some pliers in the US. I think all my Klein stuff is Chinese. Plastic **** is to be expected.

Klein still makes a ton of their core old school electical products in the USA. Unfortunately I haven’t seen a single new product that is made here.

They are also starting to market stuff as forged in the USA but if you read the label it’s forged here but then the raw forging is shipped to Mexico to be completed.

I recently bought a set of forged snap lock pliers that were made in Mexico and a set of their slim line forged strippers made in Tiawan.

What is disheartening is of you go to the orange box store you will see Chinese made Milwaukee plumbing tools on the hooks right next to American made Rigid tools and the Milwaukee tools are as much or more than the Rigid stuff.

 

[Firebrick43]

Not as natural a feel as a standalone tool, but it wasn't bad. I would use it again. I'm leaning toward remaking the plastic part in metal so I can keep using it.

I hate having to upgrade tools because of quality/material being cheepend right off the bat.

I bought an osborn EB3 several years ago.

The osborne was terrible out of the box, had to machine a new pivot piece as they had moved production to china and the threaded hole that bolted to the bar was not concentric to the OD that the tangent arm hooked to. Even though I fixed that the detents in the bar will still sloppy and setting an exact 22.5, 45, or 90 needed a lot of fiddling and test cuts to ensure gap free miters. And machining the properly spaced divots in a new bar wasn't something I could do reasonably because of its tangential nature.

So I bought the Dubby sled. Damned if the original maker didn't sell it to Peach tree and all the wood pieces such as the stop block and the fence end piece that allow for zero clearance on the saw blade were machined apparently by 3 year olds they were so bad.

I was so damn disgusted but I made new parts and I am happy I did as its large arm angle scale makes cutting precise angles or even even return flawlessly to 90 degrees.

 

[Beerhippie]

And what does @Beerhippie do with that cutter when the job's done?
Does he very carefully lay it gently into the "Bucket Buddy" so as not to disturb any of the other tools or create any more dust?
Or
Just toss the thing into the bucket and say "Time for a beer?"

Believe it or not, the Hippie is extremely OCD when it comes to tools. My bucket organizer is just that--an organizer. I tend to get a bit bent out of shape if someone borrows a tool from the shop and doesn't put it back exactly where they found it.

 

[TOWLC]

No, your standard individual hollow shaft nut drivers are still available and made in the USA.

In the past year or so Klein came out with another individual hollow shaft nut drivers set they sell at Lowes that is made overseas.

The American ones can be ordered and are still the standard fair at the electrical simply house.

Actually all of the nut drivers are fine, it's just the shaft they include that is garbage. Haven't looked to see if they've improved the shaft, or sell a replacement that is better. I'd love to have them usable again. I'd use them daily.

 

[ecotec]

Klein still makes a ton of their core old school electical products in the USA. Unfortunately I haven’t seen a single new product that is made here.

They are also starting to market stuff as forged in the USA but if you read the label it’s forged here but then the raw forging is shipped to Mexico to be completed.

I recently bought a set of forged snap lock pliers that were made in Mexico and a set of their slim line forged strippers made in Tiawan.

What is disheartening is of you go to the orange box store you will see Chinese made Milwaukee plumbing tools on the hooks right next to American made Rigid tools and the Milwaukee tools are as much or more than the Rigid stuff.

I still use Klein pliers every day. The D-2000 Linesman’s, needle nose and D-2000 diagonals. I have tried Knipex and Channellock, but I don’t like them as much.

I am not buying forged in USA Kleins. I will buy something else first. They really cheapened the brand when they moved from Home Depot to Lowe’s.

 

[four.cycle]

Believe it or not, the Hippie is extremely OCD when it comes to tools. My bucket organizer is just that--an organizer. I tend to get a bit bent out of shape if someone borrows a tool from the shop and doesn't put it back exactly where they found it.

Okay, fair enough
Let me put it another way then:
If half of the users treat their tools like I do mine, that thing is not going to withstand being tossed six feet into a tool box, which is usually how I put tools away when I carry them back into the garage. Some stuff goes in drawers, some stuff is hung, but most of it's just tossed into the drawer in the steel box. Tossed. Six feet. Plastic **** simply wouldn't hold up to that sort of abuse.

My watercolor brushes: different scenario. Tips are lovingly reshaped with mouth, then hung upside-down with clothespins until fully dried.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

What professional tradesman is going to use a plastic tubing cutter?

Maybe one who shops at Harrible Fright?

 

[Beerhippie]

WTF?

What are they thinking? What professional tradesman is going to use a plastic tubing cutter?

Are they kidding?

One who cuts plastic tubing?

 

[four.cycle]

Sure. Plastic tubing cutters for plastic tubing.
Maybe they could try some plastic cutting wheels.
GAH!

Every time we see yet another rant thread about yet another newly-offshored Klein tool, it seems they slide down the ladder another rung.
I guess this is the way of things if in order to stay in the market at Home Depot and Lowes, right?

 

[Beerhippie]

Sure. Plastic tubing cutters for plastic tubing.

Plastic (body) tubing cutters for plastic tubing. Used daily.

 

[LOW1]

Unfortunately a lot of Klein is now made in China. Found out the hard way with their newer nut driver/screwdriver sets. All of my older Klein stuff is still going strong though.

Perhaps the problem lies in the Design Department and not in the Manufacturing Department?

 

[Vinny]

How about the Ridgid Model 15? I’ve never used one but it looks like a serious tool. I’m just a home gamer and I go years in between jobs making a few cuts on conduit.

These are the real deal. We use them at work to cut bad welds to redo them on stainless and inconel. Cuts clean so we don't have to clean the tube's again before/after welding.

 

[Beerhippie]

These are the real deal. We use them at work to cut bad welds to redo them on stainless and inconel. Cuts clean so we don't have to clean the tube's again before/after welding.

Do you use the wheels for steel tubing or just the regular ones meant for copper?

Never tried cutting sanitary SS with my Rigids--but it would make a very square cut.

 

[Dagny]

Imperial for copper Ridgid for steel hackzall hacksaw or band for conduit. Then linemans or klien conduit reamer.