Firebrick43
Well-known member
What's the best copper pipe cutter out there. I am sick of ones that don't hold up. Superior tool one not good. Like the imperial tubing cutter but it has not held up.
Copper tubing cutter.
- Thread starter Firebrick43
- Start date
willhollin
Well-known member
Rothenberger 35 has been with me for 10 years and never let me down.
bassbone52
Well-known member
Ridgid
Dagny
Well-known member
Imperial
OP
Firebrick43
Well-known member
I like my imperial and won't get away from them due to the groove where one can cut off small diameter jic flares. But, I have broke two of them far and I am not a tool abuser.
samss
Well-known member
OP
Firebrick43
Well-known member
Looks like it's identical to the rothenberger rotec. And it has the grooves. May have to try one out. The small one is $29
Bucks at supplyhouse
claas880
Well-known member
I like to use the ridgid 35s. it has fine threads on adjusting wheel and bearings in cutting wheel. I use it on a lot of stainless and copper tube
Are you working with copper or steel? I can't recall ever seeing JIC flared copper. If it is steel get a cutter rated for it not a hvac/plumbing model.
Personally I use Ridgid cutters. Model numbers 10 & 15 IIRC. Never broke one even on fairly thick wall stainless.
Dagny
Well-known member
What broke on it
alexb2000
Well-known member
I'll second this, I have only used my 35S on copper, but it works great. No comparison to a "normal" tubing cutter. You get what you pay for.
OP
Firebrick43
Well-known member
I use the imperial on steel with jic. The pot metal frame has broke on it. I use it at work and they buy them so I will continue to use them there but not spending my money on them.
The tubing I am cutting at home is mostly hard copper with small amounts of soft copper and copper nickle brake line. Stainless tubing I always cut with a saw to prevent work hardening before flaring.
The tubing cutter I am using currently is a superior similar to a ridgid 35
For tight turning radius the Imperial Mini-Imp is good, though the NLA Chicago Specialties is better (second from the bottom on the left - if you can find one) as it covers the wheel and doesn't catch your hand skin during use.
My old straight line Imperial 127F has nice leverage for such a small cutter. It's pictured how I found it before cleaning and a new wheel.
Most of my HVAC-use ones are Imperial.
My old straight line Imperial 127F has nice leverage for such a small cutter. It's pictured how I found it before cleaning and a new wheel.
Most of my HVAC-use ones are Imperial.
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jeffmoss26
Well-known member
Ridgid or Imperial.
FullRaceMerc
Well-known member
I'm still using the Ridgid 205 ratcheting tube cutter that I've had for 30 something years. Other than keeping it lubed & occasionally replacing the cutting wheel it has been worry free. It will cut 1/4 tube at the small end, but just barely. On the large end it gets used to cut 2" abs.
Cutting copper pipe is its main duty, but I've cut emt with it in a pinch. It ratchets so you don't have to crank it all the way from one end to the other. With a new wheel it will cut plastic tubular traps & such, but it's not the best tool for that job. The thin plastic tube compresses too much.
I use it whenever there is room. I have other cutters for tight spaces, but none of those work as well.
Online pic:
Cutting copper pipe is its main duty, but I've cut emt with it in a pinch. It ratchets so you don't have to crank it all the way from one end to the other. With a new wheel it will cut plastic tubular traps & such, but it's not the best tool for that job. The thin plastic tube compresses too much.
I use it whenever there is room. I have other cutters for tight spaces, but none of those work as well.
Online pic:
Ganymedes
Well-known member
Bonneyman,and the other guys,
I have tube cutters from Ridgid, Imperial-Eastman,Rothenberger,Virax,Facom, Rems and Dako (= David Kotthaus, Germany, now living further under Gedore´s umbrella), from 4, 75 mm till 50,8mm dia. and I like them all.
monkeyspanners
Well-known member
Rothenberger (though quality going bad due to china). Hilmor, Rems. I have some older Imperial ones which are good but newer ones I've had cut spirals and had one where I kept cutting myself as the chrome flaked off.
One thing I learned about tubing cutters is that some manufactures have specific cutting wheels for different materials. They are consumables. So if your breaking the tools are you forcing a dull cutter to work or have the wrong cutter wheel for the material at hand. Another thing is make sure that you have the correct frame size for the dia and wall thickness of the material being cut.
You don't expect one adjustable wrench to be a whole tool kit. Don't expect one tubing cutter to do everything. You might need a few.
lg
no neat sig line
You don't expect one adjustable wrench to be a whole tool kit. Don't expect one tubing cutter to do everything. You might need a few.
lg
no neat sig line
OP
Firebrick43
Well-known member
The imperials broke from being dropped bench height not from dull wheels. I change my wheels regularly to avoid flare cracking from work hardening. While I don't drop tools regularly I do expect them to survive from 36".
The imperial frames look to be pot metal. And thin at that