Cutting 2" PVC Pipe

[JerryB]

Maybe covered before, but search didn't show anything useful.

We are about to re-plumb the more than 40 year old water filtration plant that supplies our subdivision. The original plumbing was mostly 1" to 2 1/2" galvanized pipe connecting a plethora of 110VAC valves and controls that we can not even get repair parts for.

New system will be all Schedule 80 PVC pipe with 24VDC valves and PLC based controls. A modern system that should last at least another 40 years!!

My question is how to make the fairly large number of cuts in the 2" schedule 80 PVC pipe. For some previous minor system repairs we have just used a hacksaw and file with usable results. I would really like to mechanize this laborious task for the large number of cuts required in this new construction.

I just put a piece of Sched. 80 PVC on my 14" portable cutoff ('chop') saw, and it looks like it is the perfect sized tool to perform this task. Problem is that I only have carbide metal cutting blades. Not an acceptable solution to cutting PVC.

What type blades would you recommend using for 1" to (mostly) 2" Schedule 80 PVC pipe? And, I do recognize that some cleanup filing will be required.

 

[rnscustom]

60 tooth carbide wood blade , I use my slide compound mitre saw all the time for that . All types of aluminum stock also

 

[RECox286]

Chop saw with a fine toothed blade. Quick and dirty !

(You can sand the edges if you are concerned with flow

characteristics, or fitting/pipe interference.)

Uncle Bob

 

[shawhite]

Ratcheting pvc cutters. We use these at work to cut everything from sch 40, 80 and thick wall bore pipe and they cut straight.

 

[ovrrdrive]

My Evolution Rage 2 cuts PVC great with the blade that comes with it. Cut's everything from mild steel to PVC to wood. Clean and straight.

 

[rlitman]

...Problem is that I only have carbide metal cutting blades. Not an acceptable solution to cutting PVC...

Why not?

Metal cutting carbide blades differ from wood cutting carbide blades in two ways.

First, they have a finer grained (more expensive, tougher and longer lasting) carbide tooth, and

Second, they have higher anti-kickback feet that will probably help to keep the blade from grabbing the PVC like wood blades like to do.

I can't say that I've tried it, but the more I think about it, the more I think that a metal cutting carbide blade would be great on PVC.

 

[rlitman]

My Evolution Rage 2 cuts PVC great with the blade that comes with it. Cut's everything from mild steel to PVC to wood. Clean and straight.

And that's a metal cutting carbide blade. Sounds just like I'd have expected.

 

[JerryB]

Thanks for the replies & suggestions!

When I wrote "carbide," I actually meant abrasive metal cutting blades. My bad!

I don't think they will be a usable solution here.

I do think a fine tooth wood cutting blade with or without carbide tips will do exactly what we need, just as suggested!

And, I do have adequate de-burring tools to clean up any stray swarf.

Any other concerns or suggestions?

 

[MoonRise]

Abrasive blade on a 14" 'chop saw' to cut PVC pipe?

Works like a charm. BTDT. Just deburr the pipe after cutting it.

May not be the 'best' cut or solution, but it works just fine!

 

[ovrrdrive]

Yeah I've cut many a piece of PVC with a 4" grinder and a cut off wheel... Messy as all get up but cuts clean.

 

[JerryB]

Great info!!

I'll try the existing abrasive blade on a sample before buying toothed blades.

We have the skill, labor and tools to dress the cut ends of the pipe, so if it cuts it reasonably well, we will have a winner!!

Thanks Again,

Jerry

 

[dr_clyde]

I would use a ratcheting pipe cutter. They're cheap and effective. And fast. No mess either. Any plumbing supply will have them. Mines a Lennox, but Ridgid is a nice tool as well.

 

[dr_clyde]

If you're not into the ratcheting cutter and have a portaband, they make saw guides that keep the cut square in pipe. Super fast and way less swarf than a chop saw.

Mine are from a company called techsouth, they make stuff for orbital pipe welding.

 

[sberry]

Get the right cutter. Ratchet job.

 

[bigredmf]

FIL used both a chop saw with a medium toothed carbide blade or a sawsall holding the PVC in one hand and the saw in the other

Both techniques work extremely well

Red


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[indyokie]

There are quite a few great ratchet cutters out there, well worth the investment to get the straight clean cut you are looking for.
I worked for PVC glue manufacture years ago, if you want a quality job - ensure you have full depth of contact by marking the pipe, and using a glue that is rated for the pipe and the temperature you are working. The glue is making a physical and chemical bond for strength.

 

[KenS]

Abrasive blade on a 14" 'chop saw' to cut PVC pipe?

Works like a charm. BTDT. Just deburr the pipe after cutting it.

Second here. Metal chop saw with abrasive blade. Clean, straight cuts -- and it will handle much larger pipe than 2". A benefit is that abrasive blades last a long, long time cutting plastic.

 

[CNGsaves]

FIL used both a chop saw with a medium toothed carbide blade or a sawsall holding the PVC in one hand and the saw in the other

Both techniques work extremely well

Red

Did you stop him . . when he grabbed the top-handle chain saw ???

 

[ddawg16]

Another vote for the chop saw....with just about any blade.....

 

[PugetDude]

Miter saw or chop saw with a high-tooth count blade. I've had good results with an old HSS plywood blade- teeth are small enough it doesn't "grab" the PVC and try to self-feed.

 

[Cypherian]

Having just done this I used a Diablo 10 in. x 80-Tooth Non-Ferrous / Plastic Cutting Saw Blade for 200 plus cuts on a delta 10 inch chop saw. Things I learned the fine shavings will stick to everything so do it outside , put a zero clearance insert in if you can the pvc is a little jumpy or at least the 3/4" cpvc I was cutting did so you had to hold down with in about 4inches of the blade.


This was the process and the end result not what your doing but lol if you count the cuts it took comparable:}

 

[gnpenning]

I prefer the ratchet cutter or chop saw. If you need to a sawzall or Skill saw will work as well.

 

[dogdog]

I just use my 10" compound saw the one I normally cut 2x4 wood with cuts up to about 2.5" I think..... works fine default 40T blades (I think it was there). if you have a finer tooth blade go for it, also works with a carbide tooth blade on the Rage chop saw, but not on an abrasive blade....

 

[ddawg16]

Having just done this I used a Diablo 10 in. x 80-Tooth Non-Ferrous / Plastic Cutting Saw Blade for 200 plus cuts on a delta 10 inch chop saw. Things I learned the fine shavings will stick to everything so do it outside , put a zero clearance insert in if you can the pvc is a little jumpy or at least the 3/4" cpvc I was cutting did so you had to hold down with in about 4inches of the blade.


This was the process and the end result not what your doing but lol if you count the cuts it took comparable:}

Cypher.....ya gotta tell us what that was for....

And...10x on the PVC dust.

 

[59 wagon man]

my Milwaukee m12 pvc shear works great on pvc up to 2". no dust or mess and a whole lot quicker and safer

 

[Cypherian]

Cypher.....ya gotta tell us what that was for....

And...10x on the PVC dust.

The top picture is all the draw clecos that needed a better way to store with out bending the tips. The tips are comprised of 3 pieces the center thin metal wedge and the two outside pieces that slide up and expand. Draw clecos are used to hold metal together temporarily when fabricating the color denotes hole size required to put them in. You put it you pull back the wing nut and tighten down the tips expand to pull tight the metal. The are normally used on thicker material there is another type that is spring driven used with pliers.

Cypher

 

[slip knot]

Another one in the fine tooth wood blade camp here. I've cut all sizes of PVC pipe in my power miter. you can cut bigger pipe by rotating the pipe while running the saw. not the safest way but it does cut it fine.

 

[eddieK]

image hosting freecertificity.com

 

[59 wagon man]

Another tool to buy

 

[racingtadpole]

if you have **** loads of cutting to do, any mechanised saw will get it done, if you have a few, a hand held wood saw will do, that's what I use at work for conduit.

The best way to de-burr PVC pipe is with the pipe itself. Filing/sanding/knife blades/Vargus tools are all a PITA, take an off-cut and run the inside edge around the outside of the section you cut to measure, and then run the outside edge around the inside. Way quicker and cleaner than anything else you are likely to use for that job..

 

[BD1]

I vote for chop saw , just run a shop vac at the saw when cutting .
I don't know if the ratchet cutter will cut schedule 80, 40 yes but 80 ??

 

[awdblazer]

Another tool to buy

the only milwaukee tool i will ever own

 

[acer66]

Another one in the fine tooth wood blade camp here. I've cut all sizes of PVC pipe in my power miter. you can cut bigger pipe by rotating the pipe while running the saw. not the safest way but it does cut it fine.

This is how I do it and if I am in the crawl space etc. I use my trusted Bosch 12V Pocket Reciprocating Saw with a metal blade but with my next job I will buy a a cutting tool like eddieK posted.

 

[george4]

Any old blade on the chop saw seems to work fine. Chop saw is handy if you want cut plastic pipe on an angle for some project.

 

[JerryB]

Thanks for all the replies!

I will try the abrasive blade on a scrap piece this week. I have a pack of 14" abrasive blades, but no toothed blades. I might buy a fine-toothed wood saw if I don't like the abrasive blade results.

Good news is that this is a semi-industrial project where the sawing will be done outside, so no concern about cleanup.

We will probably have around 50 to 75 cuts to make, but plenty of labor to clean ends and get rid of plastic swarf.

We have previously cut some of our 2" Schedule 80 with a hacksaw, but only needed a couple of cuts. This is a much more involved project, thus the query.

Thanks Again,

Jerry

 

[Bighead38]

I use the Milwaukee shear at work. It works awesome.

 

[driftpin]

http://mccusainc.com/

In 1979, the first original patent for PVC Pipe Cutter was patented in the US by MCC Corporation. We are the creator with the idea to cut the PVC pipe in a way of scissors when people was cutting by saw. Our concept through research and development completely changed the world's view the plumbing, irrigation, waterworks, mechanical, and any industries involving plastic pipes. The advantage of using a PVC Pipe Cutter allows for faster, cleaner, and less effort cuts. Manufacturing millions of cutter over the past 30 years, MCC is recognized as a top brand for PVC Pipe Cutters internationally.


My MCC 2" pvc cutter, 1979 model, new ones are a bit different. Keep the blade very clean! That means keeping what you cut, clean.

VC-0363 VC-63ED
cutting capacity~ 2 1/2" (63 mm)
cutting capacity: 2" pvc pipe size I.D.
replacement blade: VCE-0363

 

[BD1]

There are reamers avaiable for PVC .
As for mention of the shears, has anyone tried it ON SCHEDULE 80 ????
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019MRGLE/?tag=atomicindus08-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004T828/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[BD1]

Here's the straight inside one.

 

[fourjeepin]

I have one of the small cutters for up to like 1" pipe and these are so nice. I replaced a pool pump over the weekend and had to cut a bunch of 1-1/2" with my sawzall. Most of the cuts were fairly straight. A ratchet cutter would have been much better and far quicker.

Most of them are not cheap though. I looked today at my nearest HD and didn't see any big ones.