Need to cut through flexible metal conduit

[Kenwc]

Wire and all....easily. A lot of machines I restore come to me with the wiring in this conduit and depending on condition I want it cut out and gone quickly and easily.

I have low hand strength and need a lot of leverage and ability to lop though 1/2" to 3/4" dia.

What would you suggest...for the best.

Thanks

Ken

 

[Provincial]

Sawzall with a fine tooth hacksaw (metal cutting) blade. Cuts through this like butter! I have never used a cordless, but one should perform well for this job. I have always used a corded sawzall, which has more power than needed for this.

 

[Kenwc]

Sawzall with a fine tooth hacksaw (metal cutting) blade. Cuts through this like butter! I have never used a cordless, but one should perform well for this job. I have always used a corded sawzall, which has more power than needed for this.

That's not a bad idea actually....that could be used on many other things as well.

Thanks

Still interested in hearing about some bad A$$ loppers.

 

[FrankieD]

Portable bandsaw!

 

[Kenwc]

Portable bandsaw!

Thanks but for me that's ovekill

 

[TinKnocker]

Portable bandsaw!

x2. less vibration.

 

[elevator joe]

I vote portable band saw like frankied. A saws all will shake flex all over the place especially with wire in it. Band sawscan be pretty versitile.

 

[Kenwc]

x2. less vibration.

Lol...trust me on this one....I'm also in Wheelchair....I'd lop off a leg with a portable bad saw....

Thanks though.

 

[metaldad]

a 6'' metabo with a super slicer wheel. wear eye protection.

 

[edl]

http://compare.ebay.com/like/280494002204?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar

 

[elevator joe]

Option 2, there is a crank style cutter like a can opener for flex you can get at electrical ware houses. Then go after the wires with a side cutters. No lopping of limbs!. Just a thought good luck

 

[A_Pmech]

Don't cut though FMC, it makes a huge jagged mess which will snag the wire insulation.

For smaller stuff, use an MC cable cutter. For larger stuff, a narrow abrasive wheel in a die grinder held parallel to the axis of the conduit will do the trick. Cut though one "band", then unscrew it to separate the two halves.

 

[BD1]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002R6C4EA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

How about this compact milwaukee portaband ?

 

['04 Cummins]

Ratcheting cable cutters...

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=202102657&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=202102657&ci_kw={keyword}&kwd={keyword}&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googleads-_-pla-_-202102657&ci_gpa=pla#.UBNKTVKZdtg

 

[EOC_Jason]

Ratcheting cable cutters a life saver when trying to go through thick material, but I don't know if they come in a size that could go around the conduit too...

 

['04 Cummins]

Ratcheting cable cutters a life saver when trying to go through thick material, but I don't know if they come in a size that could go around the conduit too...

Those particular ones go through 477 MCM cable, which is just a bit larger than 3/4" flex. There are also open ended ones: http://www.toolup.com/greenlee_773_high-performance-ratchet-cable-cutter.aspx

 

[shampoop]

 

[Dustball]

Not cheap but it'll do what you want-

http://www.coptool.com/blog/2012/06/milwaukee_m12_electrician_600.html

 

[fourjeepin]

I'd use a grinder 4-1/2" or smaller. With a thin, metal cutting wheel. Not the thicker grinding wheels. Sawzall would be a mess.

 

[mrtoolfool]

Ratcheting cable cutters...

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=202102657&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=202102657&ci_kw={keyword}&kwd={keyword}&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googleads-_-pla-_-202102657&ci_gpa=pla#.UBNKTVKZdtg

Just a note: ANY of these type of cutters are designed for copper or aluminum cable. NOT steel conduit. Although they will probably cut it, you would ruin the blade.

 

[EvilWelder]

4.5" grinder with a whizzer

 

[HubbaBubba]

Sawzall? Grinder? Bandsaw? What? A_P has the correct answer!

 

[mrtoolfool]

Not cheap but it'll do what you want-

http://www.coptool.com/blog/2012/06/milwaukee_m12_electrician_600.html

These say right on the blade "DO NOT CUT STEEL" He wants to cut thru the conduit and wires inside. I'd hate to ruin a 450.00 tool using it as not intended.

 

[mrtoolfool]

Yes, a MC cutter would be the best but it sounds as if he is just trying to get it off quickly to dispose of it. If that is the case, a cordless grinder with a cutoff blade would work well. A cordless Sawzall would work also, but might be hard to hold the cable from jumping around.

 

[Provincial]

For what he is doing, it is likely that he wants to cut the conduit/wires near the end fittings, in which case the sawzall will not have the problems the critics describe.

The MC cable cutter is the proper tool for assembling metal flex, but this is demolition work.

I have used the MC cable cutters and like them. I have also used a cutoff wheel on a 4-1/2" grinder to cut flex (without wires installed) and the burr doesn't matter since you are using a plastic bushing to protect the wires from contacting the cut end of the flex anyway. But we're talking wiring instead of demolition, which is the OP's objective.

 

[darkzero]

If you just want a quick cut without a need for reusing it & less mess, how about a big pair of bolt cutters (if they open wide enough)?

 

[ctb]

41/2 - 5" grinder with a thin blade. **** the hacksaw.

 

[greasemonkey44]

if you have low hand strength you would be better served with a dremel and a cut off wheel
the die grinders and 4 1/2 grinders are aggressive and tend to twist; a sawsall can be difficult for a unfamiliar grown man to handle
the dremel is light, easy to use, and zips right through bolts and steel

 

[Larwyn]

It has been my experience that cutting stranded copper wire with a saws all requires the wires be stretched very tight. The slack in the wire allows it to follow the blade stroke rather being severed, thy just go along for the ride. Cut off wheels in grinders are noisy and messy, I would just use my porta-band instead.

If low hand strength makes that impossible, I would consider opening the juunction boxes and cutting the wires one at a time then disconnect the conduit fitting.

 

[Kenwc]

Thanks for all the replies but I think I'm going with this one.

Seriously though I took care of my immediate need with my dremel and a cutoff wheel...

I've needed a sawzall before so I ordered one....ordered a smallish set of bolt cutters as well. I don't like getting caught without a tool.


Thanks

 

[osborn.ozzy]

 

[55bigblockcid]

 

['04 Cummins]

Just a note: ANY of these type of cutters are designed for copper or aluminum cable. NOT steel conduit. Although they will probably cut it, you would ruin the blade.

The ones I linked cut ACSR, so they'll cut steel flex without damaging the blade...

 

[Nelson58]

Ken,

I'd use a hand-operated rotary cutter used by electricians to cut flexible metal clad cable and BX. A few turns and the metal sheath is quickly and neatly cut. No electric, no goggles, no sparks. You can pull it free and cut the wires with some wire cutters. Or, if you want to keep the wires intact, just pull the metal sheathing free of them.

Nelson