Pex/hose/tubing cutter?

[posaune]

After a long time away from home (and GJ), I had a project to do around the house today and decided I needed one of these tools to make a clean, square cut in pex. Long story short is that I was disgusted by all of the expensive Chinese tools at Lowe's and HD, so I went home and got nothing done.

Is there a recommended tool in this category? I'm not completely against Chinese stuff, but I do want something relatively high quality. I won't be using this much, so the $100 ones are out.

 

[Big-Foot]

I looked high and low for the same as you. I ended up buying this one and so far it cuts through Pex tubing line a hot knife through butter...

http://www.menards.com/main/plumbin...ocut-32-economy-pipe-shear/p-79256-c-8611.htm

Edit ---
BTW, this thing is actually pretty well built and the handles are powder-coated metal.

 

[greasemonkey44]

i used the red rigid cutters; they were dirt cheap and iirc us made
they lasted for hundreds of cuts and lots of abuse

 

[mark40sw]

http://www.homedepot.com/buy/milwaukee-propex-tubing-cutter-397764.html#.UDG0ZaDuw2I
Milwaukee 48-22-4200
Milwaukee ProPEX®/Tubing Cutter

 

[posaune]

I looked at the Rothenberger ones online and they looked interesting, but I'm hoping to find something close. If not though, I lean toward those. Unfortunately, everything I saw marked Ridgid was made in China (though it looked decent).

Amazingly, Lowe's has one (the brand was Superior Tool maybe?) that is made in the US, but it seemed to be more poorly made than the others.

I haven't seen the Milwaukee yet, but I'll look for it. Any thoughts on Lenox?

 

[slip knot]

I haven't had any issues with using the chinaman cutters on pex.

 

[MrMark]

I bought a Klein one in Home Depot, cheaper than the Chinaman ridgid. It's probably Taiwan as it is not marked on the tool. But, it seems to be a good tool. I've used it quite a bit and like it.

 

[camarotoolman]

I've sold pex tools on feebay, ya might find something good there. They have come way down in price from a few years ago.

 

[darkk]

My son in law owns a heating and plumbing company and he uses these from Home Depot. Under $8 It's only plastic tubing. I did my whole house in pex and bought a ratcheting set for about $30 from the tubing supplier..
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...astic+tube+cutters&storeId=10051#.UDIf9aDleSo

 

[luvit]

i've cut a lot of pex and can't recall issues with square cuts.
ive used typical "**********" tube cutters, but i more-so appreciated carrying the size of the following cutter..

 

[Steevo]

I have always just used my PVC cutter, which is a cheapo from HD.

 

[5mall5nail5]

Best cut, hands down

http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=group_detail&parentID=1369&groupID=1410

 

[BD1]

I use a RIDGID PVC cutter.
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&keywords=rigid pvc cutter&page=1&rh=i:aps,k:rigid pvc cutter

 

[posaune]

i've cut a lot of pex and can't recall issues with square cuts.

Well, maybe I shouldn't be worried. I am planning to use SharkBite fittings or the equivalent and it looks like the cuts need to be pretty square to seal correctly. Maybe I'm wrong though- I've never even *touched* pex before.

Best cut, hands down

http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=group_detail&parentID=1369&groupID=1410

Lol. Well yes, and I'd love to have them, but that would more than double the cost of the project.

 

[luvit]

Well, maybe I shouldn't be worried. I am planning to use SharkBite fittings or the equivalent and it looks like the cuts need to be pretty square to seal correctly. Maybe I'm wrong though- I've never even *touched* pex before.

you're gonna love pex, if you have good crimpers
and no, square cuts are not required.. there are enough barbs and those copper crimp rings really make it water-tight.
i've made hundreds of crimps in a few homes and not a single leak on any crimp

also, i purchased these crimpers because at the time, pex crimpers were $100 per crimp size..
i bought these crimpers for $60, which covers all pex sizes.
one crimper does 1" pex, the other crimper does the other sizes.
http://pexcrimper.com

 

[luvit]

nevermind, my post, above, may be irrelevant to sharkbite fittings.
sharkbite looks pretty cool.. i wonder how they compare in cost to regular crimp fittings..
.

 

[Big-Foot]

Crimp fittings are cheaper than SharkBites, but not reuseabe like the SharkBites are. I gave up on soldering in close spaces anymore because they pretty mch have done away with lead solder and the replacement stuff ***** the big one (doesn't sweat well).. I use almost all SharkBite or the plastic versions now...

 

[Provincial]

I use a hose cutter similar to the Home Depot model only mine has blue handles rather than red. I find that the hose cutter, because of the sharper blade, cuts cleanly and square on 1/2 and 3/4 pex. I haven't tried it on 1" pex, but I'm sure it will cut that just as well as the smaller sizes. I use it on radiator, heater, and air hoses, plus the black nylon tubing for truck air brakes. It works well on all of them.