Tubing Cutter

[Ralf11]

I made the mistake of organizing all my tool chests, and of course I can't find things.

I "lost" both my tubing cutters. I'm gonna give up on looking for them.

So, what is a cheap, decent quality tubing cutter to buy these days?

No HF stuff...

 

[rlitman]

I'm sure others will chime in with great stuff, but I only use Ridgid for copper tubing. Or are we talking about plastic?

 

[Ralf11]

I cut both - but only as a DIYer...

 

[joe_padavano]

Buying a replacement will guarantee that the original materializes at your feet.
I've got Rigid and Imperial cutters. I use them for both copper and steel tubing with no issues.

 

[carterbeauford]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-1-in-Constant-Swing-Copper-Tubing-Cutter-48-22-4259/301803589

 

[tarbellb]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-1-in-Constant-Swing-Copper-Tubing-Cutter-48-22-4259/301803589

Better option

https://www.homedepot.com/p/AUTOCUT-1-2-in-O-D-Pipe-Tubing-Cutter-ATC12/100090448


Easy to use, and gets into the smallest spaces.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I have the milwaukee m12 tubing cutter, cuts 3/8 - 1" worth every penny.

 

[Ralf11]

Buying a replacement will guarantee that the original materializes at your feet.
...

Definitely! I got 40 years out of it tho...

 

[bob15]

I would buy the ridgid. Zero issues and it's the trade's workhorse.

 

[Ralf11]

ok, I'll get it - $35 at Walmart - shipped

 

[bonneyman]

I've always had good luck with Imperial Eastman tubing cutters - for soft tubing anyway's.

 

[Dagny]

Imperial for copper Rigid for iron.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Buying a replacement will guarantee that the original materializes at your feet.
I've got Rigid and Imperial cutters. I use them for both copper and steel tubing with no issues.

This ^ . Reed is good also .

 

[metaldad]

imperials for copper. company has been sold and cheapened product.
dont know if rothenberger is still around. decent cutters
ridgid, for any material

 

[anndel]

Ridgid

 

[jasonphelps]

The Ridgid is exceptional

Superior Tool will do in a pinch

 

[richpa]

Imperial or Rigid both excellent tools and and always reliable.

 

[chipdog4]

imperials for copper. company has been sold and cheapened product.
dont know if rothenberger is still around. decent cutters
ridgid, for any material

I picked up a Rothenberger on clearance from Menards. Very nice quality cutter. I don't know what type thread they use for the adjuster but that thing is smooth.


https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rothenbeger+tubing+cutter&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

 

[DeeKay]

I like the Ridgid 15SI for small SS instrumentation lines, Ridgid 150L for smaller copper and conduit etc. I don't usually have to mess with anything larger than 1-1/4" so that pretty much takes care of everything.
I had a larger REED quick adjust one for a while that I liked, but the reemer was spring loaded and opened up one time without me noticing it, I reached around to do another cut and ended up needing 10 stitches in my wrist.

 

[neophyte]

Another vote for Rothenberger tubing cutters.
A not though.
Rothenberger has tubing cutters made in Spain, and other tubing cutters made in the USA.
The Spanish cutters tend to have the fancier looking tightening knob.
The Spanish ones also tend to have fancier features.
The US made ones are usually a simpler design.
Both work well.
I’m not sure whether Rothenberger makes the US tubing cutters themselves, or wjether one of the other US tubing or pipe tool manufacturers make them.

 

[neophyte]

I should also probably add,
I also own Ridgid tubing cutters, and while they work well, they don’t seem to operate as smoothly as the Rothenbers cutters.

 

[Ralf11]

I picked up a Rothenberger on clearance from Menards. Very nice quality cutter. I don't know what type thread they use for the adjuster but that thing is smooth.


https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rothenbeger+tubing+cutter&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

that looks very Facomy

 

[neophyte]

that looks very Facomy

The Facom cutters were likely made by Virax, France’s equivalent to Ridgid.
I have bo clue who the Facom cutters would now be made by, since Stanley owns Facom.
Facom used to own Virax from what I recall, but I think Stanley may have sold Virax to Rothenberger.
I think Virax tends to use a rubbery material for the tightening knobs on the tube cutters. Not sure about Facom.

 

[Steve_P]

Mine are all Ridgid. 50 yrs later you can still get replacement wheels for them at Home Depot.