How Do You Cut Your PVC?

[KDpoolguy]

How Do You Cut Your PVC?

Ratchet Cutter?
Oscillating Tool?
Straight blade hand saw?
Bench chop saw?

My PVC ratchet cutter is great for 1/2-3/4 PVC, but I struggle to get anything 1.5-2 inch+ PVC cut flush. I mark a perfect circle using a rubber hose clamp, but just am never happy with the final cut. I use my oscillating saw most of the time, but hate the mess too. I’m obsessive with the evenness, especially with use of inner couplings-though the outer couplings hide this.

Bought a 2” ratchet cutter and it’s not effective for cuts of short pipe runs-just shatters the pipe.

Maybe someone has a recommendation on ratchet cutter manufacturer? -aside from the Husky brand I can still return to my neighborhood Home Depot.

 

[Dirk]

Ratchet for smaller pipe (it does always seem to cut a little crooked, though, maybe that's my technique).

But for the bomb: DeWalt chop saw. Portable, fast, clean(ish), accurate, and straight! It does make a bit of a mess, but I can hook up a vac to mine that cuts down on some of the dust.

 

[jza1736]

Small Milwaukee bandsaw.

Cordless, light, and perfect for up to 1.5" pipe

 

[Pool_Medic]

More efficient, skill saw, blade on backwards.

 

[bdavis466]

Miter saw for the equipment pads, sawzall for everything else.

 

[blazer58]

cordless saw-zall or my chop box

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Skippy just uses a straight blade hand saw. And cleans up the edge with a piece of emory paper or sand paper. He also says he makes the male side almost microscopically edged smaller with the emory paper so it goes in easier. Always use purple glue.

Maddie

 

[Costas > DownUnder]

Hand saw with mitre box but for tight areas I use a Makita reciprocating saw.

 

[kadavis]

M12TM Cordless Lithium-Ion PVC Shear

 

[ride525]

Rigid RC-2375.
It's not cheap though. $93.50 at Home Depot or Amazon

 

[KDpoolguy]

Have you tried the Ridgid ratchet?

The Cordless band saw would come in handy especially to cut PVC at the pad. I have many of the Ryobi ONE+ 18v tools and not sure if they offer one with that system?

I’m returning the 2” ratchet, it’s just not working at all.

I’d love to find space for a miter saw! The versions with vacuum hookups would be Amazing.

 

[bdavis466]

A grinder with a diamond blade also works really well. It doesn't melt the pipe either.

 

[crushkittykitty]

I use a tree saw goes threw like hot butter. Clean edge with knife "scraping at angle inside and out". "No sanding pvc" it will slide in fine once you put the primer and glue on the pipe. You are wasting time sanding

 

[todd.brock]

I have a little Milwaukee Hacksaw sawzall thing. It’s great for close quarters cutting. Same problems exist as regular free hand cutting. Need to get it lined up straight. A miter saw is the way to go for straight , quick cuts. Run your finger around the inside to de burr and good to go.


18x36 vinyl liner ,19k gallons, Hayward Sand Filter, Maxflo VS pump, Hayward VS Omni automation, Aquarite 900 SWCG, Rheem 115k Heat pump, Colorlogic LED, Dolphin M400 robot, TF-100/K-1766

 

[swimcmp]

Reed ratchet pipe shear or the Milwaukee M12 shear

 

[KDpoolguy]

Wife says I can get a Miter Saw. Which one can I get a recommendation on that’s under $200?

One I haven’t seen used is ‘Cutting PVC with string’
Home Depot has this:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Genera...Xar3FC0k4DeFObXUf3RoCSHgQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[blazer58]

Wife says I can get a Miter Saw. Which one can I get a recommendation on that’s under $200?

One I haven’t seen used is ‘Cutting PVC with string’
Home Depot has this:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/General-Tools-PVC-Pipe-Cable-Saw-858/300707431?cm_mmc=Shopping%7CG%7CVF%7CD26P%7C26-7_PLUMBING_REPAIR_%26_REPLAC%7CNA%7CPLA%7CAllOthers%7C71700000033101239%7C58700003865783507%7C92700031090670455&gclid=CjwKCAiA5qTfBRAoEiwAwQy-6XWIbANY1vQk7a240Y0LVYD5IKOBLA6YEn_Xar3FC0k4DeFObXUf3RoCSHgQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have a basic Makita 10" that I have had for over 15 years, still running strong, and has suited all my needs both home and using in construction.

Dewalt also has some decent ones in your price range.

I would opt for a compound and or a sliding compound if I ever buy another one.

Mine is a 10 inch, but there have been a few times I wish it was a 12 inch

As far as cutting pvc with that string, tried it once and never again

 

[todd.brock]

If you are only using it occasionally and don’t have tall baseboards, crown, etc... then a 10”’will do the job. I had a 10” Ryobi from HD that fit the bill perfectly for years- until we moved and I thought we needed new baseboard. So a 12” Hitachi non sliding, compound mitre from Lowe’s for about $189 suits me perfectly. If you do a decent amount of cutting, think hard about a mitre saw stand. Black Friday is an awesome time to pick all this sort of stuff up , cheap.


18x36 vinyl liner ,19k gallons, Hayward Sand Filter, Maxflo VS pump, Hayward VS Omni automation, Aquarite 900 SWCG, Rheem 115k Heat pump, Colorlogic LED, Dolphin M400 robot, TF-100/K-1766

 

[KDpoolguy]

Got my 10” Ryobi Sliding compound miter saw ordered this morning!
It’s coming after I did the majority of my PVC cuts, but doing some wood repair in my gate and fencing. Gonna be so nice to have a chop saw ready all the time!

 

[todd.brock]

Hopefully you found a good Black Friday deal. Congrats on your new purchase! It will serve you well for a fence.


18x36 vinyl liner ,19k gallons, Hayward Sand Filter, Maxflo VS pump, Hayward VS Omni automation, Aquarite 900 SWCG, Rheem 115k Heat pump, Colorlogic LED, Dolphin M400 robot, TF-100/K-1766