A piece of pipe can be cut in many ways, whether it be a hacksaw or a grinder, but at the same time the cut may not be very even, and sometimes it is quite critical. For a more even cut, pipe cutters are used, which are very expensive if the diameters of the pipes that you plan to cut with them are large enough, from 40 mm and above. But you can make such a tool yourself without spending a lot of money on it, since we will make a pipe cutter from a chain and a piece square pipe and a couple more details that you probably have in your garage with a surplus. You only have to spend money on a cutting roller for a pipe cutter, this consumable so they are sold separately in stores. Such a pipe cutter can cut both steel, copper, duralumin and pipes from pvc plastic. Plus, such a tool works quietly and it does not need electricity for its work.
What you need to create a pipe cutter:
- Steel profile of square section;
- A piece of chain from a motorcycle;
- Cutting wheel for factory pipe cutter;
- Strips of sheet metal 5-7 mm thick;
- Bolt with nut;
- A piece of steel pipe (sleeve).
How to make a pipe cutter from a chain and profile, manufacturing process:
To begin with, we make holders for the cutting roller, for this we drill in strips sheet metal holes, I already had such fasteners ready.
We assemble the holder, for this we put the roller between the fasteners and tighten them with a bolt and nut.
Then you need to weld one end of the chain to the handle.
Now weld a piece of hairpin to the second end of the chain.
Then you need to weld to the end of the handle a piece of a round sleeve through which the pin should move freely.
That's it, we select a nut for the stud and our hand-made chain pipe cutter is ready!
Now it remains to test it, for this we place the stud in the sleeve and screw the nut onto it.
We clamp the pipe in a vise, put the pipe cutter on the pipe and tighten the nut, then simply scroll the pipe cutter by the handle around the pipe gradually tightening with each turn wrench nut on the pipe cutter and then scroll the tool around the pipe until a piece of pipe is completely cut off.
If you install communications in the house yourself or plan to repair the pipeline on your own, then you cannot do without such an important tool as a pipe cutter. Why? This "device" provides a perfect cut - even, without burrs, and also protects the system from sawdust getting inside. Let's talk about how to choose a pipe cutter for steel pipes, and is it possible to make a tool with your own hands.
Pipe cutting is not as difficult as you might think
Tool classification
How to choose a pipe cutter for steel pipes so that it serves properly for many years? First you need to study what tools the market offers, how the models differ, and then decide which option will be the most appropriate for the “front” of work in your “nest”.
So, pipe cutters are divided into such types.
- According to the mechanism of action:
- manual;
- electrical;
- with hydraulic drive;
- With pneumatic drive.
- According to the wall thickness of the pipes to be cut:
- for thin-walled structures, to which, in addition to of stainless steel, can be attributed metal-plastic, copper and brass products;
- for thick-walled pipes (steel and cast iron, having a diameter of 12 inches or more) - pipe cutters equipped with special latches in the form of clamps.
- By product design:
- roller (produce models with 1 or 3 rollers);
- rotary;
- With ratchet;
- incisive;
- chain;
- telescopic.
Worth paying attention! Not all pipe cutter models are universal. Sometimes, to cut pipes of different networks, for example, sewerage and water supply, you have to buy two pipe cutters. If you need a universal option, carefully read the instructions.
Meet some types of pipe cutters
Selection Tips
The main element of the pipe cutter is a metal frame, which is often made of forged steel. And the rest of the components of the model may differ. Let's talk in more detail about the most popular of them.
Manual pipe cutters
How to use manual pipe cutters for steel pipes? Everything is extremely simple: the “device” is put on the pipe and moved to the place where the structure will need to be cut. Fix the clamp - so that the tool rotates around the pipe. Then the pipe cutter is rotated around the axis - first in one direction, then in the other direction.
Most often, cutting and roller models are used for work.
The cutting unit is equipped with a steel clip, which wraps around the structure with teeth made of high-strength steel. Their position is additionally regulated. A pair or even one cutter is placed on a movable part, which is regulated by a threaded rod (in cheap models, a handle with such a rod). Thanks to the “device”, the cut is clean and even. Cutting pipe cutter "too tough" design with a diameter not exceeding 10 cm.
The second common version of a manual pipe cutter is a roller one. There are models with either 1 or 3 rollers. Pipes large diameter(1.5-10 cm) can only be mastered with the help of a "device" with 3 rollers. If the diameter of the structure does not exceed 0.5 cm, then a pipe cutter with 1 roller is also suitable. This model is good in everything, except that hangnails remain after the operation. This problem can also be solved with a countersink, but all this is troublesome.
Model with rollers
Manual pipe cutters are the favorite of homeowners who want to do everything on their property with their own hands. The devices are not only inexpensive, but also easy to use - you do not need to have special experience or training to work with them. True, when using such "devices" you will have to work hard, simplicity in this case is based on physical strength.
Electrical Models
If you have to work with pipes professionally, or you are building one house after another, it will not be superfluous to purchase an electric pipe cutter. Such a unit is more productive. You can literally work with him effortlessly, without making any effort.
True, you should be prepared to shell out a tidy sum, but if your budget is not too tight, then by all means purchase an automated unit. In the household, such a tool will come in handy.
The only drawback of electric models is that they cannot be used in hard-to-reach places pipeline. But for such cases, you can purchase a simple manual "device".
On sale you will find two types of power tools - detachable and one-piece. It is more convenient to use a detachable model, consisting of a body divided into 2 parts. Thanks to this device, even a ready-assembled pipeline can be cut with the unit. Therefore, this model is a “magic wand” for those who like to make mistakes and those who intend to repair communications on their own.
The cutting element in an electric pipe cutter is the cutters, of which there are at least 2 in the “device”. One of them is designed for cutting, the other for chamfering. The device is attached to the structure with the help of cams, of which there are from 4 to 8. The standard model is “too tough” for products with a steel thickness of up to 1 inch. If the walls are thicker, you will have to look for a special kind of incisors.
For which processes can the electrical model be used:
- facing;
- chamfering (external, internal, and also with blunting).
It looks like an electric model
The procedure for working with an electrical device is as follows:
- Detachable parts of the unit are placed on the pipe. Then the wrapping elements are aligned strictly vertically. The quality of the cut depends on the accuracy of the installation. The incisors are placed at a distance of 2 mm from the intended cut. It is possible that such a process would require building level. In order to make sure that the installation is correct, make a full turn with the tool holders. It happens that the diameter of the selected model is too large for the pipe that you need to cut. The way out of this situation is simple: purchase special cams and put them under the mounting mechanism.
- cutting process. In electric models, virtually everything is automated. Follow the instructions and the chisel machine will do all the work for you.
It's important to know! In order for the tool to serve you for a long time, and the cuts to be perfect, use a coolant for work.
All in all, an electric steel pipe cutter is an option for homeowners who are not physically fit, save time and want to live in unison with advanced technologies.
Video: how an electric unit works
DIY pipe cutter
Is it possible to make a manual pipe cutter for steel pipes with your own hands? Of course, only such a secret is likely to be owned by your fathers and grandfathers. But now you too comprehend a useful secret.
First, prepare the components, namely:
- square (1.5 by 1.5 cm in size) wire rod;
- bolts M8, M6;
- spring;
- canvases;
- steel bands(1.5 by 0.4 cm);
- metal rivets with a diameter of 0.4 cm.
Step-by-step guide to assembling a manual pipe cutter:
Step 1. Prepare workplace and tools.
Step 2. Sand the sharp edges of the parts intended for the manufacture of the pipe cutter.
Step 3. Process the tail fragment of the wire rod under the handle.
Step 4. Make a bend within 90-120 degrees.
Step 5. Attach the spring under the clamp bolt.
Assemble the tool, focusing on this drawing:
And now about how to use the device.
Fragments of the canvas about 4 cm long, aiming at 3 mm fonts, clamp with a pair of M6 screws between the cheeks and the body. Make sure the blade teeth are pointing in the same direction. Put the homemade unit on the pipe, tighten it by using the M8 bolt. Rotate the fixture around the pipe and tighten the screw little by little. With each revolution, the teeth of the blades should sink into the structure by about half a millimeter.
Experienced homeowners claim that 3 pieces of blades are enough to cut several dozen half-inch pipes.
With the help of such a device, you can even make pucks. To do this, you need to use 2 times more canvases - that's the whole secret. Just choose not long fragments, since only the central part of each of them is involved in the process.
Worth paying attention! Didn’t find canvases in the household, but a lot of files have accumulated? Use them, such a replacement will not harm the quality of work.
Successful cutting to you!
Buy or make a pipe cutter for steel pipes on your own - it's up to you.
Video: all about pipe cutters
Self-repair or installation of a new pipeline will require a variety of tools, including a pipe cutter.
The device cuts pipes evenly, does not leave burrs, sawdust does not get inside.
Do not forget about the labor costs and the speed of the operation. Therefore, we do not consider a hacksaw for metal - a long, uneven cut, requires a lot of effort.
Buy or do it yourself
On the market you can find a large number of models different in principle of operation, design, the ability to cut pipes with different wall thicknesses.
The flame of the burner is directed, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The guiding element of the structure is the collar.
To get started, you need to fix the device on the tubular product and start the gas cutter.
By adjusting the supply of the gas mixture cut pipes of any thickness.
The maximum possible diameter is limited by the length of the clamps. Manufacturers produce models that can cut pipes larger than a meter in diameter.
There are no restrictions on wall thickness.
What thickness does GOST establish for a pipe (find out the dimensions of thick-walled, seamless), for one purpose or another, this will be cut by a thermal device.
In Russian standards for hot-formed seamless pipes, a maximum thickness of 75 millimeters is set.
Thermal cutting machine easily cut such a tubular product.
Consider the characteristics on the example of the domestic model Orbita BM:
- two burners;
- burner speed 100-120 millimeters per minute;
- the deviation value is 1 millimeter per revolution for products with a diameter of up to 1000 millimeters;
- consumption of acetylene or propane - 0.4-0.55 cubic meters per hour, oxygen - up to 12 cubic meters;
- cart electric motor power - 110 watts;
- dimensions: 34.4x51.8x47.7 centimeters;
- total weight 105 kilograms.
The manufacturer provided for the release of both electric and hand model devices.
The manual version weighs a little more, 30 kilograms, one burner is used, natural gas is possible.
homemade tool
To make a device with your own hands the following materials are required:
Sequentially, perform the following steps:
- prepare the necessary tools;
- we grind the edges of the elements that will make up the pipe cutter;
- we process the tail part of the wire rod in the form of a handle;
- make a bend at an angle of 90-120 degrees;
- fasten the spring with a bolt.
To work with such a unit, skill is needed., which will appear after several cuts.
We take fragments of canvases 3-4 centimeters long and clamp them with two M6 bolts.
The teeth on the blades must face in the same direction.
The pipe cutter is put on the pipe and pressed with an M8 bolt.
As the device rotates, slightly turn the bolt pressing the cutting edge.
Each turn should immerse the teeth of the blade by 0.5 millimeters into the structure.
Finally
The choice of pipe cutter model depends, first of all, on the number and diameter of pipes used.
Self made device:
- does not require large expenditures,
- easy to operate
- always at hand.
Buy a pipe cutter or do it yourself - only you decide. Before buying, carefully study the characteristics of the device.
Watch a video about a homemade chain pipe cutter, which was filmed while cutting a pipe during a heating repair in an apartment.
In the process of installing internal pipelines for any purpose, plumbers have to cut pipes into pieces of a certain length.
This is done using a special tool - a pipe cutter.
With small amounts of work, some craftsmen manage with a hacksaw, while others make a pipe cutter with their own hands.
Pipe cutter not categorized universal tools- it will not work to cut a steel and plastic pipe with one device.
True, there are models designed for different materials, but this is rather an exception to general rule. Therefore, you should buy a device only after you have definitely decided on the choice of pipes.
In some cases, pipe cutters designed for cutting steel pipes cut more than soft materials, but the quality of the cut suffers. For example, copper pipe such a tool can be deformed.
Plastic pipes are cut with roller pipe cutters. Their performance is low, but the cut is perfect. Propylene pipes can be cut with a cordless pipe cutter designed specifically for this material. It provides high speed operation, however, the pipe size is limited to a diameter of 42 mm.
Thin plastic pipes can be cut with special scissors. They are inexpensive and easy to work with. But with large volumes, scissors are not suitable - hands get tired quickly.Wall thickness
Pipe cutters are designed for a certain range of pipe wall thickness. Depending on the given parameter they are divided into three groups:
- Heavy Duty: Used when cutting cast iron and steel tubing 12" or larger. Pipe cutters of this group are equipped with reliable latches-clamps.
- For cutting blanks from thin-walled pipes - metal-plastic, stainless, copper and brass.
Asbestos-cement and ceramic sewer pipes cut with chain cutters. They can cut pipes with a diameter of 50 to 150 mm. For pipes large diameters- up to 300 mm - a tool with an extended chain is used.
Design features
Structurally, pipe cutters differ in the type of cutting unit:
- rotary or rotary;
- with ratchet mechanism;
- telescopic;
- chain;
- with ratchet mechanism;
- incisive;
- roller.
The latter are most often used for cutting steel pipes. There can be several cutting rollers - up to three. In addition, the design also provides for guide rollers that hold the workpiece in the desired position. The more rollers, the larger diameter pipe the pipe cutter can cut.
Roller pipe cutter
Single-roller models cope with diameters of 15-50 mm, for three-roller models this range expands to 100 mm.
The cutting pipe cutter is a holder with cutters fixed in it - one or two. The movement of the working unit occurs under the influence of a threaded rod.
The action of chain pipe cutters consists in gradually tightening a chain equipped with cutting rollers around the pipe.
For bending water pipes, a special machine is used, called a pipe bender. - views and drawings of the device, as well as instructions for manufacturing.
Let's consider ways to connect pipes made of metal-plastic.
Operating principle
According to the principle of operation, pipe cutters are classified as follows:
- manual;
- electrical;
- with pneumatic drive;
- with hydraulic drive.
Manual pipe cutters can be classified as household tools. They are inexpensive, easy to use, so no special skills are required from the worker.
Electrical are highly efficient and do not require excessive physical effort. They cost more than manual ones, so it makes sense to buy them only in case of large-scale work.
Manual pipe cutters
Use cutting fluids to extend the life of your electric pipe cutter and produce a high quality cut.DIY pipe cutter
Consider how to make a pipe cutter for steel and other types of pipes with your own hands. Homemade fixtures for cutting pipes is not uncommon. Craftsmen make pipe cutters from improvised materials, uselessly lying around for years in garages. And many adapt a grinder for this purpose (a pipe cutter from a grinder with their own hands), resulting in a kind of cutting machine.
Aerobatics - making a plasma pipe cutter. Truck flywheels, Bendix gears and plasma cutters serve as the basis for this design. But for the manufacture of this monster, metalworking machines are needed, so it is difficult to build it in the garage.
Homemade cutting machine
But there are also the simplest models of self-made pipe cutters, for the manufacture of which materials are used that are abundantly available in the home workshop of a thrifty owner.
A do-it-yourself pipe cutter is quite tolerably used for harvesting pipe segments in small volumes.Necessary tools and materials
To make the device, you will need a general purpose tool:
- spanners;
- yews;
- hacksaw for metal;
- files and files;
- screwdriver;
- hammer.
The starting materials are:
- square wire rod 15x15 mm;
- bolt M8;
- screws M6;
- hacksaw blades;
- spring;
- steel tapes 15x4 mm.
Prepare metal rivets with a diameter of 4 mm.
Sequence of work
Start the work by preparing the tool and the workplace. After you have conveniently placed everything you need, proceed with the basic operations.
Making the left side of the pipe cutter
Cut a piece of wire rod 135 mm long. Fill the lower end of the workpiece with a radius or chamfer and round them with a file.
Then, at a distance of 90 mm from the straight end of the workpiece, drill a hole for the hold-down bolt. Hole diameter - 8.2-8.5 mm.
The teeth of the blades on the right and left parts of the pipe cutter must be directed in the same direction.
From the side of the rounded end, drill a hole for the axle. It can be made from a bar with a diameter of 8 mm or find a suitable finished part.
Making the right side
The right side will have to tinker longer. Firstly, its base, made of wire rod, has a complex shape: from the side of the working part, it is necessary to form two sections 40 mm long, making an angle of 30 degrees with the horizontal and 90-120 degrees with each other (in projection, the picture resembles the roof of a house).
Tuck the remaining free shank under the handle.
Attach tightly to the bent sections of the part - by analogy with the right side of the product.
In the body of the wire rod, on the left side, mark the center of the threaded hole into which the clamping bolt will be screwed.
Opposite the hole on the left side, intended for installing the axle, fix the steel strip.
Its length should be such that the distance from the center of the axle to the nearest edge of the handle is 30 mm.
A hole for the axle is also drilled in the strip beforehand.
Assembly
Insert a clamping bolt into the hole on the left side of the pipe cutter and put a spring on it (it should be between the left and right parts of the device).Install the axle. Its ends can be riveted, only in this case you will get an integral connection of the device parts.
The role of the axis can be played by a pair of screw-nut. This design will allow, if necessary, to disassemble the pipe cutter.
After installing the axle, screw the clamping bolt into the threaded hole located on the right side of the structure.
Related video
In plumbing, when working with steel pipelines, it is often necessary to divide the original workpiece into fragments of a certain size. Of course, a universal hacksaw can also help out, but it is not always convenient to work with it, and the ends of the cut parts are subject to subsequent cleaning. Much better with such operations, a properly selected pipe cutter will cope.
Types and classification of pipe cutters
The task of a pipe cutter of any design is not only to quickly cut the pipe, but also to fix the workpiece in a quality manner before processing. Especially when it comes to steel pipes, for the separation of which much more force must be applied than for copper or plastic products.
Pipe cutters for steel pipes are distinguished by the following features:
- According to the pipe wall thickness (there is a tool that is designed for cutting thick-walled pipes).
- According to the design of the clamping unit - pipe cutters with clamp, lever and screw clamps are produced.
- According to the design of the cutting unit - roller, chain, incisor or ratchet (the latter is more often used for cutting low-plastic materials, and chain pipe cutters are more useful when cutting pipes made of metal-plastic).
- By type of drive - with manual, electric or hydraulic. In the professional production of tubular blanks, pneumatically driven pipe cutters are also used, however, although they cut pipes with a diameter of up to 120 ... 130 mm, they are quite bulky and require a compressor.
A pipe cutter for steel pipes must also have some unique features. For example, the blades of a working tool (regardless of execution) must have a hardness not less than 15 ... 20 HRC greater than the hardness of the pipe material. In order to perform such an assessment, a well-known method is used to determine the approximate chemical composition of the steel pipe material using the “spark test” method. To do this, the end of the pipe is processed on an emery sharpener. The approximate percentage of carbon will be most accurately established, however, in this way, tungsten, molybdenum and manganese can also be identified, and, therefore, the initial hardness and even the approximate grade of the steel pipe material can be established:
- For low-carbon unalloyed steel, the spark beam will be quite solid, and have a light yellow color;
- For medium carbon unalloyed steel, while maintaining the same beam color, the number of forks and brighter flashes will increase;
- For steel of ordinary quality, the spark flow will be thinner, and the branches will be shorter. Flashes are practically non-existent;
- For alloyed steel, the color of the sparks will change to deep yellow, and at their ends, instead of flashes, arrows more elongated along the stream will be observed.
Knowing the approximate hardness of the listed steels, you can choose the optimal hardness of the working blades.
Working principle of manual pipe cutters for steel pipes
The easiest way to cut the material is with roller pipe cutters. The main unit of the tool is a rigid holder, in the movable part of which circular knives are installed (there may be one, two or three). The relative position of the knives can be adjusted depending on the outer diameter of the pipe (the maximum diameter for roller pipe cutters is considered to be up to 100 mm). For long pipes, a tool is available, which also includes guide rollers. They provide longitudinal stability of the workpiece when it is cut.
Before using a roller pipe cutter, the following preparatory transitions are performed:
- Wet the separation surface: this cleans the outer perimeter and partially removes rust/scale;
- Using a clamp, fix the pipe in the cage, focusing on the marked cut line;
Then, with the help of a rod, the cutting head is moved along the perimeter of the pipe, and, gradually increasing the feed, a cut is made. With well-sharpened knives, the cut is clean, without burrs. In order to simplify the design in roller pipe cutters designed for pipes of small diameters - up to 20 ... 30 mm - the rod is combined with a handle, when moving which cutting is performed.
It is not recommended to use roller pipe cutters to separate pipes with a diameter of more than 40 mm. Although the price of such a manual pipe cutter is small, the cut is of insufficient quality, and the physical effort expended is quite large.
More simple design have cutting pipe cutters, which are widely used in living conditions for cutting steel pipes with a diameter of up to 10 ... 15 mm. Instead of circular knives rotating during cutting, cutters are used here, which, with a constantly increasing feed, gradually bite into the thickness of the steel. It is advisable to use manual cutting pipe cutters for cutting pipes made of plastic materials (up to and including steel grade 15kp, or for steels of ordinary quality grades St.1 or St.2kp). In this case, the specific load on the cutters is minimal, and the tool does not need frequent regrinding, which requires a certain skill. The effort can be reduced by lubricating the surface with low viscosity industrial oil or any coolant.
For cutting pipes of especially large diameters (up to 150 ... 200 mm), rotary pipe cutters with a telescopic mechanism for turning rollers are used. Such designs are convenient in that they can be used in conditions that are unfavorable for work (for example, in excavations or pits). The rollers are mounted here along the outer perimeter of the pipe, and then, using a special lever equipped with a mechanical amplifier, they are pressed against the surface of the pipe. By gradually increasing the feed, separation is performed. The cut is produced not so much by force as by the developed torque.
Electric pipe cutters
With a large amount of this kind of work, it is advisable to use a tool with an external drive, although their price is much higher. Especially convenient (in the presence of a fixed network alternating current) electric pipe cutters.
Typical design electric pipe cutter for cutting ductile steel includes:
- Impact-resistant housing with ventilation slots.
- Drive high-speed electric motor, rated for 220 V.
- Three thrust rollers providing the necessary cutting accuracy.
- Cutting mill, fixed in the tool holder on the motor shaft, and protected from the thrust zone.
- Reduction gear.
The mass of electric pipe cutters does not exceed 1.5 kg, however, many designs provide for fastening the tool to locksmith's workbench. Lubricants working area during cutting is not required.
The design of electric pipe cutters for cutting more durable metal is characterized by the absence of a gearbox, and therefore the number of revolutions cutting tool reaches 3000 ... 4000 per minute. In such conditions, the supply of lubricant to the separation zone is mandatory. The working tool is made of hard alloy grades VK5 or VK8, and the disk itself is covered with a removable casing.
The design of the hydraulic pipe cutter includes a working cylinder, a rod and a piston, and the necessary pressure is created by a compact hydraulic pump, which is included in the package. The stroke of the cutter is controlled by changing the pressure of the working fluid - water. Hydraulic pipe cutters can be used in any conditions, but they are inferior in power to electric models.
Capabilities of the most popular handheld pipe cutting tools
Actively promotes its products to the specialized markets of the country trademark RIGID. Pipe cutters from this company are compact in size, and at the same time they cut pipes of both alloyed and non-alloyed steel with high quality. In order to reduce the effort during cutting, the feeding unit is equipped with rolling bearings, which reduce friction losses. The return of the cutting rollers to their original position is carried out spring device. The fastening of the rollers itself is unified and quick-detachable, which facilitates the maintenance of the tool. All pipe cutter parts are made of stainless steel, so pipes can be cut even in a humid environment (for example, under water). The disadvantage of RIGID pipe cutters is the design of the handle, which does not allow developing a large torque during operation.
REED manufactures chain cutters that perform well in repair work on cast iron pipes. REED's SUPER line uses a roller type cutting tool, and is more suitable for cutting steel pipes. Cutting discs are made of high-resistant tool steels, which eliminates the appearance of burrs on the interface. Compared to conventional pipe cutters, the tool has a more comfortable power handle shape, but is not designed for work in conditions high humidity. Preliminary adjustment of the tool and its adjustment during the operation are not required.
Rothenberger manufactures pipe cutters disk type, which are equipped with a convenient clamp-type clamping mechanism, which is easily reconfigured for cutting a steel pipe of a different diameter. The roller tool is characterized by increased strength and rigidity, and therefore can qualitatively cut pipes with thick walls. In terms of cut quality, Rothenberger pipe cutters are not inferior to those discussed above, however, they are equipped with an expanded set of cutting rollers, and therefore are also suitable for working with copper or cast iron pipes.
