How to Cut PVC Plastic Pipe
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) first gained notice in the late 19th century, according to the book "PVC Pipe, Design and Installation," but it wasn't until much later that the use of PVC materials caught on. Now, of course, PVC pipes are universal building materials. You can easily cut PVC plastic pipe using an ordinary handsaw. Merle Henkenius, in his "Ultimate Guide to Plumbing," recommends going slow and steady when cutting a PVC pipe. "Moving the saw too fast can cause the saw blade to overheat," he writes, "gumming it up and leaving hard-to-remove burrs in the pipe." Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- PVC pipe
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Bench vise
- Handsaw
- Knife
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Instructions
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Measure the length of PVC pipe you wish to cut, using a ruler or measuring tape.
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Make a mark on the pipe, using a pencil, to show the location of your cut.
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Put the PVC pipe into a bench vise, then screw the vise down tight around the pipe.
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Align your handsaw blade with the inside edge of your pencil mark, and saw in a back-and-forth motion until the pipe separates fully. Remember, take your time. For larger pipes, you can even stop and rotate the PVC pipe as necessary when cutting.
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Loosen the bench vise, and remove the pipe.
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Use a sharp knife to scrape away any burrs on the cut edges of the pipe. Do this by holding the knife sideways and sliding it across the pipe's inner and outer surfaces. "De-burring" like this will help the pipe slide more easily into a fitting hub.
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Tips & Warnings
You can also cut the PVC pipe with a power miter saw, but according to HammerZone.com, this comes with risks: "The saw blade must be lowered very slowly into the plastic or else the blade will grab and tear a chunk out. Then the chunk will bounce off the saw fence and hit you."
Wear safety goggles and a dust mask for your protection when cutting plastic.
