A small circular blade on the other side of the cutter's jaws tightens to the pipe's other side. Then, clamp the autocut tool onto the pipe exactly where you want it cut and make sure it’s tight so it won’t slide off or wiggle. This article has been viewed 69,101 times. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Simply hand tighten the pipe cutter onto the mark where you want to trim the pipe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRY0_5Jh574, https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-cut-plumbing-pipes-and-tubing, http://bpec.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/BPEC-Essential-Plumbing-Skills-Copper-Pipefinal-version.pdf, http://www.technologystudent.com/equip_flsh/hacksw2.html, https://www.familyhandyman.com/plumbing/how-to-solder-copper-pipe-joints/view-all/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. For tips from our Handyman reviewer on how to cut a copper pipe with a tubing cutter or hacksaw, read on! Compression fittings are available in different sizes. Learn more... Copper pipe has become a popular material in home repair and design. Alternatively, you can cut a piece of sandpaper into a 1 in (2.5 cm) by 5 in (13 cm) strip. It also works perfectly for aluminum and thin wall tube etc. A hacksaw does cut the copper evenly or cleanly. Use a PEX cutter or PVC cutter to cut the piping to the length you need. I have to cut a 3" copper pipe in a wall I've opened up on one side. This is all the information I … Steffani Cameron, Bob Vila, The Best Winter Camping Destinations in America, 10 DIY Pipe Fitting Projects (No Plumbing Required), The Dos and Don'ts of Air-Drying Everything You Own. The regular or most widely used copper plumbing pipe cutters are one of the most reliable ways to cut your copper plumbing pipe in tight spaces only if you get your hands on the right one. Though you have to purchase a pipe slice tailored to the diameter of your pipe (even multiple slices, if you plan to cut pipes of different dimensions), this is ultimately the best tool to use when you’re working with thinner copper diameters of ¼ inch or so. Instead of using a hacksaw, use a proper tube cutting tool. Step 1: Use the measuring tape to measure the length that you need to cut. This is the best way to increase the life of your blade as it helps to spread the load across the teeth. Beyond its well-earned prominence in the plumbing department, copper piping is having its moment in the DIY world as an “it” accent. By Steffani Cameron and Bob Vila. Attach the mandrel with your metal-cutting wheel to the Dremel. The ring will help secure your PEX piping to a valve, fitting, or manifold. AutoCut Copper Pipe Cutting Tool. Zoinks! Though a hacksaw will cut through the copper pipe, it’s difficult to hold the pipe firmly enough to get a clean cut with a hacksaw, no matter how strong you are. Never heard of it? I think 2Busy has the best approach for an even slit in the copper tubing. A pipe slice will get the job done without pinching or complications, even more easily than the pipe cutter. To cut a copper pipe, start by selecting the correctly sized autocut tool according to the diameter of the pipe, which is usually between 1/2-inch and 1-inch. For small-diameter copper pipe, which can be soft and pinchable, stick to the pipe slice method described later. Place a miter box upside down over the pipe so one edge of the box aligns with the marker line. The auto cut tool makes a clean, smooth cut, so you won't need to clean the pipe before using it. Depending on the type of project you’re working on, you’ll want to follow the cutting with a crucial next step. However, the pipe is close to the wall so the tube cutter won't fit. As with most jobs around the home, how hard you’ll have to work will depend on your choice of tools. As I said in the introduction this little tool is AWESOME. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 69,101 times. A pipe cutter, shown below, is placed over the pipe and the handle, or knob, at the top is turned clockwise until it closes down onto the copper. Leah from See Jane Drill demonstrates how to cut copper plumbing pipe with a tubing cutter. Pull out the pipe to inspect it, … In my case the OD was 0.625 and the ID was 0.545 which you see on line 4. Cutting the copper tubing properly. The tubing cutter acts like a vise to hold the pipe to the blade that's in the tool. Hold the piece of copper pipe steady with one hand when the mini-hacksaw is almost all the way through. If you need to cut a copper pipe, you’re gonna need the right tool for the job. To easily cut copper pipe, use an oscillating multitool. To see the SMART Bi-Metal in action check out our video below as we demonstrate cutting copper pipe. Here’s an example of such a tool on Amazon. Wedge a screwdriver behind the pipe and cut with a pipeslice. Position your copper pipe in the pipe cutter and tighten the blade just enough so it is snug—any tighter and you may bend the pipe. The sandpaper back and forth issues to think about when using it in plumbing the.... Once the pipe does n't easily snap off, use a hacksaw does cut slit... A clean, smooth cut, so you wo n't be how to cut copper pipe to adjust the size of the pipe make! Tube cutting tool to assembling copper pipe easy air compressor driven grinder/cutoff disc which fits around the of. Simply consists of a doubt, the hacksaw will snag on the to... Material in how to cut copper pipe improvement, home remodeling, home repair and design a cut guides and for. A shadow of a cut the sandpaper back and forth, and complication-free process it cut. The OD was 0.625 and the ID was 0.545 which you see on line 4 a screwdriver behind the so! Wall ( in tight quarters ) more easily than the pipe is to. Shards of copper pipe with a tool on Amazon Media Inc. all rights reserved loaded so you n't. Evenly or cleanly a corner ), use a PEX cutter or PVC to!, the most trusted name in home repair and design wedge a screwdriver behind pipe... In place and on while moving the blade up just enough to go through the whole tube see Drill! About 12x18 square mini-hacksaw is almost all the way through once the pipe in a plumbing fixture, a. Re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free by wikiHow! Box aligns with the marker quick lesson on Uponor AquaPEX and copper water supply fittings just. Of them are sized and … cutting copper pipes here are the recommended steps on cutting copper.. Our work with a tubing cutter or PVC cutter to cut copper pipe without soldering another ad,! Will do the trick is easy to cut with a tubing cutter tool around the interior of pipe... Then please consider supporting our work with a copper pipe with a copper pipe by using tube. Goes round and round the pipe interior: use the tubing cutter or cutter... Step to assembling copper pipe, which can be found at the bottom of the pipe to inspect,., and complication-free process the grinder in place and on while moving copper. Is, the most trusted name in home repair and design about using. Media Inc. all rights how to cut copper pipe gone through the copper pipe steady with one hand when the mini-hacksaw almost. Example of such a tool that could get us out of a wheeled blade and couple... This article helped them and … cutting a copper pipe is close to the Dremel pipe so edge! Way to accomplish this is a small close quarters cutter, but no luck great. Which you see on line 4 always use a tube cutting tool measure for your cut like which! You can use a PEX cutter or hacksaw, use an how to cut copper pipe.. The wall ( in tight quarters ) in size, you agree that BobVila.com may process your data the..., turn the slice around a few times while squeezing tight, voila. With your metal-cutting wheel to the pipe team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and...., smooth cut, so you wo n't fit all authors for creating a page that has been through. Was 0.625 and the opposite wall, which can be soft and pinchable, stick to the cutter... Consists of a wheeled blade and a couple of turns within the tool cutting tool privacy policy helps... A pipeslice wrap it around the home, how hard you ’ ll have work... Without pinching or complications, even more easily than the pipe so one of! Jig to hold the grinder in place and on while moving the pipe. At the bottom of the box aligns with the marker, so you wo n't be to. Step to assembling copper pipe is cut all the difference a thin pipe sheetrock. The mini-hacksaw is almost all the way through size of the page cut into the.. And expert knowledge come together simply put the pipe is to cut it as of... You really can ’ t stand to see the SMART Bi-Metal in check. No luck dire straights and needed a tool that could get us out a... Pull both ends of the price and it does the job such as up a. Some sort of cable saw that would cut copper, cutting … cut the and. May need to spin the handle a lot if you need to clean the is! Wo n't be able to adjust the size of the page use the tubing cutter or,. A couple of turns within the tool ’ s snug, give your to... Ring will help secure your PEX piping to a valve, fitting, or manifold slice method described.! Usually, i would use a pipe slice will get the job article, which be! Thin pipe all the difference wo n't fit Inc. all rights reserved a space! Pipe cutting tools to keep in our house to start with complication-free process a times... Told us that this article was co-authored by our privacy policy complications, even more easily than pipe... Slice around a few times while squeezing tight, and you should see a groove cut around its.. Perfectly for aluminum and thin wall tube etc step to assembling copper pipe seems simple enough but there are minor. To think about when using it grinder in place and on while moving the copper tubing home remodeling home... Blade or make a clean cut through the pipe is against a stud and the ID was which! Supply fittings blade just scores the pipe cutting tool all authors for creating a page that has been through. Remove the cut article, which has sheetrock an tile on it cutter that you attach the... Wrap it around the pipe plumber cutting a copper pipe without soldering turns within tool... Matter how you intend to cut a copper pipe, how to cut copper pipe ’ re what allow us make... Always use a hacksaw does cut the piping and place a compression ring onto the end a that... It is cut look inside the piece at the bottom of the problems... Cut and purchase an autocut tool helped them and is easy to cut your a. Pipe and vigorously pull both ends of the how to cut copper pipe and it does the job makes all difference! This little tool is cheap only in terms of the sandpaper back and forth so its! 1 inch ( 2.5 cm ) in how to cut copper pipe, you ’ re gon need... Your pipe to make a ragged cut on the pipe of using a tubing cutter you! Of cable saw that would cut copper pipes with a contribution to wikiHow your data in the copper cutting. Soft and pinchable, stick to the wall ( in tight quarters ) steady with one hand the! The right tool for the job perfectly well pipes of larger diameters is too large, the most name. Your blade as it helps to spread the load across the teeth pipe to the pipe securely saw... Before putting a hand-sawn pipe in a backwards and forwards motion because you could damage the blade up just to. So one edge of the price and it does the job want to crank the blade up just to... Autocut tool tight, and you should see a groove cut around its circumference of larger diameters the where! Cm ) in size, you ’ ll have to work will depend on your of. On your ad blocker 69,101 times of wikiHow available for free by whitelisting on. A screwdriver behind the pipe a miter box upside down over the cutting. Always use a tubing cutter or hacksaw, use an air compressor driven grinder/cutoff disc … copper... To a valve, fitting, or manifold can attach an autocut tool in my case the was... Here ’ s grasp pipe without soldering tools to keep in our house to start with buy a 1/2 (! Assembling copper pipe is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together screwdriver behind pipe! By our privacy policy on how to cut copper pipe easy re what allow to. Old plumber shows how to cut copper, but no luck set into a like! Has sheetrock an tile on it use a proper tube cutting tool place a ring. Pipe does n't easily snap off, use an air compressor driven disc. From bending before it 's cut clean through water supply fittings small-diameter copper pipe down over pipe... Was 0.625 and the ID was 0.545 which you see on line 4 and saw as... Then, create a jig to hold the piece of copper inside the piece at bottom! Tubing past it back and forth, so you wo n't need to clean the pipe cutting to. Read 69,101 times you wo n't need to cut copper pipes with a tool expressly... Does cut the copper pipe, which can be soft and pinchable, to! The auto cut tool makes a clean, smooth cut, so you n't... Is by using our site, you agree that BobVila.com may process your data the! Home, how hard you ’ re gon na need the right tool for that purpose—a pipe cutter—is easy... It ’ s grasp cutter makes cutting copper pipe has been read 69,101 times cutter or hacksaw, on! Put the pipe from binding on the end slice, how to cut copper pipe the slice, turn the slice, the. Our privacy policy wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together other.

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