Cutting PVC drain/soil pipes

mw6263 · 03-09-2008, 01:18 PM

What's the best way to get nice straight cuts in drain and soil pvc pipes? I've tried with hack saws and never get a good perpendicular cut. Will using my miter saw (w/general purpose cross cut blade) prematurely dull the blade?

Mike Swearingen · 03-09-2008, 02:14 PM

For larger PVC, I would go with a reciprocating saw and a little practice on scrap pipe.
Good Luck!
Mike

Ron The Plumber · 03-09-2008, 02:34 PM

Miter box with plain hand saw from Lennox

majakdragon · 03-09-2008, 02:55 PM

I have used a simple (and cheap) wooden miterbox with my PVC saw (handsaw). I think plastic dulls the blade lots quicker than wood. I did a prefab job up North and we did use a mitersaw for the repetitive cuts we had to make. Seemed to work well. I would advise a full face shield if using a power saw. Those chips hurt.

mw6263 · 03-09-2008, 03:28 PM

Thanks.
I didn't think a regular hand saw would work with this material. I'll throw together a cheap miter box specific to the task.

Marlin · 03-09-2008, 07:46 PM

For 2" and smaller Ridgid makes a ratchet cutter which is excellent. Larger than that I use a reciprocating saw.
I've used a miter saw on occasion and it works fine. Just use a fine sharp blade and go slow.

JDC · 03-11-2008, 02:16 AM

a) sawzall

b) pvc handsaw

c) chop saw

Thats about all I use for PVC with my favorite being the chop saw. However, unless I'm making multiple cuts on 3" or larger, it just isnt worth dragging it out of the gangbox.

RippySkippy · 03-11-2008, 09:07 AM

I'll do just about anything to get the cut made with a chop saw, make sure to debur after each cut.

I've cut stuff off under the floor with the cutoff wheel on a roto-zip...but man does that make a mess, handy but MESSY.

03-09-2008, 01:18 PM	#1
mw6263 Newbie Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 11	Cutting PVC drain/soil pipes What's the best way to get nice straight cuts in drain and soil pvc pipes? I've tried with hack saws and never get a good perpendicular cut. Will using my miter saw (w/general purpose cross cut blade) prematurely dull the blade?

03-09-2008, 02:14 PM	#2
Mike Swearingen Long-Time DIYer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: On Albemarle Sound In Northeastern NC Posts: 1,460	Cutting PVC drain/soil pipes For larger PVC, I would go with a reciprocating saw and a little practice on scrap pipe. Good Luck! Mike

03-09-2008, 02:34 PM	#3
Ron The Plumber Journeyman Plumber Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 1,994	Cutting PVC drain/soil pipes Miter box with plain hand saw from Lennox __________________ Fix it right the first time, so you won't have to fix it a 2nd time. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Last edited by Ron The Plumber; 03-09-2008 at 02:56 PM.

03-09-2008, 02:55 PM	#4
majakdragon Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,670	Cutting PVC drain/soil pipes I have used a simple (and cheap) wooden miterbox with my PVC saw (handsaw). I think plastic dulls the blade lots quicker than wood. I did a prefab job up North and we did use a mitersaw for the repetitive cuts we had to make. Seemed to work well. I would advise a full face shield if using a power saw. Those chips hurt. __________________ If you have never made a mistake, you haven't done much.

03-09-2008, 03:28 PM	#5
mw6263 Newbie Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 11	Cutting PVC drain/soil pipes Thanks. I didn't think a regular hand saw would work with this material. I'll throw together a cheap miter box specific to the task.

Cutting PVC drain/soil pipes