Wedge a screwdriver behind the pipe and cut with a pipeslice. If you're cutting copper pipe in a tight space (such as up against a corner), use an autocut tool. Learn more... Copper pipe has become a popular material in home repair and design. We used the Autocut copper pipe cutter. I have to cut a 3" copper pipe in a wall I've opened up on one side. The Old plumber shows how to join copper pipe without soldering. 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. Pull out the pipe to inspect it, and you should see a groove cut around its circumference. If you’re not working on plumbing, a little movement is not so much of a problem, but it’s undeniably grunt work. Compression fittings are available in different sizes. This is a small opening of about 12x18 square. This simply consists of a wheeled blade and a couple of rollers set into a clam-shell like tool which fits around the pipe. 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. I think 2Busy has the best approach for an even slit in the copper tubing. Here’s an example of such a tool on Amazon. This line will be a guide as you cut into the pipe. Another approach is to use an air compressor driven grinder/cutoff disc. The auto cut tool makes a clean, smooth cut, so you won't need to clean the pipe before using it. Hold the piece of copper pipe steady with one hand when the mini-hacksaw is almost all the way through. Cutting the copper tubing properly. Cutting Copper Pipe A pipe cutter makes cutting copper pipe easy. Attempt this method only if you’re working on a non-plumbing project—or are trapped in your home and cannot pick up another tool from the store. Doing this is fairly straightforward. By using our site, you agree to our. A small circular blade on the other side of the cutter's jaws tightens to the pipe's other side. Alternatively, you can cut a piece of sandpaper into a 1 in (2.5 cm) by 5 in (13 cm) strip. If you don't have these tools, you can always use a hacksaw. Been looking for some sort of cable saw that would cut copper, but no luck. Tags: copper, cutting … Measure the diameter of the pipe you want to cut and purchase an autocut tool for that exact size. The pipe slice’s blade is spring-loaded; slip it around your pipe, and it automatically determines how much to tighten for a clean cut so all you’ll need to concentrate on is twisting the pipe within its grip. Rotate the cutter around the pipe. Keep in mind that sawing the pipe won't give you as precise of a cut. Then mark the spot you want to cut with the marker. To easily cut copper pipe, use an oscillating multitool. Worker cuts the copper pipe with a brass pipe trimming; Workmen in blue overalls cutting a pipe with a saw symbolizing laborers, manual labor and DIY; Closeup of a plumber using a hacksaw to cut down some pipes; Air conditioner repairman cut the copper pipe; Air conditioner repairman cut the copper pipe; Step 1: Use the measuring tape to measure the length that you need to cut. Autocut tools are spring loaded so you won't be able to adjust the size of the cut. Before putting a hand-sawn pipe in a plumbing fixture, use a round file to smooth the pipe interior. This tool is cheap only in terms of the price and it does the job perfectly well. Simply hand tighten the pipe cutter onto the mark where you want to trim the pipe. 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. Use a standard tubing cutter to cut copper pipe. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Begin cutting the pipe and ensure you are continuously moving the blade site to side. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. I've been using a small close quarters cutter, but there are … Cutting a copper pipe close to the wall (in tight quarters)? A hacksaw does cut the copper evenly or cleanly. A pipe slice will get the job done without pinching or complications, even more easily than the pipe cutter. Without a shadow of a doubt, the easiest way to cut copper pipe is to use a pipe slice. Depending on the type of project you’re working on, you’ll want to follow the cutting with a crucial next step. Slide the pipe through the pipe cutter so the groove aligns with the blade, and tighten it once more until it’s just snug. Cut the piping and place a compression ring on the end. With its rich color, sheen, and potential for patina, this metal brings character to any project and looks great in everything from table legs to lighting fixtures. If the pipe doesn't easily snap off, use the tubing cutter to make a clean cut through the pipe. How to Cut Copper Pipe (5 Amazing Tools) -- by Home Repair … To see the SMART Bi-Metal in action check out our video below as we demonstrate cutting copper pipe. You will see small shards of copper inside the tube. Quick lesson on Uponor AquaPEX and copper water supply fittings. As with most jobs around the home, how hard you’ll have to work will depend on your choice of tools. When you’re done, use the pipe cutter’s built-in burr removal tool to shave any burrs or raised lips left on the inside of the pipe, as those would inhibit smooth water passage. Draw a line on the copper pipe where you intend to cut it. Most of them are sized and … Brace the pipe securely and saw it as you would anything else. 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. Slide a compression ring onto the end of the pipe. This article has been viewed 69,101 times. The easiest and best way to accomplish this is by using a tubing cutter. Once it’s snug, give your pipe a couple of turns within the tool’s grasp. Use a PEX cutter or PVC cutter to cut the piping to the length you need. % of people told us that this article helped them. The first step is to cut the tubing to the right length (remember that pipe and water tubing are two distinctly different types of plumbing materials). We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Avoid sawing in a backwards and forwards motion because you could damage the blade or make a ragged cut on the pipe. Making a precise cut is important when installing … Beyond its well-earned prominence in the plumbing department, copper piping is having its moment in the DIY world as an “it” accent. Cutting copper pipe with a tool built expressly for that purpose—a pipe cutter—is an easy, exact, and complication-free process. The cutter is then turned fully around the circumference of the pipe where it will score the pipe cutting into it slightly. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published, This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. 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 ring will help secure your PEX piping to a valve, fitting, or manifold. How To Cut Copper Pipes Here are the recommended steps on cutting copper pipes with a copper pipe cutter. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Usually, I would use a tube cutter which goes round and round the pipe. 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. Last Updated: March 12, 2020 Using a Tube Cutting Tool Measure for your cut. One of the biggest problems is after you have already gone through the problem of cutting the copper pipe. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Zoinks! For pipes under 1 inch (2.5 cm) in size, you can attach an autocut tool. It also works perfectly for aluminum and thin wall tube etc. Never heard of it? It’s dead simple! {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/61\/Cut-Copper-Pipe-Step-01.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-Copper-Pipe-Step-01.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/61\/Cut-Copper-Pipe-Step-01.jpg\/aid9425708-v4-728px-Cut-Copper-Pipe-Step-01.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"