Manual pipe cutter for steel pipes: types, characteristics, application. Instructions for making a manual pipe cutter Do-it-yourself device for cutting metal pipes

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 execution 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.

A simpler design has cutting pipe cutters, which are widely used in domestic 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 stationary AC network) are electric pipe cutters.

A typical design of a pipe cutter with an electric drive 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 a bench workbench. Lubrication of the 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 of the 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

The RIGID trademark actively promotes its products to the profile markets of the country. 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 by a 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 pipe cutters that have proven themselves in repair work on cast iron pipelines. REED's SUPER line uses a roller type cutting tool, and is more suitable for cutting steel pipes. The cutting discs are made of highly 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 wet conditions. Preliminary adjustment of the tool and its adjustment during the operation are not required.

Rothenberger manufactures disc-type pipe cutters that are equipped with a convenient clamp-type clamping mechanism that can be easily adjusted to cut 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.

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 of square pipe and a couple more parts 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 is a consumable item, so they are sold separately in stores. Such a pipe cutter can cut both steel, copper, duralumin and PVC plastic pipes. 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 holes in sheet metal strips, but 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 with each turn, tighten the nut on the pipe cutter with a wrench and then scroll the tool around the pipe until a piece of pipe is completely cut off.

When considering the features of pipe cutters, one should pay attention to the fact that such a tool cannot be classified as universal - it can be used to cut steel pipes with certain parameters. There are models that can work with different materials, but they are quite rare. A high-quality pipe cutter that is able to cut a steel pipe of large diameter and with a significant wall thickness costs a lot. That is why many people decide to make a pipe cutter for steel pipes with their own hands. You can find several dozen drawings that are used to create a homemade device. Almost all home-made versions are made for certain working conditions: the range of diameter and length of the pipe, the hardness of the material, mobile or stationary use. When choosing which scheme to make a homemade pipe cutter for steel pipes, you should decide on the classification of the device in question, as well as the features of its choice.

Tool classification

As previously noted, a pipe cutter for copper pipes or steel can be classified according to a number of different features. Consider the main ones:

According to the mechanism of action, manual, electric, hydraulic and pneumatic models are poured. A manual version can usually be made quickly and easily, but buying a ready-made pipe cutter does not require a lot of money - so in some cases it is easier to buy than to make it yourself. Electric has been used quite often lately, it allows to establish small-scale production. The cost of the industrial version is very high, but you can independently make a pipe cutter from a grinder. Hydraulic and pneumatic are used for cutting with very high force, most often found in engineering and other heavy industries. Note that making a pipe cutter with hydraulics for steel pipes with your own hands is quite difficult and expensive.
Classification is also carried out according to the wall thickness of the steel pipe. Conventionally, rolled products are divided into thin-walled and thick-walled structures. A homemade pipe cutter can be made for both. However, large diameter and thick wall pipes require a lot of force to cut. Therefore, in this case, the possibility of acquiring or manufacturing electrical models should be considered.

Also, the distinctive qualities of the tool in question can be called a kind of main mechanism through which the force is transmitted. An example is chain, roller, mouth or rotary mechanisms.

What should be considered?

When creating a pipe cutter for metal pipes with your own hands, you should pay attention to the following points:

What material is supposed to be processed. Rolled metal is quite difficult to cut, and to obtain a high-quality medium, the softness of the metal should be taken into account: too soft (copper, aluminum) will not be cut off, but flattened, too (hardened steel) may not be machined. The type of material being processed determines what material the knives will be made of, as well as the amount of force transmitted.
Another important point is the wall thickness. A home-made manual pipe cutter can only be used for cutting thin steel pipes of small diameter, the electric model will transmit more force, which means that the wall thickness can reach several tens of millimeters.
The maximum and minimum diametrical size of a steel pipe can also be called indicators that are recommended to be taken into account. It is also worth considering the approximate length of the workpieces to create a convenient mechanism for feeding them to the cutting zone.

The above points are recommended to be taken into account when considering the most suitable drawing in order to create a homemade pipe cutter for copper pipes or from steel, plastic and other material. There are models created from a grinder or other tools. In this case, consider a homemade mobile pipe cutter.

Homemade electric model: tools and parts

To make such a fairly complex device, you may need:

yews;
keys;
hacksaw for metal;
files;
hammer;
screwdrivers;
drill;
welding.

The starting materials will be:

bolts and screws;
wire rod with a square profile 15 by 15 mm;
spring;
several steel bands;
rivets;
hacksaw blade.

The work will take a lot of time, which needs to be taken into account.

Work progress

Your cut tool, in this case the left side, can be done as follows:

We cut the wire rod 135 mm long.
We measure 90 mm and create a hole for the clamping bolt.
We impose a canvas on the upper edge, which is fixed with a clamping bar using screws and rivets.
A hole is drilled on one side, which will become the axis. As an axis, you can use a rod with a diameter of 8 mm.

From the side of the working part, a section 40 mm long is formed, which has a shape resembling a gable roof of a house.
The rest will serve as the handle.
On the left side of the wire rod, you need to create a hole into which the clamping bolt will be screwed.
Opposite the hole into which the axle will be inserted, a steel strip is attached. The length of the strip is selected taking into account that the formed length from the center of the axis to the handle is at least 30 mm.

The hand tool, as can be seen from the above information, consists of two main parts. After their preparation, assembly is carried out:

A bolt is inserted into the axial hole made and a spring is put on, which should be located between the left and right parts.
A combination of a screw and a nut can be used as an axis. In this case, it will not be necessary to carry out welding work, and if necessary, it will be possible to analyze the created hand tool.
The fixation of both sides, when using a pair of bolt and nut, occurs due to the clamping of the nut.

In a similar way, you can answer the question of how to make a pipe cutter with your own hands. The features of such a home-made version include the fact that it can be adjusted to the most suitable range of steel pipe diameters. Making it yourself does not take much time and money, the created tool will last for many years.

In conclusion, we note that you can also make models with your own hands, in which the force is transmitted through a chain or belt drive from an electric motor. The production of such equipment requires the presence of certain skills of an engineer and a master.

You may also be interested in articles:

How to make a coordinate table with your own hands Pipe cutters for steel pipes How to make a jointer with your own hands How to make a guillotine for cutting metal with your own hands?

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.

The pipe cutter does not belong to the category of 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 the 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 softer materials, but the quality of the cut suffers. For example, a copper pipe can be deformed with such a tool.

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 this 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 are cut with chain pipe cutters. They can cut pipes with a diameter of 50 to 150 mm. For pipes of 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 attributed to 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 pipe cutting tools are 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: on 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.

Rules for use and care

In order for the pipe cutter to serve for a long time and reliably, to cut off qualitatively and not to spoil the pipe walls during operation, it is very important to choose the optimal level of clamping of the steel part.

Do not overtighten the workpiece. This can cause a mismatch between the beginning and end of the cut line, creating an unaesthetic appearance of a helical thread on the part.

If the steel pipe is clamped in the pipe cutter clearly, but not too hard, cutting will be quick, there will be no screw mark on the part, and the edge will be smooth and even.

The rotation of the mechanism should be uniform, but not very fast. Otherwise, the walls will collapse and excess cut metal will form at the cut-off point.

For a correct and long service life after work, the surface of the cutting roller, the feed screw and the guide rollers are cleaned with a special agent, and then treated with grease.

The outer surface is inspected for dents or other damage, and the chips are polished so as not to interfere with subsequent work. Cutting elements (cutter or roller) are examined for bluntness and, if necessary, are immediately replaced.

For storage, the pipe cutter is left in a dry and warm place. After such procedures and comfortable storage conditions, the device will remain operational for a long time and will easily cope with all tasks.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

How the clamp pipe cutter works: a detailed video tutorial on how to use a manual pipe cutter equipped with a clamp latch. The reliable unit has good power and copes with parts with a diameter of 32 to 365 mm.

Cutting steel pipes with a roller pipe cutter: the video clearly shows the process of cutting steel pipe material with a diameter of 3 to 150 mm with a roller assembly.

The manual model copes well with one-time work, and the electric one is suitable for larger repair and installation activities.

Split pipe cutter for steel at work: how the split cutter works with steel pipes is clearly seen in this video. The device has a useful feature that allows you to partially cut the pipeline even without access to the end of the system.

The device is equipped with an electric or pneumatic drive and provides maximum cutting accuracy while using the minimum space around the pipe for work.

Knowing all the above nuances, choosing the best one will not be difficult. For additional advice before buying, you should contact the store staff. They will talk in detail about the proposed models and describe all the pros and cons of products from various brands.

Looking for a pipe cutter for home use? Or do you have experience with similar devices? Share it with our readers. Please tell us which model you chose, are you satisfied with your purchase? Write comments below the article.