PVC Pipe Cutters

[WestlakeTom]

In repairing a leaky section of my PVC main line, I wanted to be sure do a supremo job. So I left the hacksaw in the drawer and shelled out for a real pipe cutter. An LDR Industries model # 511 5151. (We're talking 1" PVC, for which the tool is rated.)

Well, it slices beautifully and easily, except it rarely cuts square! It leaves a slight angle most of the time.

I decided to go ahead and use it anyway, thinking if Orchard Supply and LDR bothers to build and sell the tool and it's recommended everywhere, the off-cuts are probably okay.

Did I screw up? Will I be repairing this section again real soon?

 

[Gary Swart]

I think you worry too much. When I do repair work on my PVC irrigation lines, I usually use a jigsaw. This gives a reasonably square cut and the resulting burrs are easily removed by a quick scraping with a knife. A hacksaw works quite well also. You do not have to have a perfectly square cut, close is good enough. Look how much of the pipe is buried inside the fitting. I am not suggesting you just hack the pipe without a reasonable eyeball effort to make a straight, square cut, but don't get paranoid about it. As far a the cutter is concerned, you have it so use it, but my experience with them is they are not worth the expense.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Southpaw134]

Heck, I've used my 12 inch compund miter saw to cut PVC and as Gary said just a quick scrape with a knife to remove any burrs. However, I am not a professional and don't know if there are any reasons to not do this....

 

[WestlakeTom]

You called it, Gary! I'm a card-carrying obsessive-compulsive - in psychology lingo, it's OCD.

Thanks much for the reassurance.

BTW, my late mother was born (1910) and raised in Yakima - a Spencer. She spoke dearly of it the rest of her life. I plan to visit someday.