Polypropylene - a material that has reached the first position in modern plumbing. Polypropylene now produces many plumbing fittings, including pipes and fittings. In this regard, logical questions arise. For example, what tool to cut PP pipes?
We will talk about how best to cut polymer blanks for pipeline assembly. The article we presented describes in detail how to use scissors for cutting polypropylene pipes in practice. Our recommendations will help you to perfectly cut pipes with different diameters and wall thicknesses.
Overview of polypropylene pipe cutters
Before the start of the review, it is worth clarifying: with scissors, you can cut pipes of small diameters (usually 15-32 mm). Scissors are usually included in the category of hand tools.
Pipe cutters are already used for cutting products of large diameters (32 mm or more). There are manual and electric pipe cutters.
Pipe cutters of polypropylene pipes are presented on the market with a wide range of devices. Each model differs in technical characteristics, operational capabilities, price
Household cutting tools are used in the assembly of pipelines of heating and water systems in country houses. They will be needed in the repair work and modernization of existing circuits in urban apartments.
Cutters will be required for craftsmen who make interesting crafts from PP pipes, collect greenhouses and engage in landscape arrangement of sites.
The entire cutting tool is conditionally divided by type, depending on its design:
- scissors;
- telescopes;
- guillotines.
Scissor cutters are precision hand tools. The characteristic "precision" literally means exact. Indeed, precision scissors give precise, even cuts thanks to the sharp steel blade.
As a rule, such structures are built on the basis of a ratchet mechanism, which allows you to operate with one hand without much effort. The lack of scissors is the blade travel at a certain angle relative to the pipe surface and the ovality defect is obtained.
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Scissors for cutting polypropylene and other polymer pipes are used during assembly, installation, modernization, dismantling, repair of plastic sewer and water lines
The cutting tool allows you to quickly and with the highest possible accuracy cut polymer pipes into elements of the required length
The device of scissors is thought out so that to minimize the application of manual efforts, so that cutting and cutting parts for the assembly of the pipeline does not cause the slightest difficulty
The cutting body of the scissors is arranged so that during the cutting process it cannot deviate from the intended path. The roller shown in the example does not shift a millimeter
In order to avoid crushing the pipe and getting a cut with a large number of burrs, it is necessary to monitor the sharpness of the knives, regularly change or sharpen them, if possible
When choosing a tool for cutting, it is necessary to take into account the diameter of the pipes to be cut and the fixing option that is best for you personally for precise cutting
In the standard arsenal of plumbing, there should be several pipe cutters necessary for cutting risers and taps of water, heating and sewer systems
Reinforced polypropylene pipes designed for hot water are cleaned after cutting. For welding, they remove the outer shell and the layer of reinforcing foil
Polypropylene Pipe Cutting Tool
Production Cutting
Ergonomics of hand tools
Roller version of a pipe cutter knife
Tool with cutting knives
Fixing large diameter pipes
Standard arsenal of plumbing
Stripping reinforced polypropylene pipe
The telescopic tool is structurally made in the form of a bracket, on the front side of which there are 1 or 2 pairs of metal rollers.
At the household sector, cutting tools for plastic pipes in the form of scissors are widespread. These are convenient lightweight constructions, but having restrictions on working with large diameter pipes
On the rear side of the bracket there is a cutting disc mounted on a movable rod. A plastic pipe is inserted between the rollers and the disk cutter, after which cutting is performed by smoothly supporting the torch and turning the tool around the axis of the pipe.
The classic design of a telescopic pipe cutter for polypropylene pipes. All models of this type are built on the same principle.
Guillotine models are structurally reminiscent of scissors, but in this case, a distinctive feature is the exclusively direct step feed of the wedge knife to the pipe body.
There is a uniform load distribution, which gives a better cut (eliminates the ovality defect after cutting).
The guillotine pipe cutter has the advantages of an extremely straight blade travel. The figure shows the simplest design. On sale there are more advanced models
There are manual and automatic guillotine models, for example, operating from a small-sized engine with battery power.
Useful tips outlined in our recommended article will help determine the best model of a pipe cutter for cutting a polymer pipe.
Examples of pipe cutter models
The pipe cutter brand is selected based on the purpose and technical characteristics. Sometimes, in the selection of a cutting tool, they are guided by their own experience and sympathy for the products of a particular company.
VALTEC
Among the rich variety of cutting tools can be distinguished products of the Italian company Valtec, in particular, the model VT m.397.
Pipe cutter of metal-plastic and polymer pipes with a diameter of up to 32 mm is available for manual use. Provides high quality cutting at right angles through the guillotine mechanism.
Guillotine type pipe cutter for polypropylene pipes. Product manufactured by the Italian company Valtec. In practice, this model shows good results.
The tool is designed to work with pipes made of polyethylene (including the PEX and PERT series), polypropylene, polybutene, metal polymer.
I-tech
Another quite successful example of a pipe cutter (primarily in terms of price) is a product under the brand name “I-TECH”. Chinese telescopic cutter, which is available for processing polypropylene plastic pipes up to a diameter of 63 mm. By the way, the same company produces scissors for cutting small plastic pipes.
Telescopic model and scissors for polypropylene from the Chinese company I-TECH. Inexpensive technique, which explains the short life of the cutting elements
The design of the I-TECH telescope is equipped with a thin sharp disk cutter made of alloy steel. With moderate performance, the torch's durability will be at least 3 years.
KRAFTOOL
Polypropylene scissors from the German company KRAFTOOL, but in Chinese design, are sold on the market under the EXPERT brand. They allow cutting sleeves up to a diameter of 42 mm.
The cutter is made of alloy steel. Duralumin-based scissors body, which explains the light weight of the tool and a fairly high strength.
The development of the German company KRAFTOOL, but produced by the Chinese company EXPERT. Good quality tool suitable for domestic conditions
The perfect ratchet mechanism provides ease of use and requires little physical effort from the user.
MILWAUKEE
Cordless pipe cutters are rapidly gaining popularity. As an example of such a technique, the product MILWAUKEE C12 PPC-0 from American manufacturers can be noted.
Automatic shears for cutting pipes from PEX polymers. The tool is released by the American corporation Milwaukee Electric Tool. Cordless pipe cutter with a productivity of 200 cuts per charge
Automatic scissors work with PEX plastic pipes with a diameter of 12-50 mm. The energy source is a 12-volt battery, which allows up to 200 cuts to be performed on a single charge.
Valuable tips on choosing the optimal pipe cutter for polypropylene pipes can be found in the next article, the contents of which we recommend that you familiarize yourself with.
Plastic Pipe Cutting Machines
Professional activity, where work is being done with polypropylene pipes, involves the use of machine tools. Such equipment is mainly intended for cutting large diameter plastic pipes from 63 to 1600 mm. Machines not only help to carry out cutting, but allow you to do it from various angles.
Pipe cutters BADA
From specific examples of machine tool equipment, one can note, for example, BADA band saws:
- SJC 315;
- SYH 500;
- SJC 1600.
Model 315 works with products with a diameter of up to 315 mm, cuts workpieces at almost any desired angle (0 - 67.5º). The specifics of the pipe we recommend reading will familiarize you with the specifics of cutting pipes at an angle with a hand tool.
Professional machines manufactured under the BADA brand for working with large diameter polypropylene pipes. Model SJC 800. Cutting range 63 - 800 mm at different angles
Among other things, such scissors for cutting plastic pipes are also available for processing tees, crosses, bends, etc.
SYH 500 and SJC 1600 Band Saws
The SYH 500 band saw allows you to work with pipes with a diameter of 63 to 500 mm, process the bases and cut at angles at a speed of 0 to 250 m / min. The SJC 1600 model cuts sleeves up to a diameter of 1600 mm at different angles (0-67.5º) at speeds up to 250 m / min.
Machine for cutting plastic pipes with a diameter of up to 1600 mm. In addition to the cut function, the technique is designed to perform other types of work
Equipment for professional use - working with plastic pipes - refers to a stationary type of device. Technique requires, as a rule, power from a three-phase network (380 V).
The weight of the machines reaches several tons, and they are structurally composed of several separate modules. The processing functionality of BADA band saws is not limited to just cutting.
Exact PipeCut P400 Pipe Cutter
Something similar, but significantly lightweight and not so overall, did the Finnish manufacturers, giving the name of their own invention - Exact PipeCut P400. As the name of the machine shows, it is capable of cutting a pipe of plastic of any kind up to a diameter of 400 mm and does it in one pass.
A small, convenient and lightweight machine for cutting polypropylene pipes, developed by a Finnish company. Allows work with pipes with a diameter of 400 mm
In addition to cutting Exact PipeCut P400, as a separate function, chamfering is supported at an angle of 3.9º - 15.7º. The kit includes two supports for installing pipes - single and double. The Finnish machine may well be used in the domestic sphere, as it operates from a 220 V network, and its weight is only 6 kg.
Polymer pipe cutters: instructions for use
Of course, the scissors for cutting plastic pipes, depending on the design features, have their own instructions. Regardless of the type of tool and the conditions of work, it is recommended that you follow the instructions exactly. This approach will protect the user from industrial accidents and help to withstand the life of the tool.
You should always remember: instructions are written in order to convey to the user all the subtleties of working with the tool.
How to use a pipe cutter with rollers?
The user manual for the pipe cutter with rollers usually mentions the following sequence of actions:
- Using a marker, mark the cut line on the surface of the pipe.
- Unscrew the stop screw to the point where the pipe freely enters the yaw of the bracket.
- Press the stop screw clockwise to push the disc mechanism with a slight force to the pipe wall.
- Rotate the torch around the pipe axis 360º (you can repeat the operation).
Then repeat steps 3 and 4 until the pipe is cut off completely.
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Step 1: Mark the line of the future section
Step 2: Installing the cutting tool blade
Step 3: Production of pipe cutting with scissors
Step 4: Stripping and trimming if necessary
It should be emphasized: excessive pressure on the pipe torch disk is unacceptable. Such an action can cause the effect of microcracks at the cutting point, which will negatively affect the quality of work.
The nuances of using scissors for PP pipes
The manual pipe cutter manual mentions the following actions by the user:
- Mark the cut line on the pipe with a marker.
- Place the blade base of the scissors on the marked line.
- Check the accuracy of the blade installation through a special slot.
- With little effort, gently squeeze the tool handles.
Approximately in the same way, cutting is performed using guillotine shears, with the only difference being that in this case, the handle of the tool must be squeezed several times in order to achieve complete cutting.
Plus, the guillotine design has a cutter blade return mechanism. Therefore, before each new use, by pressing the return button, the cutter is set to its original state. Typically, after 450-500 cuts, maintenance should be performed.
Using special scissors for working with plastic pipes, it is necessary to study the operating instructions and act according to the instructions of the tool manufacturer
MOT consists in actions aimed at cleaning and lubricating all working parts of the mechanism. The tool body is carefully opened, cleaned and lubricated by friction parts with machine oil.
According to the instructions, the instrument should be stored in the packaging in which it was purchased. It is forbidden to use a pipe cutter to work with pipes made of their materials other than polymer.
If the time has come to replace the knife on the guillotine, it must be dismantled, sharpened or replaced.
The procedure for removing the blade is as follows:
- Set the knife in a position where the fastening screw heads are visible in the holes on the body.
- Loosen the fastening screws with a Phillips screwdriver.
- Remove blade from holder body.
Set the sharpened or new cutting element in the reverse order.
Other requirements of instructions
Actual for persons using cutting tools for domestic purposes. Each instruction contains information warning that work on cutting polypropylene pipes manually and using cutters is a full-fledged plumbing work.
In fact, work with pipe cutters of different types should be performed only by qualified personnel (at least a 4-5 grade plumber) trained, with the appropriate certificates.
Instrument actions performed by unqualified persons, without the admissions and certificates, may result in an accident and damage to the instrument. Therefore, in such cases, manufacturers of cutters relieve themselves of any responsibility and do not leave any chances for damages.
You will learn about how to choose a tool for cutting metal-plastic pipes from an article devoted to this important issue.
A few tips about choosing scissors - in the next video:
Pipe cutters of polymer pipes are useful and popular tools designed to greatly facilitate plumbing installation work. Due to the variety of designs and models, it became possible to process pipes of different diameters with any wall thickness.
Scissors and cutters easily cut not only ordinary pipes, but also metal-plastic products. It is impossible to overestimate the need for such an instrument.
Tell us about how you personally cut plastic pipes. Share technological subtleties with site visitors that will be useful in carrying out this work. Please leave comments in the block below, post a photo on the topic, ask questions.