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What Can You Use to Cut PVC Pipe (How To)

PVC pipe is a product that stretches far beyond its most basic function of getting liquids from one point to another, making it an often-used product for a number of different projects. When it comes to cutting PVC pipe though, what can be used?

The different tools that can be used to cut PVC pipe include a chop saw, circular saw, angle grinder, dremel, hacksaw, hand saw, jigsaw, miter saw, reciprocating saw, wood saw, and a pipe cutter.

Disambiguation: PVC material vs this article for PVC Pipes

Plumber using pipe cutter to trim PVC pipe

PVC pipe was originally created as a product that would work for plumbing and piping needs, but due to its inexpensive cost, durability, and light overall weight, it has become an item used in countless different ways for a number of different purposes. If you are using PVC and are looking for different ways to cut this product, continue reading below to see the most likely and unlikely tools that can get the job done.

What Can You Use to Cut PVC Pipe

From plumbing, to art projects, to science fairs, to homemade hamster mazes, PVC pipe is a product many find themselves coming back to time and time again for all kinds of different experiments, as this item proves over and over that it can be used for just about anything imaginable. If you are in the middle of working with PVC and need to cut a pipe, read on to see what can be used to complete such a task.

Different tools that can be used to cut PVC pipe include

Can You Cut PVC Pipe With Chop Saw

Close up of chop saw

With a low purchase price, an ability to cut through thick materials such as metal, and will do so without having to worry about the blade snagging, chop saws are a tool that many people working with heavy duty materials keep in their shop no matter what. If you only happen to have a chop saw though, is this tool too abrasive to cut through PVC pipe? Read on to see if it is possible to cut PVC pipe with a chop saw.

You can cut PVC pipe with a chop saw and it does not matter whether the pipe is made of plastic or metal. If you are only going to make a few cuts on the pipe, a standard blade is fine to use, however, if you plan to make quite a few cuts, consider switching to a melamine saw blade.

Can You Cut PVC Pipe With Circular Saw

Circular saw cutting blue PVC pipe

When it comes to one of the most common tools in any workshop, the circular saw typically falls at the top of the list. This tool is one that is great for those who are just starting out on their handyman venture but it is also an incredibly useful tool for those who have much more experience. If you have a circular saw and are looking to cut PVC pipe, can this be done without damaging the pipe?

You can cut PVC pipe with a circular saw, but note that the blades can be easily damaged due to the softness of the pipe material. Be sure that you have the appropriate blade attached and that the saw is operating at a high enough speed to ensure no snagging on the material occurs.

Can You Cut PVC Pipe With Angle Grinder

Angle grinder with white background

The angle grinder was originally developed to be used as a grinder or polisher, but due to the ease of use that this device offers by being handheld, over the years, attachments have been made so that it can also be used to cut. If you own an angle grinder and are looking to cut PVC pipe, is it possible to use such a tool to do so? If this is your question, continue reading below to see if this is possible, and if so, what you need to do to ensure the right cut.

You can cut PVC pipe with an angle grinder, but you need to make sure that you have the right cutter attachment connected to the tool. If you have a polishing or grinding attachment, it will not be able to penetrate the surface of the pipe well enough to complete a cut.

Can You Cut PVC Pipe With Dremel

Cutting pipe using dremel

A dremel rotary tool is a kind of niche tool that is great for those who need something that is capable of engraving, carving, grinding, sharpening, routing, polishing, cleaning, and even cutting. This handheld tool is incredibly versatile and can find a purpose in just about any project so long as you know the right way to use such a device. If you are looking at your dremel rotary tool and wondering whether or not it can cut through PVC pipe, keep on reading.

You can cut PVC pipe with a dremel rotary tool, but you want to make sure that you make the cut slowly. When using a dremel to cut plastic PVC, the fast rotation of the small blade can melt the material on the pipe, which can cause the cut to be uneven and damage your blade.

Can You Cut PVC Pipe With Hacksaw

Cutting pipe using hacksaw

A hacksaw is one of those tools that most everyone has if they find themselves working with their hands, whether that be outdoors or on various projects indoors. The hacksaw is an old tool, but it is one that has stayed around over the ages due to its ease of use, controllability, and effective implementation. When you are looking for a tool to cut PVC pipe, is it possible to use a hacksaw safely and effectively to do so?

You can cut PVC pipe with a hacksaw, simply secure the pipe and begin cutting, but avoid moving in motions too fast that could deter the cut path of the saw. Once you near the end of the cut, slow down enough to keep the cut precise and prevent the saw from going off course.

Can You Cut PVC Pipe With Hand Saw

Hand saw cutting PVC pipe

You might be wondering why a hand saw made this list of tools when a hacksaw was just mentioned, because aren’t these tools the same? Contrary to some individuals’ understanding, a hand saw is actually different from a hacksaw because this tool is designed to cut wood rather than metal or plastic. It is just as useful for a variety of different projects and needs indoors outdoors, but when it comes to cutting PVC pipe, can you do so with a hand saw?

You can cut PVC pipe with a hand saw, even though the design of this tool is intended for wood. For the most part, wood is a soft material and just like wood, plastic is a somewhat soft material as well. Simply secure the pipe, start cutting with a consistent motion, and your work is done.

Can You Cut PVC Pipe With Hot Knife

Blue PVC pipes

If you have ever used a hot knife to cut through certain materials, you know that this type of tool offers a very satisfying type of cut if applied to the right item. For some, you don’t have to worry about shavings or dust coming from the product, simply a clean cut or hole without any clean up after. When it comes to cutting PVC pipe, can you cut it with a hot knife successfully?

You should not cut PVC pipe with a hot knife, as the heat from the knife will cause the plastic to melt. When this happens, it creates a jagged end to the pipe and can even obstruct the interior or the pipe if enough of the plastic melts and drips into the center of the product.

Can You Cut PVC Pipe With Jigsaw

Jigsaw resting on wood work table

You might not have a hot knife laying around your toolshed, but if there is another tool that most everyone has in their lineup, it is the jigsaw. This tool works well for a slew of different needs as it can cut just about any cut you need without having to worry about the bulk of a miter saw while also giving you the ability to make more intricate work. If you have a jigsaw and are wanting to cut PVC pipe with it, read on to see if this is possible.

You can cut PVC pipe with a Jigsaw, just be sure that the pipe does not have a width that is larger than the length of the blade. Have the blade running at a fast enough speed, secure the pipe, and saw through the PVC pipe.

Can You Cut PVC Pipe With Miter Saw

Miter saw resting on wood plank

The miter saw is the holy grail of smaller circular saws when it comes to having the most versatile tool. The reason this saw is so useful is that it can be adjusted to make a wide range of different cuts, rather than being tied down to simply cutting straight cuts. This is a heavy duty tool though and when it comes to PVC pipe, you might be wondering if it is too much. To see if you can cut PVC pipe with a miter saw, take a look below.

You can cut PVC pipe with a miter saw and you do not have to purchase a special type of blade to do so. Simply use the existing wood blade on the saw, place your PVC pipe how you intend it to be cut, and cut through the material within a matter of seconds.

Can You Cut PVC Pipe With Reciprocating Saw

Reciprocating saw

The reciprocating saw got its name due to the motion this tool works in. The reciprocating saw works in a pull and push motion and is a handheld machine powered tool that is used primarily for different remodeling jobs that require small amounts of cutting without the need for larger circular saws. If you don’t own a circular saw but do have a reciprocating saw, can you use this tool to cut through PVC pipe without any problem?

You can use a reciprocating saw to cut through PVC pipe, as this tool was actually designed with this task being one of its various abilities. For cutting small PVC pipe, simply run the saw through the pipe. For larger pipes, mark the cut and rotate the pipe to complete the task.

Can You Cut PVC Pipe With Wood Saw

Wood saw cutting PVC pipe

A wood saw, or what would be the same as a hand saw, is a saw that is designed to cut through wood or other soft materials. This saw comes with a toothed edge that can easily saw through this type of material with the push and pull of the user’s hands. If you own a wood saw and are looking for a way to cut PVC pipe, can you accomplish this task with such a tool without damaging the pipe?

You can cut PVC pipe with a wood saw as long as the PVC pipe is made of plastic. Plastic is a soft material like wood, which means that this tool will easily cut through smaller pieces without any problem. You can cut through larger pipes, but the cut may not be as even all the way around.

How to Properly Cut PVC Pipe (Pipe Cutter)

Green PVC pipe cutter

Now that you have read through all of the different ways you can (and cannot) cut through PVC pipe, you might be surprised to know the number of different tools that will actually work for this job. However, even with many of the above tools being a great choice to cut PVC pipe with, there is one tool that is the most proper choice for such a task: a pipe cutter.

To properly cut PVC Pipe you will need a pipe cutter. Simply place the cutter around the pipe, clamp down on the cutter with some force, and the pipe will be evenly cut within a matter of seconds, making this the most consistent and easy tool to use for such a job.

There are a wide range of different tools that can be used to cut PVC pipe, but the most proper tool to use for pipes that are no bigger than 40mm is a pipe cutter. Simply place the cutter on the pipe, bear down and clamp the pipe, and a clean cut will be visible within seconds.

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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on February 25, 2022.

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