One of the most common materials used to make pipes other than PVC is copper. Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity, making it a popular choice for electrical wiring and components. Additionally, the material is highly resistant to corrosion and has a long lifespan, making it suitable for various applications, including plumbing and building construction.
The antimicrobial properties of copper ensure that it is an excellent choice in many vital places, such as hospitals and food processing facilities. For that reason, you are undoubtedly likely to get copper anywhere in your house.
As a DIY enthusiast, you will have to meet copper at some point. Since copper is one of the most rigid materials you can encounter in piping, you will need to employ expertly specified methods to cut the copper pipes. This article provides tips and tools to make the work easier for you. Here is how you can cut copper pipes easily.
1. Cutting Copper Pipes
Choosing the correct technique for cutting your copper pipes depends on your specific circumstances and available tools. Some of the most common methods are as follows:
- Using a Hacksaw
- Using A Copper Pipe Cutter
- Using a Miter Saw
The following is a detailed description of how to use the tools above.
2. Using A Hacksaw
A hacksaw is slightly similar to the ordinary hand-held saw, with a few differences. A hacksaw is a blade with fine teeth often mounted on a frame. The frame has to adjust knobs which either increase the tension or lessen it to work for the specific circumstances.
Since the traditional hand-held saw is ordinarily weak and suited for softer materials such as wood or plastic, the mounted hacksaw offers more usage opportunities. Remember, you can replace the hacksaw whenever it gets blunt, so it is a tool you can use for an extended time.
Using a hacksaw to cut a copper pipe is a relatively simple venture, especially if you have some background in DIY work. First, you need to identify what point of the pipe you want to cut. After doing so, trace a line on the pipe showing where you intend to cut.
Cutting a pipe without first defining where the cut is to go is a rookie mistake and can lead to you doing shoddy work. Even the experts trace out the cut before lifting the hacksaw.
After drawing the line, cut the pipe with even forward and backward motions, ensuring that the hacksaw is always straight. If the hacksaw bends, you may find that the cut is not even as you had expected it to be.
Cutting using a hacksaw requires force, especially if the copper pipe is very hard. After cutting the pipe, you may need to file the edge to ensure that the cut part is smooth. The disadvantage of using a hacksaw to cut a pipe is that the edge is not always as smooth as you want it to be. For that reason, other methods are preferable.
3. Using A Copper Pipe Cutter
Using a copper pipe cutter is one of the most accurate ways of cutting a copper pipe. A good copper pipe cutter ensures that all the cuts you make on the pipe do not deform the pipe and are accurate, straight, and even. There are different types of copper pipe cutters of different kinds of sizes.
For that reason, you can use a copper pipe cutter to cut pipes with edges where you generally have no space. This gives you a lot of leverage, especially when you want to repair pipes located at obscure and remote places in a house or building.
When using a copper pipe cutter, the first thing you need to do is to secure the cutter on the pipe firmly. Ordinarily, a good pipe cutter is manufactured to resemble a clamp. Therefore, you need to clamp the cutter on the pipe to hold the pipe in position.
Unlike when using a hacksaw, you do not need to trace out a line of the edge you want to cut when using a copper pipe cutter.
After placing the copper pipe cutter on the pipe, rotate the device around the edge of the pipe, then trace out a fine line that you will use as your guiding edge.
As soon as you have identified the edge that guides the culture wants to make common continue tightening the copper pipe cutter to increase the force applied. Ultimately, you will realize that the edge has already been made in a way that meets your specific requirements.
4. Using A Miter Saw
Lastly, a miter saw is an excellent choice if you intend to cut numerous pipes simultaneously. A miter saw is a power instrument that may be used to make accurate cuts in several materials, including plastic, metal, and wood. It is also often referred to as a chop saw or drop saw.
It comprises a circular saw blade that is placed on a pivot arm, which allows it to be turned to create angled cuts. Additionally, the pivot arm may be secured in position so that straight cuts can be made.
Miter saws are often used in carpentry and woodworking, but they are also capable of slicing through various materials, including plastic sheets and metal pipes, amongst other things.
If you want to make numerous cuts for pipes on a commercial scale, miter pipes are the way to go. All you need is accurate measurements of the pipe cuts you want to make.
Afterward, cut the pipes carefully, ensuring you take care to avoid injuries. Remember, miter saws are powered tools that may harm you if you are not careful. Additionally, since the tool cuts the edges very quickly, cutting an edge without care can lead to uneven edges and ruin all the copper pipes.
Final Words
Whether you want to do a DIY job or cut pipes commercially, choosing the right tools will make all the difference. The tool you go for depends on the circumstances in question. Sometimes, a hacksaw can be the best tool, especially when funds are tight and the job is not urgent. Other times, a specialized tool like a pipe cutter will be the only option. Regardless of the circumstances, the tools above ought to be sufficient.
