One of the most accurate tools for cutting PVC to guarantee a tight seal is a PVC pipe cutter. Polyvinyl chloride is a commonly used plastic piping when installing or repairing drains.
So, if you are planning on some DIY plumbing repair for sinks, showers, toilets, or drains, PVC is a reliable option, and a bit of know-how will facilitate your project.
While fittings and bonding cement will be easy to find for working with PVC, the real challenge comes when cutting the pipe.
PVC pipe needs to be cut to size before it can be installed in your home improvement project, and herein lies any difficulty that you may encounter. If your cut leaves the pipe end off square or with burrs from an uneven cut, it can block the progress of your project.
How to Cut PVC Tubing Using a Husky Ratcheting PVC Pipe Cutter
Your PVC pipe cutter basically resembles a pair of pliers but has a sharp cutting blade on one side.
Using this tool is probably the easiest way to cut PVC tubing with the least hassle.
Necessary Tools
- PVC Pipe
- Husky Ratcheting PVC Pipe Cutter
- Workbench or sawhorses
- Silicone-based Lubricant or cooking oil
- Marker or crayon
Step 1: Measure
Lie the PVC tubing on your workbench or even on a set of sawhorses. Measure the pipe to the length you need for your project.
Step 2: Mark
Using a marker or a crayon, mark where you intend to cut.
Step 3: Lubricate
Use a silicone-based spray lubricant and spray it onto the pipe. One short spray should be more than adequate and will avoid messy excess lubricant. A lubricant helps minimize any cutting friction and limit dust emission.
Tip: If you don’t have a spray lubricant, you can spray cooking oil because it is safe for use on plastics such as food containers.
Step 4: Position the Pipe into the pipe cutter
Open the ratchet pipe cutter to the fully open position by pulling the moveable lever-handle outward and the cutter’s jaws will pop open. Position the PVC pipe you intend to cut. Position the tubing in the cutter’s jaws.
Step 5: Prepare to Cut
Ratchet the cutter’s jaws to meet the width of the PVC tubing. This is done by repeatedly squeezing the moveable handle-lever until the blade touches the piping.
Step 6: Cut
Continue ratcheting by squeezing the handle lever until you complete cutting through the pipe.
Conclusion
The Husky Ratcheting PVC tool is an affordable cutting tool that cuts cleanly and efficiently and requires little effort or time.
