Pipe cutter?

[Dean Hoffman]

I need to cut some 1/2" copper and pvc water lines. This is one of those once in a billion year's projects. Will something like this

do a decent job?

[Terry Coombs]

  Yes , and so will this one .  

[Clare Snyder]

It will do the copper, no problem. Should handle the PVC too although I've never used one on plastic

[Clare Snyder]

At about 1/3 the price and includes a reamer - - -

[hrhofmann]

The HF I would be my first choice, based on price. The HF cutter might not last as long as Rigid, but if space is not a problem, the HF should last f or many more cuts than you are likely to need in a lifetime of home handyma n projects, And, you can get a free light or batteries or grabber tool or magnetic strip or many other things for free at HF when you make any sort o f purchase.

[rbowman]

Yes it will assuming the tubing is within the range.

That said, that's somewhat specialized. I have one that I use in tight places where it would be impossible to swing a standard cutter. For most jobs what I reach for first is something like

I find the full size variety much easier to use. The design gives you a lot more leverage to rotate the cutter. It's not that you need a huge amount of force to swing it, but the mini versions can be awkward.

It's not a show stopper, but the full size versions also have the reamer that swings out. No matter how slowly and gently you feed the cutter wheel there will be a burr on the inside of the tubing. Realistically a little burr probably wouldn't hurt but I prefer to get rid of it.

[rbowman]

As long as the cutting wheel tracks straight... I don't know how you can screw up a tubing cutter but the Chinese that handcraft stuff for HF manage to.

[rbowman]

I had a HF cutter that wanted to thread its way down the tubing. I assume the rollers were misaligned but I didn't dig too deeply before throwing it away. Their flaring tools are also crap.

[Dean Hoffman]

I bought one at a farm supply store years ago for some really odd project. It walked down the pipe instead of making a straight cut. It's in an iron pile somewhere. The pipe I want to cut is attached to floor joists. There should be room to work at least on this project.

[Pat McMeekan]

I had one of those poorly-manufactured tubing cutters too.

If you started the cut going clockwise, the cutter would track true.

If you started the cut going anticlockwise, the cutter would start cutting a fine thread.

[None]

I really like these types of cutters. No adjusting, very fast and they are great in tight spots.

[Dean Hoffman]

What's to say? I'm growing up to be a cynical old fart. Grumpy, too.