Polypropylene is a material that has taken first place in modern plumbing. Many plumbing parts are now made from polypropylene, including pipes and fittings. In this regard, logical questions arise. For example, what tool should I use 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. The recommendations we give will help you ideally cut pipes with different diameters and wall thicknesses.
Examples of pipe cutter models
The brand of pipe cutter is chosen based on its purpose and technical characteristics. Sometimes in the selection of cutting tools they are guided by their own experience and liking for the products of a particular company.
VALTEC
Among the rich variety of cutting tools, we can highlight products from the Italian company Valtec, in particular, the VT m.397 model.
A pipe cutter for 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 using a 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, and metal polymer.
I-TECH
Another quite successful example of a pipe cutter (primarily in terms of price) is a product under the “I-TECH” brand. Chinese telescopic cutter, which can process polypropylene metal-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 equipment, which explains the short service life of cutting elements
The design of the I-TECH telescope is equipped with a thin, sharp disk cutter made of alloy steel. Under conditions of moderate productivity, the service life of the cutter will be at least 3 years.
KRAFTOOL
Polypropylene pipe shears from the German company KRAFTOOL, but in Chinese design, are sold on the market under the EXPERT brand. Allows you to cut sleeves up to a diameter of 42 mm.
The cutter is made of alloy steel. The body of the scissors is made of duralumin, which explains the light weight of the tool and fairly high strength.
Developed by the German company KRAFTOOL, but produced by the Chinese company EXPERT. Good quality tool suitable for everyday use
The perfect ratcheting mechanism ensures ease of operation and requires little physical effort from the user.
MILWAUKEE
Cordless pipe cutters are quickly gaining popularity. As an example of such technology, we can note the product MILWAUKEE C12 PPC-0 from American manufacturers.
Automatic shears for cutting PEX pipes. The tool is produced by the American corporation Milwaukee Electric Tool. Cordless pipe cutter with 200 cuts per charge
Automatic shears work with PEX plastic pipes with a diameter of 12-50 mm. The energy source is a 12-volt battery, allowing you to perform up to 200 cuts on one charge.
You will find valuable tips on choosing the optimal pipe cutter for polypropylene pipes in the following article, the contents of which we recommend that you familiarize yourself with.
What you need to know when choosing
Watch the video
If you decide to purchase scissors, then consider the following important points:
- blade feature. It is desirable that it be made of stainless steel, and the sharpening angle is 30 degrees;
- handle with rubber inserts for comfortable use. Before purchasing, you should compare with other types and make sure that the handle fits comfortably in the palm of your hand and is the perfect size;
- a wide and strong base so that the knee is securely fastened, otherwise the result will be an uneven cut;
- weight - everything is simple here, the lower the weight, the easier it is to carry out the work;
- It is desirable that the return of the cutting rail and support be automatic by a spring. Otherwise, you will need to manually return these elements to the open state.
Also, before making a purchase, it is recommended to determine the diameter and length of the pipeline, then make your choice based on this.
Plastic pipe cutting machines
Professional activities where work is carried out with polypropylene pipes already involves the use of machines. Such equipment is mainly intended for cutting large diameter plastic pipes from 63 to 1600 mm. The machines not only help you perform cutting, but also allow you to do it at different angles.
BADA pipe cutting machines
Among specific examples of machine equipment, we 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, cutting workpieces at almost any desired angle (0 - 67.5º). The article we recommend reading will introduce you to the specifics of cutting pipes at an angle using hand tools.
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 can also process tees, crosses, bends, etc.
Band saws SYH 500 and SJC 1600
The SYH 500 radius band saw allows you to work with pipes with a diameter of 63 to 500 mm, process bases and cut at angles, at speeds from 0 to 250 m/min. The SJC 1600 model cuts hoses 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 cutting function, the equipment is designed to perform other types of work
Equipment for professional use - working with plastic pipes - is a stationary type device. The equipment usually requires 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 goes beyond just cutting.
Pipe cutter Exact PipeCut P400
Finnish manufacturers made something similar, but much lighter and not so large, giving the name to their own invention - Exact PipeCut P400. As the name of the machine implies, it is capable of cutting any type of plastic pipe up to a diameter of 400 mm and does this in one pass.
A small-sized, 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, the Exact PipeCut P400 supports chamfering at an angle of 3.9º - 15.7º as a separate function. The kit includes two supports for installing pipes - single and double. The Finnish machine can easily be used in the domestic sphere, since it operates on a 220 V network, and its weight is only 6 kg.
Instead of an epilogue
Based on an established analysis of the market for the devices in question, the following was determined: the majority of research objects (namely, the scissors indicated in the rating) cannot fully ensure the completion of tasks at the required level. It is clear from this that spring devices are a thing of the past, while ratchet devices can still maintain competition. Accordingly, the set of designated devices, devoid of an electric motor drive, is akin to a “hammer and chisel”, used in the most extreme cases. Regarding modern brands of the devices in question, it can be noted that the domestic manufacturer is poorly represented. Moreover, he (the Russian manufacturer) focuses on Western analogues, but without trying to comply with their standards. Bottom line: the choice of scissors should be based only on significantly specific tasks. Otherwise, choosing an expensive device may turn out to be a complete waste of money and a waste of money.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Some tips on choosing scissors are in the following video:
Pipe cutters for polymer pipes are useful and popular tools designed to greatly facilitate plumbing installation work. Thanks to the variety of designs and models, it has become possible to process pipes of different diameters and any wall thickness.
Scissors and cutters easily cut not only ordinary pipes, but also metal-plastic products. The need for such a tool cannot be overestimated.
Tell us about how you cut plastic pipes with your own hands. Share with site visitors technological subtleties that will be useful when performing this work. Please leave comments in the block below, post photos on the topic, and ask questions.
Some features of using scissors
For any scissor models, both manual and electric, the manufacturer always provides detailed instructions. Strict compliance with its provisions is simply mandatory not only to perform high-quality work, but also to ensure compliance with safety regulations by the operator. However, there are principles common to all models. A striking example is the requirement that the pipe must be kept in a vertical position during the cutting process. At the same time, a clear angle of 90 degrees must be maintained between the ends (this especially applies to the working process on welded or fitting pipes). You should also keep the entire work process under constant control - for this, the handle of the tool, which is responsible for pressing/approaching the blade, must move smoothly in order to prevent deformation of the object being processed.
Universal scissors with ratchet mechanism
I don’t know which factory makes this design of scissors, because I’ve seen them under different brands. If you put Uponor, Rehau, Kraftool and Zenten scissors next to each other, the scissors will differ only in color.
I think that these manufacturers simply order these scissors from a third-party manufacturer for their own brand. Oddly enough, the cost of these scissors is different for everyone. Zenten and Uponor cost about 4,000 rubles, and Kraftool and Rehau about 3,000 rubles.
This pipe cutter format is the best I have ever owned.
These scissors are equally convenient and easy to cut both small-diameter pipes made of soft materials, such as polyethylene, and hard polypropylene pipes with an aluminum layer.
The maximum diameter of pipes that these scissors can cut is 42 mm.
Buy Kraftool scissors on Yandex Market
Buy Rehau scissors on Yandex Market
Link to spare blade
How to use it correctly
The technique of cutting with scissors is not difficult to master. The main thing is to adhere to this sequence:
measure the distance on the pipe, mark control points with a marker; position the pipe section in the pipe cutter so that the cutter takes a position above the mark; press the handle of the tool with a strong but smooth movement, while it is important to ensure that the material being cut is placed strictly perpendicular to the scissors; If necessary, treat the resulting cut with fine abrasive.
Pipe cutting is carried out in compliance with safety precautions. The blades of the tool must be sharp enough and there should be no signs of damage on the body
Using a pipe cutter, you can cut long sections of pipe, but not less than 2 of its diameters. When cutting parts that are too short, the cutter may slip.
It is unacceptable to use lubricants and other liquid solutions during operation to facilitate cutting workpieces. During the soldering process, these products can create defects, which will affect the quality of the connections.
Comparative table of characteristics of the presented brands
| Model/brand | Diameter of cut pipe | Weight, kg | Pipe material |
| Rothenberger Rocut TC 75 | 0 – 75 mm | 1,5 | ppr pipes |
| Rothenberger Rocut TC 63 | 0 – 63 mm | 1,3 | Plastic PP |
| Rothenberger Rocut TC 50 | 6 – 50 mm | 0,6 | Plastic PP |
| Gross 78420 | 6 – 42 mm | 0,44 | PVC |
| Reed SC1 | 32 mm | 0,1 | Thin-walled plastic |
| Reed RSP1 | 42 mm | 0,4 | ppr pipes, PVC |
| Reed RS2 | 63 mm | 1,3 | PP |
| KRAFTOOL 23381-42_z01 | 42 | 0,36 | ppr pipes |
| Rehau REMS 291310 | up to 40 mm | 1,2 | Plastic (metal-plastic) |
Gross
Gross 78420 is used for cutting PVC pipes, baseboards, PVC fillets, and hoses. The pipe cutter is equipped with a trapezoid-shaped knife. Gros has two cutting edges. The tool is made of high quality steel. The ratchet mechanism is improved, the handle is made of three components. The average price is 1000 rubles .
Gross 78420
- High carbon steel blade.
- Light weight 440 g.
- Three-component handle.
- Additional work desk.
- No.
Review:
I liked the model. Average weight. If you work for a long time, you will get tired, but it is made with high quality, and the price is low
RESANTA ASPT-1000
- Coupling method of connecting pipes
- Sword-shaped heater
- Pair welding nozzle
- Power - 1000 W
- Maximum heating - 320°
- Includes 6 nozzles
- Nozzle coating: Teflon
- Production - Russia
The next nominee in my rating is one of the most inexpensive soldering irons on the market, RESANTA ASPT-1000. Among analogues in its price segment, this model stands out for its performance and quick start. The maximum power of the heater is 1000 W, and the operating temperature is adjustable in the range of 50-300 degrees. These parameters will not overload your home network, but the soldering iron will cope with its tasks. Welding tools from Resanta allow you to connect a wide range of pipes and fittings made of polymers, the diameters of which vary between 20-63 mm. And complete matrices in the amount of 6 pieces allow you to glue parts of standard sizes; a special Teflon coating increases their service life. The soldering iron is equipped with indicators that indicate the connection of the unit to the electrical network and the heating temperature. Green and red colors indicate the current state of the device. The soldering iron comes with a suitcase, a screwdriver, a key, protective gloves and a user manual. There is also a stand on which you can place the device during breaks in work. Users who purchased this soldering iron model are satisfied with the device’s packaging, its light weight and long power cord. But, despite the fact that the sword-shaped heater has three holes for installing matrices, the user will not be able to install several pairs at the same time: the holes are too close to each other.
