Cutting RNMC in place

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nhfire77

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Anyone have a trick for cutting PVC in place?

I am trying to avoid removing conductors from PVC before cutting into it. I have to splice in a box and alter the circuits direction.

It is attached to a ceiling 12' up. Its quite a long pull with two nineties. and its a, almost full, piece of 3/4"

I know. I know... I can damage the conductors and you are supposed to pull in only in a completed raceway. If I nick them, I am pulling them out anyway .

I looking to ease my work load. Its in a plant that plates metal with cyanide involved. The work isn't in the plating room but I want to minimize my time in there. This is a very safety conscious business, I just don't like the smell of the place. I am charging enough for the hassle of it all, but I thought you all might have some in site.
 
Not sure if you have the access to do it, but I have sleeved a 1/2" emt over the conductors and then spun a ratcheting PVC cutter around the pipe, works great and the wire is protected.
 
In the past I've used a Dremel but the string idea does work. Just requires a little more effort.
 
I just had to do the same thing with several 4" scedule 80 pvc pipes that were side by side next to wall, I went to lowes and bought a few feet of the lightest gauge steel cable, two tear drop shaped cable eyes, and a couple of cable crimps and made my own cable saw. It worked like a charm and cost about eight bucks.
 
for small pvc cuts like this I've taken a hack saw blade and taped up one half of the blade so it looks like a jail bird's knife - then use the blade by hand to slowly cut around the pvc - go slow and be careful - snap it off when it is very close to going through all the way around
 
I love all the ideas. Thinking outside the box is great. 550 yes sir. I will have to make a few cuts I will try different ideas. I like the sleeve with 1/2" might work.

Keep em' coming!
 
I have used a ratcheting pvc pipe cutter to do this.
It's the small one that most plumbers use.....$10

I ratchet it onto the pipe until the blade touches the pipe, and then sink the blade into the pipe about 1 click on the ratchet.
I then spin the cutter around the pipe.
This will cut a groove in the pipe about half the wall thickness deep.
I then snap the pipe in two with my hands.

Works well....with practice.:roll:

steve
 
hillbilly said:
I have used a ratcheting pvc pipe cutter to do this.
It's the small one that most plumbers use.....$10

I ratchet it onto the pipe until the blade touches the pipe, and then sink the blade into the pipe about 1 click on the ratchet.
I then spin the cutter around the pipe.
This will cut a groove in the pipe about half the wall thickness deep.
I then snap the pipe in two with my hands.

Works well....with practice.:roll:

steve
Click to expand...

I've used this same method many times with conductors in pipe. I really like my Klein ratcheting cutters, up to 1.25" sch. 80, if you don't already own a pair, now is the time to buy one. You'll never go back to a sawzall for cutting small pvc again.:cool:
 
benaround said:
Use a regular pipe cutter, but only go about half way , then 'snap it'.
Click to expand...
That's the best way (or scoring) if you don't want to damage the wire.

Sawing the string through is great if you don't care. I use a piece of thin aircraft cable because I got tired of the string breaking. A saw-zall is much better for this app if you can fit it in the space.
 
Cow said:
I've used this same method many times with conductors in pipe. I really like my Klein ratcheting cutters, up to 1.25" sch. 80, if you don't already own a pair, now is the time to buy one. You'll never go back to a sawzall for cutting small pvc again.:cool:
Click to expand...
I bought a cheap pair and it did not ratchet well. You have to use two hands to keep the blade ratcheting. I guess if I had bought the Klein I would not have been so disappointed with the device.
 
I've used the wire cutting tool they sell in the plumbing department. I've also used an internal cutting wheel that you chuck into a drill.
 
I use a PVC cutter, I squeeze down until the blade has penetrated the conduit wall, then I drag the cutter 360 degrees around the tubing. Works every time.

PVC-Cutter-HT304-.jpg
 
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