Tubing cutter for EMT?

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JES2727

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Anybody here use a tubing cutter to cut EMT? A guy that just started with me used one of these today:
tubingcutterdetail_main.jpg

I asked him to not use it on my jobs, though he told me bought it at an electrical supply house. So I looked at it online and the spec's say 'copper cutting'.
But then I found this, which states that it can be used on 'thin-walled conduit' :
rtc623.jpg

Still just looks like a tubing cutter on steroids.
http://malcoproducts.com/product/hvacr/service/tubing-tools/tube-cutters-ratchet-action#
 
I am actually working on a job right now where I have to move conduits that have data cables in them over a few inches to a box and I'm using that Red tool that you posted. It actually works really well. I did buy the greenlee tubing cutter that just seemed to kink the pipe and make weird cuts, mostly because I can only get to 2/3 of the pipe, not enough to make full cuts around it. The red tool lets me make full cuts around the pipe in tight spots.
 
I like the looks of the red one. Looks like it would limit the depth of cut. I carried a tubing cutter with me but usually leave it in truck. Not something i used often but sometimes its the only easy way to get done.
 
Do these new style cutters NOT shrink the end of the conduit as it cuts, a typical plumbers pipe cutter always seemed to do that ?

Seems that's why there's more rollers on...

Gee maybe I'm over thinking it... :grin:
 
JES2727 said:
Anybody here use a tubing cutter to cut EMT? A guy that just started with me used one of these today:
tubingcutterdetail_main.jpg

I asked him to not use it on my jobs, though he told me bought it at an electrical supply house. So I looked at it online and the spec's say 'copper cutting'.


Just curious, why would you ask him not to use the cutter?
Click to expand...
 
Just curious, why would you ask him not to use the cutter?
Click to expand...

Probably because of the edge it leaves.

There are cutters designed for EMT. If I use a standard cutter, I just stop short and snap the conduit to minimize the edge.

I still find the hack saw or sawsall the easiest way to cut conduit. To much effort to spin the cutter around. I only use it when there are conductors in place.
 
I would not use a normal pipe cutter for EMT. It messes up the pipe in my experance. i would like to try the other to see how it works. I normally use a hack saw to cut my conduit.
 
I have the Greenlee 8600.
11915.JPG


I use it only for cutting pipe with conductors in it like 220/221 or in spots where I cannot get a hacksaw or sawzall in.

My guys would over tighten while cutting and flare the emt inward. That would be my only complaint or caution.

You can leave the tool on (as a wedge) and snap the pipe.
 
I just used mine today. The trick is to not cut all the way through, just far enough to allow the EMT to be snapped over your knee or in your bender for short cuts. If you do it right it leaves no ridge inside the pipe.

If you go too shallow you bend the pipe instead of snapping it in two. If you go too deep a quick reaming out with the handles of your channel locks or an old unibit cleans it up.

I tried the Greenlee cutter and found it more likely to leave a ridge inside the pipe.
 
Little Bill said:
Just curious, why would you ask him not to use the cutter?
Click to expand...

I wasn't comfortable with the edge it left inside the pipe. I tried it myself. I felt it was too time consuming to ream the edge to a point where it didn't feel sharp.
But maybe it's all in the technique.
 
cutters

cutters

I have been using copper tubing cutters on small emt for years. No problems, just treat the same as if you were using a band saw. still have to ream interior.
 
I bought the Klein tools version only because i had conductors in the pipe i was cutting back and i couldnt remove them. It works well for that application but other than that its too time consuming and its very easy to distort the end of the pipe if not careful. For a normal installation you cant go wrong with a sawzall and a reaming tool, quick and perfect every time!
 
JES2727 said:
I wasn't comfortable with the edge it left inside the pipe. I tried it myself. I felt it was too time consuming to ream the edge to a point where it didn't feel sharp.
But maybe it's all in the technique.
Click to expand...
If you cut all the way through like a plumber would then it does leave a ridge and I would agree is a pain to ream. But partway through and a snap to break the pipe on the scored line leaves no ridge inside.
 
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