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    rangels4's Avatar
    rangels4 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Jun 22, 2009, 08:03 PM
    Cutting a cast iron pipe
    I have to cut a cast iron pipe and I can not get a pipe cutter to cut it. How can I cut the pipe. What can I use. Any help will be greetfull
    Thanks cliff
    creahands's Avatar
    creahands Posts: 2,854, Reputation: 195
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    #2

    Jun 22, 2009, 09:32 PM

    What size pipe?

    Chuck
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #3

    Jun 23, 2009, 05:22 AM
    I use a set of snap cutters on horizontal cast iron and a set of ratchet cutters on vertical ones. Nuw, if you can't use either one you're left with a Saws-All and metal blades. Use the saw on low speed and bring plenty of blades. Good luck, Tom
    Milo Dolezal's Avatar
    Milo Dolezal Posts: 7,192, Reputation: 523
    Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #4

    Jun 23, 2009, 08:23 AM

    Tom gave you your options. I will add: 4" grinder with diamond blade

    Be very careful while cutting. Wear goggles and good pair of gloves.
    Cunning is I's Avatar
    Cunning is I Posts: 20, Reputation: 2
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    #5

    Jun 23, 2009, 09:06 AM

    Or a hack saw or a reciprocating saw - sawsall they call it is the correct answer.


    For more fun... and you have a threaded connector nearby just hit the sucker with a hammer. It will shatter into a thousand pieces and then just use pliers to get the rest of the pipe out of the connector with a pipe wrench. Poof no more pipe.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
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    #6

    Jun 23, 2009, 10:13 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by Cunning is I View Post
    or a hack saw or a reciprocating saw - sawsall they call it is the correct answer.
    For more fun...and you have a threaded connector nearby just hit the sucker with a hammer. It will shatter into a thousand pieces and then just use pliers to get the rest of the pipe out of the connector with a pipe wrench. Poof no more pipe.
    That's if you don't plan on using the pipe again. Tell us what you wish to cut the pipe for so we can get more explicit with the answer. Wear safety goggles if you're going to whack the pipe with a hammer. Good luck, tom
    letmetellu's Avatar
    letmetellu Posts: 3,151, Reputation: 317
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    #7

    Jun 25, 2009, 06:18 PM

    If you are wanting to cut the pipe to a certain length you can always use a hammer and a chisel. All you have to do is to mark around the pipe where you want to cut and then use the chisel and start on the mark and after each hit with the hammer move the chisel to the right just the width of the chisel. After a couple of times around the pipe it will crack off on the line you have made just like it does when you are cutting glass.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #8

    Jun 26, 2009, 07:07 AM
    If you are wanting to cut the pipe to a certain length you can always use a hammer and a chisel. All you have to do is to mark around the pipe where you want to cut and then use the chisel and start on the mark and after each hit with the hammer move the chisel to the right just the width of the chisel. After a couple of times around the pipe it will crack off on the line you have made just like it does when you are cutting glass.
    You make it sound so easy my bet's that you never did it yourself.
    You're talking to a old plumber that grew up in the trade. Back in the early 40's I was the kid on one of my Dads rough ins with a hammer, a chisel and a sheet of paper with measures on it that the plumbers gave me. This was before the days of snap cutters. All day long I beat on cast iron and let me tell U that it wasn't just "After a couple of times around the pipe it will crack off on the line you have made just like it does when you are cutting glass". Hell no it wasn't! You beat round and round on that sucker until you thought your arms would fall off. Then it would crack apart.
    Suggestion letmetellu: Before you give out advise like that know what you're talking about. Regards, tom
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