Scissors for cutting polypropylene, polyethylene, PVC, metal-plastic pipes

Plastic plumbing and heating – this will not surprise anyone. But pipes need to be cut. With what? There is a tool for this, which is usually called pipe shears. And also – a cutter, a pipe cutter. There are several designs that look different, although they perform the same function. And the price can be different – from a few hundred rubles to ten thousand or more.

Types of pipe shears

Increasingly, the wiring of cold and hot water supply, even heating, is made with plastic, polypropylene, metal-plastic pipes. They are easier to install, but for a quality connection, an even cut is required. And they cut the pipes with special scissors or a cutter. There are different types, so you need to know about them first.

Actually, the design is not so important. The important thing is how even cut the pipe shears can make, what diameters they cut, what materials and types of reinforcement they work with. But let’s start with the types and types of structures.

Mechanical, with manual “drive”

There are options for home use and professional. But even if you only need for repairs or for yourself, it’s better not to take very cheap ones. A straight cut even on a thin pipe will not work.

• Pipe shears. The shape is very similar to the usual. Naturally, the body is more durable, the blades are made of stronger steel, not even, but with roundings – to make it easier to lay the pipe. Large diameters, and dense materials (polypropylene) are cut with great difficulty, even if the description states a diameter of 40 mm. For small diameter pipes they are suitable, for large pipes you need either a larger size or a different type. Can be:
  • With return spring (pictured bottom left). You will have to cut off solely due to the strength of the hands. Of the auxiliary mechanisms, only a return spring, which returns the flattened blades to the open position. If you want to pump up – this model is for you. It is very difficult to cut even thin-walled polyethylene. Unless for flexible pipes of a heat-insulated floor will go.
    

  • С трещоткой (храповым механизмом). Усилия требуется намного меньше, так как происходит переключение зубчатого элемента, который увеличивает прикладываемую силу, выдвигает и опускает лезвие. Слабое место — храповый механизм. Это те детали, которые перемещают лезвия при надавливании на рукоятки. Часто именно в нем проблема — заедает, ломается пружина и т.д.
• Pistol (or elephant). It takes a little more time to cut, but less effort is needed. The mechanism inside is more complex, with gears. This reduces the required force. They cost more. Nevertheless, you should not take cheap ones, since the gears are made of a soft incomprehensible alloy and they wear out after a couple of days of operation.
• Roller pipe cutters. This is not to say that straight scissors for cutting polypropylene pipes. They are a C-shaped body with a retractable cutting roller element. The pipe is placed in the body, fixed, and then cut along the circumference with a roller. It is not possible to cut through even a thin wall at a time. The roller is gradually pushed out more and more, scrolling the pipe. For reinforced and thick-walled pipes – an excellent option. The cut is good, without big deviations.
  

• Guillotine for cutting pipes. Such a device is used for large diameters. Usually these are main pipes that are not used in everyday life.

What design is better to choose? If you are only for home use, it makes sense to buy the first type. Easy to work, although they require effort, there is not much to cut to assemble a plastic plumbing or polypropylene system. You can also consider roller pipe cutters. Also an inexpensive and oversized tool. The guillotine is generally not needed by private traders, and the gun is not so relevant because of the high price.

Electric

Electric and cordless pipe cutters are already a tool for professional use. The good thing is that it does not require the application of physical effort. All you need to do is press the button and keep the pipe straight while the device is working. Electric shears are usually equipped with a button to return the knife to its original position. Power pipe shears can be:

• Rechargeable.
• Mains powered.
  

By design, they are most similar to the “pistol” type model. They look more massive due to the plastic protective case. Yes, and the motor and batteries (if any) also need to be hidden somewhere. But since almost no effort is required during operation, the weight is uncritical (from 1 to 2 kg).

Price range

Let’s talk about prices for the sake of completeness. The cheapest scissors for polypropylene pipes are in the form of scissors. There are copies here for $5 or so. There are more expensive – $ 50 and above. It should be said right away that the cheapest ones are suitable for cutting thin-walled plastic or unreinforced polypropylene of small diameter. Not more than 14-16 mm.

Roller pipe cutters are also available at a very low cost – even less than $ 5. Buying them is a dubious undertaking. Large play on the cutting element will not give you a normal result. And the body is not clear from what, poor pipe grip. In general, it’s not worth it. Even for home use, it is better to take at least the average price range.

Scissors for polypropylene pipes in the form of a gun are more serious equipment. Provided that the mechanism is made of hardened steel, and not of silumin or other obscure alloys. The minimum cost is about $30-40.

How to choose pipe cutting shears

For home use or for occasional use, mechanical pipe cutters are usually taken. The design is chosen at the same time so that it is “cheap and reliable.” Most often buy scissors with a ratchet. In principle, a justified choice. They also work with beginners. You just need to choose the right model.

In general, the following recommendations can be given for choosing the type of pipe cutters. A thin-walled pipe without reinforcement from any material is cut with a pipe cutter of normal quality or with scissors, regardless of the design. Restrictions on diameter – 32 mm, on wall thickness – up to 4-5 mm. Any pipes, what are they? Yes, all: metal-plastic (MP), polyethylene (PERT, PEX), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), PVDF, low-pressure polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP, PPR or PPR), including reinforced with fiberglass and even small pipes (diameter 16 -20 mm), reinforced with aluminum foil. For the same pipes, but with a diameter of 4 mm or more, more powerful scissors are needed. They should be larger in size and “harder” in assembly.

For reinforced polypropylene and PEX with a diameter of 25-40 mm, a good roller cutter is required, and for even larger ones, a guillotine or the same roller shears, but from a professional series, is already needed.

Technical specifications

There is no difficulty at this point. There are two items to keep track of:

• the maximum diameter of the pipes that the scissors can cut;
• какие именно трубы они могут резать.

Внимательно смотрите на эти характеристики. Бывает обидно: покупаешь ножницы для полипропиленовых труб за пару тысяч, а потом оказывается, что именно полипропилен они не режут.

One more piece of advice. It is better to take a cutter that can cut the pipe to a larger diameter than you plan to mount. For example, you will cut a 32 mm pipe as much as possible, but take a tool for 40 mm. Why? The maximum size pipe is very difficult. Namely, they usually do the main wiring. Smaller diameter is only for layering. A tool for a larger diameter is slightly larger (and slightly more expensive), but it cuts easier.

By the way, for a cheap tool, a pipe with the declared largest diameter sometimes simply does not fit into the holder. So you need to check. If there is no piece with you, compare the dimensions of the cutting part with similar ones. Are the sizes more or less the same? Great. If the ones you choose look smaller, it’s best to set aside.

Chassis

The body of the scissors can be made of silumin or other similar alloy and steel. Inexpensive silumin models can break if you apply too much pressure when cutting large diameter pipe. So if we take silumin ones, then those that look solid and weigh more than a hundred grams. We inspect the body for cracks, cavities, burrs – there are such damages. We immediately put them aside. Let’s take a look at the following signs:

• Нужен прочный мощный корпус.
• Lack of backlash. If the new scissors hang out, then cut rowill not be obvious. And if you also work with them, you will definitely have to keep all your handss.
  

• Широкая нижняя часть, куда укладывается труба. Для получения ровного реза ее надо держать жестко. Если снизу только тонкая полоска, сделать это непросто. Так что смотрим, чтобы нижняя «губа» была большой.

Let’s look at the handles. The main thing is that they are comfortable. We’ll have to squeeze them, so that the sharp edges that are uncomfortable in the hand are also set aside. The best option is rubberized or with rubber pads. But this is already a non-budget series.

What could be the blade

The main working part of scissors for cutting pipes is the blade. It can be made of tool (cheaper and softer type of steel) and alloyed (more expensive and durable) steel. Generally, alloy steel blade can cut plastic and copper pipes. Scissors for polypropylene pipes have a tool steel blade.

The type of steel is not everything. You have to look at the thickness of the blade. If it is thin, with a large diameter, the cut goes to the side and cuts the pipe at an angle. And we need something at 90 °.

Why cut strictly at right angles? To make the connection strong and durable. This is important for pipes of any type, but it is critical for metal-plastic and foil-reinforced polypropylene pipes.

The thicker the blade, the easier it is to work. By the way, there are models of scissors for polypropylene pipes with a removable blade, there are those in which the blade and the “ladder” of the ratchet mechanism are one. The second option is more durable. The fewer connections, the longer the service life.

Чем еще можно резать трубы

Иногда требуется всего-то сделать пару резов на трубе. Покупать для такого случая даже недорогие ножницы для резки труб не имеет смысла. Вот чем еще можно ровно отрезать пластиковые, металлопластиковые и полипропиленовые трубы:

• Болгарка с тонким (1 мм) диском. Труба зажимается в тиски. Удобно отрезать 1-2 мм. Это бывает необходимо при подгонке. Ни один из резаков или ножниц, такой маленький кусок отрезать не в состоянии.
• Miter saw. Cuts great. If there is, you can work with her.
  

• Hand saw for metal. Slowly, inside the crumbs, but you can cut off evenly. If it is difficult to keep the canvas straight, take a miter box. Only it will be necessary to think of something so that the pipe does not roll.

After working with this tool, you usually need to correct the cut. If there are burrs, we remove them, pour the chips. In general, the cut should be even and the pipe clean.