Tips for Cutting and Connecting Pipes

3 / 6

How to Cut Pipe with a String

It’s almost as fast as a saw and fits into tight spots where saws won’t. To give the string a starting point, cut a shallow notch with a file or hacksaw blade. Then simply pull the string back and forth to slice through PVC or ABS pipe.

4 / 6

Pipe-Cutting Bliss

Milwaukee’s 2470-21 M12 Cordless PVC Shear is so cool that you may want one even if you don’t cut pipe for a living. It will make clean, burr-free cuts through plastic pipes all day long. Watching this tool in action is almost mesmerizing, and to be honest, a little frightening. We highly suggest knowing where your fingers are at all times when using it.

The tool can handle up to a 2-in. Schedule 40 plastic pipe. Milwaukee recommends it for PVC and PEX pipes, but we also used it so slice through a bunch of ABS, water lines and irrigation pipes. We even hacked through a tree branch. Older and more brittle pipes tend to crack instead of slice, so eye protection is always a good idea.

5 / 6

5-Gallon Bucket PVC Pipe Cutter

Here’s a nifty way to cut PVC pipe on the fly. Just make a couple of notches in the top of a 5-gallon bucket. Set the pipe in the notches and you’ve got a stable spot for sawing. As a bonus, you can load up the bucket and carry your tools along, too.