I’ve been modifying my dust collection ductwork and holding the PVC pipe in one hand and cutting it with the other was getting very old so I came up with the attached pipe vise. (No, I wasn’t using the Sawzall when I was handholding the pipe. I may not be the brightest bulb in the pack but I’m not that dumb). I am sure there have been a jillion and one previous versions of this so I am not claiming any origination. I’m posting it in case someone wants to do something similar. The jig consists of a V shaped trough with a hole through it and the base. (I didn’t really need the trough. The two sets of V blocks would have been enough.) I set the jig over a dog hole in my bench, ran a nylon strap up through the dog hole, through jig hole, around the pipe, back through the jig hole and then over to a dog hole in my tail vise. When I put the tail vise in reverse, the strap clamped down on the pipe and the jig held it very steady while I cut it.
Hope this helps someone, George
You don’t stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing. – Michael Pritchard <!—-><!—-> <!—->
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Replies
George,
Not to rain on your parade, but have you tried the bandsaw? If it's small enough, I prefer the chop saw.
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
(soon to be www.flairwoodworks.com)
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
The bandsaw and miter saw have rained on my parade big time. When cutting 4" PVC, unless you can hold it real solid, the blade can catch the pipe, spin it and send it who knows where. Also the bandsaw is limited on pipe length it can handle. I much prefer my vise and the Sawzall.
Best wishes, GeorgeYou don't stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing. - Michael Pritchard<!----><!----><!---->
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I second Dusty George's hesitation on cutting PVC on the bandsaw or mitre saw, PVC can be very brittle, and I have seen it explode during such treatment. As a pipe organ builder I cut bazillions of pieces of PVC which we use as wind lines for the organs. After a lot of experimentation, one of my cohorts came up with a hinged collar of about 3" thickness, square in cross section with a luggage latch where the thing clamshells together. (the latch is omitted in the little drawing I have attached) with that arrangement it becomes simple and safe to wrap it around the pipe, latch it tightly, and use its square sides to guide a saw (we use a hand held circular saw.) A cut from two opposite sides will do it for 8" PVC, and it leaves a nice clean edge. One drawback of course is that you'd have to prepare one of these little numbers for each diameter of PVC you were planning to cut regularly.BG
You are very correct regarding the limitations of the bandsaw. Personally, I have not had any problems cutting the couple PVC pipes on the chop saw.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.com)
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
I may not be the brightest bulb in the pack but I'm not that dumb..
My thought was that I may not be the brightest bulb in the pack but I'm not that dim.
Cut huge amounts of PCV on almost anything with teeth. Anything cuts it.. OK, so a 90 degree cut is hard!
Edited 1/12/2009 7:46 pm by WillGeorge
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