How to cut polypropylene pipes with scissors

Dignity

  • precise cut;
  • practicality;
  • ease of use;
  • lightness and compactness.

Dignity

  • high-quality manufacturing;
  • lightness and compactness;
  • affordable price;
  • wide scope.

VALTEC with a diameter of 40 mm

The winner of our rating is the affordable and high-quality VALTEC scissors with a diameter of 40 mm. The manufacturer is confident in the reliability and durability of his product, confirming this with a 2-year warranty. For the manufacture of the case, a silumin was used, due to which it was possible to reduce the weight of the instrument to 0.406 kg. On average, scissors can withstand about 5,000 cuts. The model can be used to cut pipes with a reinforcing layer thickness of up to 0.6 mm. The range of pipe products is quite wide, from polypropylene to metal polymers. The manufacturer has equipped the scissors with a ratchet mechanism and a spring-loaded breeding system.

Users are satisfied with the work of the scissors, they are most often bought by novice installers. The disadvantage is the curved cut on pipes of large diameter.

disadvantages

  • heavy weight;
  • for single-layer pipes only.

REMS ROS P 42P

German scissors REMS ROS P 42P will be an easy-to-use tool. They cut both thin (from 1 mm) and thick (42 mm) pipes with equal precision. At the same time, the experts appreciated the quality of the cut, no chips or burrs remain. Scissors easily cope with metal-plastic blanks and all types of plastic. Thanks to its durable aluminum body and hardened replaceable blades, the tool makes it into our rating. The reliable ratchet mechanism also deserves praise, thanks to which it is possible to cut thick-walled pipes with little effort. After cutting, the blade quickly returns back to speed up work.

Professional installers have no complaints about the quality of German scissors. But the high price does not allow them to take a higher place in the rating.

Dignity

  • affordable price;
  • wide range of working diameters;
  • durable body;
  • high-quality assembly.
polypropylene, pipes, scissors

7 best scissors for cutting polypropylene pipes

Review of the best according to the editorial board of expertology.ru. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Consultation with a specialist is required before buying.

Polymer pipes are increasingly replacing metal analogues from the construction market. The advantage of plastic is lightness, ease of processing, the possibility of self-assembly, resistance to corrosion. The work does not require a lot of tools, one of the necessary is scissors for cutting. They allow you to make an even cut with one hand, spending a minimum of time preparing for subsequent welding. Depending on the operating conditions and the intensity of work, different tools are required. Our experts will help you understand the nuances of choosing scissors for cutting polypropylene pipes.

Required tool

So, we figured out the qualities of polypropylene pipes, saw the classification of this. his dignity over others. Now let’s talk about the tool that is needed to solder polypropylene pipes and install a water supply.

The first and most common tool for assembling plumbing is scissors.

But, we are not talking about ordinary scissors, but special ones, with which it is necessary to cut the discussed one. This tool is also called a pipe cutter. With its help, you can cut the pipe straight, without roughness, burrs, wasting a minimum of effort and time.

The second tool is a soldering iron, or as it is also called. “iron”. This tool is found in 2 configurations:

  • Cylindrical soldering iron;
  • Soldering iron with a sword tip.

There are no big differences between them, but it is more reasonable to take soldering irons with a xiphoid tip, tk. they warm up more quickly and distribute the temperature more evenly. By the way, it is better to choose an “iron” with the ability to regulate heating, because the exact soldering temperature of polypropylene is extremely important.

The price of this tool is different, depending on the source from which the welding machine is made.

If the attachments at the “iron” are covered with Teflon, it is more expensive. But it is also much easier to solder polypropylene with such an apparatus, and you will avoid problems that have appeared due to inexperience.

In this case, it is worth paying attention to the configuration of the soldering iron, because the set includes nozzles of various diameters, with which you will solder polypropylene. Pay attention to the diameter of the water pipes in and be sure to check that the kit contains the nozzles or nozzle you need.

If you do not have the ability to get special equipment, then you can solder polypropylene pipes without a soldering iron, but this requires some practice and the process of installing a water supply system will become somewhat more complicated.

The most common method. The only drawback is that the cut can turn out to be a curve, in order to avoid this, it is better not to cut straight away, but to turn the pipe 3-6 times. It will look something like this:

Automatic scissors pistol

The principle of operation of the scissors pistol is identical with the ratchet prototype, but the force applied to the pipe increases due to the transmitting wheel.

The device is designed to work with one hand; to cut it is enough to press the “trigger”. For work with thick-walled pipes of a huge cross-section, this particular specimen.

Technique for cutting plastic knots

Working with PP pipes is simple, but a number of cut quality requirements must be strictly observed:

Rothenberger ROCUT Plastic Pipe Shears TC42

  • Scissors for polypropylene pipes should be placed strictly perpendicular to the plane, the cut should be at right angles.
  • Thick-walled inelastic pipes can crack from one-sided pressure: for prophylaxis, dense templates can be inserted into the cut section so that the knife passes between them.
  • After cutting, the units are immediately installed or closed with sealed plugs.

This will prevent dust and dirt from entering the inside of the pipe.

  • Before soldering, the ends are sanded and degreased. Chamfering of thick-walled pipes.
  • On pipes with a soldering ring, the opposite unsealed end is cut.
  • When cutting, a minimum of 2-3 mm is added to the length for stripping.
  • Reinforcement

    And the extreme in the properties of polypropylene cavities, which is worth mentioning, are reinforced. because they were already mentioned in the text.

    It is fundamental to reinforce pipes, because this involves the inclusion of duralumin foil or nylon fibers in their composition, which increases the strength, hardness, heat resistance and service life of water pipes made of this.

    Soldering reinforced polypropylene pipes is just like simple ones, the installation is carried out using the same tool, only the melting temperature when fastening the sections of the water supply with fittings is different.

    Cleaning and cross-cutting of cuts

    To ensure a reliable connection of products to each other or to fittings, it is necessary to strip the ends of the pipes, which consists in removing a small layer of polypropylene from the outside, as well as an intermediate reinforced layer from the edge of the pipe.

    A wide range of “stripping” tools provides work with products of various diameters from 16.0 to 110.0 mm. For the convenience of working with various diameters, strippers are produced double-sided.

    When laying a water supply system using PP pipes with classical reinforcement, it is comfortable to use a shaver made in the form of a drill bit.

    4 Ways to Cut PVC Pipe at Home

    To remove the middle layer of the product (aluminum reinforcing foil), trimmers are provided.

    With this tool, the inner layer is cut from the edge of the pipe to the desired heating depth. The devices can be easily adjusted to the required diameter with the help of adjustable knives.

    What tool can be used to cut plastic pipes

    Considering that people in our country are artisans, he manages to use the most unimaginable tools at hand to cut pipes. But do not think that such a cut contributes to the excellent quality of the upcoming pipeline. Therefore, consider the tools that allow you to cut plastic pipes more excellently:

    • hacksaw for metal;
    • self-sharpening knife (with small teeth);
    • scissors for cutting plastic pipes;
    • roller type pipe cutter;
    • cordless pipe cutter;
    • guillotine pipe cutter.

    Cutting pipes with a hacksaw on the alloy or with a knife should not be taken seriously, since their use leads to the fact that the end of the pipe wrinkles, burrs are formed, which have to be eliminated with sandpaper or stripping with a knife.

    In any case, the quality of the cut suffers.

    These methods can be used for single cuts. If the pipeline has a complex configuration and many connections of individual sections, then it is better not to use these tools. Pipe shears are mainly used for cutting plastic pipes.

    A sharply sharpened knife blade is attached to only one side of the tool. In place of the second blade, there is a fairly wide base with a slot designed to receive the cutting blade. Working with such scissors is done only due to the muscular strength of a person. Between the handles of the scissors there is a rounded toothed rack, which, after closing the handles of the scissors, pushes the blade towards the base.
    The pipe cutting process takes place as follows:

    • an excellent perceptible mark is placed on the surface of the pipe, marking the place of the cut;
    • the base is placed over the mark given to us, controlling its position through the slot in the base;
    • then, applying force, they cut into the pipe and, evenly increasing the force, create the final cut of the pipe.

    The advantages of the scissors are the highest efficiency and low cost of construction.

    The disadvantage is the direct connection between the efficiency of the work with the equipment and the physical strength of the person working with it. In addition, during the cut, you need to watch the smooth movement of the brush, otherwise the blade may simply slide off the gear rack.

    It is clear that with a large number of cuts, the hand quickly gets tired, therefore the speed of work is reduced. In addition, it is unrealistic to cut pipes of huge diameter with scissors. The largest diameter of the processed pipes is 42 mm.

    In terms of efficiency, a pipe cutter is no worse than scissors. But, unlike them, there is virtually no physical effort during work.

    The cutting process itself occurs as follows:

    • mark the place of the cut with a marker;
    • the screw is unscrewed from the clamp, and the bracket is brought to the cutting place;
    • then the screw is gradually tightened (so that the pipe does not burst);
    • after creating the required force on the cutting roller, the clamp begins to rotate around the pipe, while smoothly tightening the tension screw.

    Thus, a circular cut of the pipe is made, while the end of the pipe comes out extremely smooth, without burrs.

    The only danger when working with a pipe cutter is cracks in the pipe due to the very strong pressing force of the screw.

    The guillotine pipe cutter is used to work with pipes with a diameter of 63 to 350 mm. In this case, the possibility of deformations or destruction of the pipe walls is practically reduced to zero. The cutting process looks like this:

    • mark the place of the cut on the pipe and insert it into the guillotine, securing it in the sector from 30 to 60 degrees;
    • a guillotine blade swings around it, which is mounted on wheels;
    • after the first cut of the plastic, the blade is immersed in the pipe using a rotating screw handle and, thus, the pipe is cut completely.

    In this case, the cut comes out extremely smooth, without burrs.

    The guillotine blades are simply replaced. In modern guillotines, the blades are additionally coated with Teflon.

    Heat resistance

    In addition to the general features of water pressure in polypropylene, it is worth knowing one more factor. heat resistance.

    The fact is that polypropylene is a type of plastic and there is a temperature limit inside the system, at which the area is damaged or melted.

    The maximum operating temperature of PP pipes is 140 degrees Celsius. This means that if the water is very hot, there is a risk of damage to the integrity and even the soldering of polypropylene pipes (the junction) may not withstand.

    But when developing the pipes under discussion, they are assigned their own marking, which indicates certain properties, such as: heat resistance, wall thickness, allowable pressure in the system and the area of ​​implementation. Thus, two common markers stand out:

      PN 20 is the most popular type of pipes, withstands pressure of 20 atmospheres and temperatures of 95 degrees Celsius.

    These characteristics allow the use in laying a water supply system with hot and cold water, but not in heating systems.

  • PN 25. this type of PP pipes is unrivaled for laying heating, as it can easily cope with a temperature of 95 degrees and a pressure of 25 atmospheres. Such characteristics of heat resistance and strength are achieved due to partial reinforcement, due to this it does not deform due to temperature changes.
  • How to cut polypropylene pipes without scissors

    Inforce

    The Inforce ratchet cutter has a good price / performance ratio. The device is designed for cutting pipes with a diameter of up to 4.2 centimeters. The tool is equipped with a sharpened steel blade, which allows you to make a high-quality cut without irregularities and roughness.

    The disadvantage of this device can be considered metal handles, which do not have rubber pads. With a large amount of work, it will not be very convenient to use such a tool.

    Rothenberger

    Rothenberger pipe cutters are of high quality and user-friendly design. The cutter for polypropylene pipes is capable of cutting products with a diameter of 0.6 to 4.2 centimeters. The cutting element of the device is very sharp and durable, which allows you to cut pipes with thick walls without leaving any defects at the cut.

    The handles of the tool are equipped with a lock, which allows for safe storage of the tool and also allows you to carry it with you. On the handles there are rubber pads, which makes the work with the tool more convenient. There is also a special button on the body, when pressed, the support and cutting bar return to their original open position. The disadvantages of these devices include a rather high cost compared to counterparts from other manufacturers.

    How to choose?

    When choosing a suitable tool for cutting polypropylene pipes, it is necessary to evaluate the technical characteristics and functionality of each option. Devices may vary in some design features, price and quality.
    polypropylene, pipes, scissors
    • Blade quality. It is desirable that this element is made of stainless steel. The value of the sharpening angle of the part is also important, which should be 30 degrees.
    • The handle of the device. It should fit comfortably in your hand. Otherwise, it will be quite difficult to perform high-quality pipe cutting. It is most convenient to work with a tool with rubberized handles.
    • Reliability of support for pipes. This element should be stable and fairly wide. Otherwise, the pipe will not fit well between the support and the blade rail, which will lead to an uneven section.
    • It is desirable that the device be equipped with an automatic retraction of the support and rail with a blade so that these elements return to the open position after cutting.

    It is also worth considering the degree of need for adaptation. If the tool is planned to be used for personal needs only once, then there is no point in purchasing an expensive model. In this case, it is necessary to select the device with the best price-quality ratio. Electronic tools are necessary for craftsmen who are often faced with the task of cutting polypropylene pipes in large quantities.

    Another important factor in the choice of scissors is the diameter of the pipes. In terms of size and some characteristics, polypropylene pipes, for which special scissors are required, can be divided into several types.

    • PN 10. such products are intended for cold water supply systems, as well as for heated floors. Such pipes can withstand the effects of coolant temperatures within 45 degrees and a pressure of no more than 1 MPa.
    • PN 16. this modification is used for laying centralized heating. The pressure inside the pipe should not be too high.
    • PN 20. this type of pipe has a universal purpose. The product is allowed to be used for laying the system not only for cold water supply, but also for hot water supply. Products can withstand internal exposure to temperatures no more than 80 degrees.
    • PN 25 pipes are aluminum foil coated products. This material allows pipes to withstand high temperatures (95 degrees) and a pressure of about 2.5 MPa.

    Review of popular models

    How to cut polypropylene pipes?

    • Features of the
    • Views
    • Review of popular models
    • Valtec
    • Inforce
    • Rothenberger
    • How to choose?
    • How to use?

    Polypropylene pipes are widely used in the organization of water supply systems. To work with such material, special tools are required. Quality cutting tools make the installation process much easier. The best way to cut polypropylene pipes will be discussed in this article.

    Features of the

    In the construction market, most often you can find polypropylene pipes 12 meters long. When installing a water supply system or underfloor heating, the task often arises of cutting products into shorter lengths. For these purposes, a special tool is required. The speed and ease of installation depends on convenient and high-quality cutting.

    There are many types of PPR cutting devices. Specialized tools are equipped with a sharp blade as polypropylene is a durable material. Using a poor quality tool can severely damage the pipe. In addition, an uneven cut line will negatively affect the quality of installation.

    When connecting the elements of the water supply system end-to-end, it is important to ensure that the sealing of the seams is at a high level. Otherwise, it could lead to leaks. For this reason, it is recommended to use special scissors for cutting pipes.

    Instead of special tools, polypropylene pipes can be cut with a metal hacksaw. However, this method of cutting is more laborious and of lower quality, since roughness remains at the edges of the cut, and the line itself in most cases turns out to be uneven.

    There are many modifications of tools for cutting polypropylene pipes. Each type has its own design features and technical characteristics.

    The following types of devices can be distinguished:

    • precision scissors;
    • manual roller pipe cutter;
    • ratchet device;
    • cordless pipe cutter;
    • guillotine pipe cutter.

    Precision instruments are fairly simple in design. You can work with such a device with one hand. These scissors are suitable for cutting pipes with a diameter of 3 to 41.5 millimeters. The device is equipped with a blade made of alloy steel. This option is suitable for small volume work.

    The roller-type pipe cutter is an arcuate body with a handle, equipped with rollers and a flat round blade. The rollers function to rotate the tube, and the blade is equipped with a retractable mechanism. The cost of such a model is low. However, the roller-type tool is easy to use and allows you to make even cuts at an angle of 90 degrees.

    Ratchet tools are a more convenient modification of the roller shears. Such devices are easy to use: the support and the cutting bar with the blade make it easy to open and close them without much effort. Thanks to the wide support, the tube is securely fixed in the device. The sharp blade cuts through the material easily without allowing it to change position. You can work with such a tool with one hand, without much physical effort.

    The cordless shears feature a high cutting speed. Basically, such a tool is used by craftsmen in the work of laying water supply systems. The device is equipped with a small electric motor. This allows you to quickly and effortlessly cut pipes into a large number of lengths.

    The guillotine pipe cutter is used to cut large diameter pipes (from 63 to 350 millimeters). The cutting tool has a sharp Teflon coated blade. When cutting with such a device, the edges of the resulting pipe sections are ideally even and smooth.

    It is worth noting that the various modifications of the shears differ depending on the diameter of the pipes they can cut. Models for small products (up to 42 mm) cost less than cutting tools for pipes with a diameter of 75 mm or more.

    Valtec

    The Valtec pipe cutter is designed for cutting pipes with a diameter of up to 3.2 centimeters. The device is equipped with a ratchet mechanism, which ensures high quality cutting of plastic products. When working with a pipe cutter, it is not necessary to independently open the support and the cutting bar after cutting, since the tool is equipped with a spring that returns the structural elements to their original open position.

    How to use?

    The process of cutting polypropylene pipes will largely depend on the tool used.

    There are several main points of this process.

    • First of all, it is important to make accurate measurements of the required sections and make marks on the pipe.
    • Then you need to open the tool and position the pipe with a mark towards the blade. To make the blade easier to enter into the material, a small incision can be made in the marked area with a knife.
    • With smooth movements, but with the application of certain efforts, it is necessary to put pressure on the handles of the tool. You should not act too quickly, otherwise the pipe may change its position, and the cut will turn out to be uneven. It is also important to keep an eye on the cut angle, which should be exactly 90 degrees.

    As noted earlier, the subtleties of working with a device depend on its type. After purchasing scissors, you should carefully read the instructions. Before the main work, you can also practice cutting pipes on unnecessary trimmings (if, of course, there are any).

    How and what to cut polypropylene pipes, see the next video.