Pipe Cutting Tools Key Terms

Understand the ABCs of pipe cutting tools and technology

By Howard Robertson

A pipe cutter, as the name suggests, is a tool to cut pipes. Besides producing a clean cut, the tool is often a faster and more convenient way of cutting pipes.

If you are interested in working in the field of piping, there are several key terms that you should understand. This guide covers some of the common methods of pipe cutting like cold sawing, laser cutting, band saw cutting, lathe cutting, abrasive cutting and rotary cutting.

Band saw cutting

Band saw cutting is a fully automatic process and the most common method for cutting pipes. A band saw uses a blade consisting of a continuous band of metal with teeth along one edge.
Try: Sawdust Making 101 publishes detailed information on band saw cutting and its usage.

Cold sawing

Cold sawing uses a circular saw blade to cut metal. The name, cold saw, comes from the particular metal cutting process. These machines transfer the heat generated by cutting to the chips created by the saw blade. As a result, the blade and material being cut remain cold.
Try: Government of South Australia's Department of Education and Children’s Services (DECS) publishes an informative article (on a PDF) about on the cold sawing process.

Laser cutting

Laser cutting is a technology that uses a laser to cut materials. In laser cutting technology, pipes or other materials are cut by directing the output of a high-power laser at them. The material then either melts, burns, vaporizes away or is blown away by a jet of gas, leaving an edge with a high-quality surface finish.
Try: Control Micro Systems publishes information on laser cutting technology. You can also refer to Laser Cutting Sheet Metal, a reputable sheet metal company, to understand the laser cutting process.

Lathe cutting

Lathe cutting is another method for cutting pipes. A lathe is a machine that turns a block of material, touches a cutting tool to it and cuts the material. Lathe cutting is best suited for thin-walled material, producing square cut ends with minimum burr.
Try: National Maritime Research Institute provides information about lathe cutting. Additionally, Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Department of Mechanical Engineering also publishes detailed information about lathe cutting.

Abrasive cutting

Abrasive cutting uses an abrasive disc to cut metals. These discs usually wear out during the cutting process. Since this process uses a burning action, it is not efficient for thick-walled material.
Try: You can refer to the Encyclopedia of Bosch Power Tools, by Bosch, for an explanation of the term abrasive cutting. Additionally, you can refer to wiseGEEK, an online resource, for an informative article on abrasive cutting tools and their application.

Rotary cutting

The rotary cutting process rotates a pipe or tube and cuts it with a rotating blade. Since it is a chip-less cutting method, it does not waste any material and thus reduces subsequent cleaning operations.
Try: The Fabricator, an online metal fabricating source, publishes an article on rotary cutting and its application.