Need pipe cutter for 50mm Al tubing in Sydney

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

Hi all,

Once again I must ask the IIS community for the use of a unique tool.

I need to accurately cut the 50mm aluminium tubing I'm using as the truss poles from my dob rebuild. The only way I'm going to achieve this is with a pipe cutter capable of handeling this size and material.

Can anyone in Sydney help out?

Many thanks,

Mental.

[Lumen Miner (Mitchell)]

Hmmm.
BuZZings sells one but I think it only goes to about 45mm.
Most pluming suppliers should have them for around $35. The one that goes to 45mm at Buzzings is $25.

How many cuts you doing? A hacksaw with a new orange blade, should make quick work of a dozen cuts, depends on how straight you can cut though.
Alternatively a cheap $20 angle grinder and a couple of aluminium cutting blades would also work well.

Pipe cutters can be a bit of a hassle. For 50mm Al pipe you would need to spin it around a dozen times each cut, slowly increasing the cutting blades pressure against the al. Go to quickly and you will crimp the wall.

Got any plumber mates that might carry one? I am suprised I can't help you out, I seem to have every other tool in the shed, if I had one it would be yours.

I'll check the pipe cutters when I get back to work in a hour. I'll let you know tonight if ours go to 50 mm, I'm pretty sure it only 45mm though.

[Barrykgerdes]

Originally Posted by mental4astro

Hi all,

Once again I must ask the IIS community for the use of a unique tool.

I need to accurately cut the 50mm aluminium tubing I'm using as the truss poles from my dob rebuild. The only way I'm going to achieve this is with a pipe cutter capable of handeling this size and material.

Can anyone in Sydney help out?

Many thanks,

Mental.

How thick is the wall material. How long is the aluminium stock. How many cuts do you need.

I have a pipe cutter for steel pipe but it won't work too well on thin wall tubing. Your best bet is a band saw. A new blade in one will cut quick, accurate and square. I have one of those too.

You are probably too far away.

Barry

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

Hi Lumin,

Thanks for your help. I'll wait for your note back.

A pipe cutter is the only tool that will give me the accuracy I need for this job. The ends of the poles need to be clean and even as they form the stops for the assembly with the clamps. If they are all even and accurate, it makes the poles interchangeable and reduces damage to the clamps.

A hacksaw is too rough and uneven. Even a dropsaw using an aluminium cutting blade is not accurate enough: the tiny wobble in the tool results in a 1/2mm variation in the cut, even if done slowly. This is magnified greatly at the sitting of the poles into place and puts unwanted strain to the clamps. I would like to have them sit a passive as possible. Hence the pipe cutter.

My old man has one, but it only cuts upto 35mm, .

Yes, it does take time to cut with this tool, but it gives a really nice finish, .

Just saw you message, Barry, when I submitted this post.

The walls are 1.6mm thick. Too thin for your cutter?

Have car, will travel.

[GrahamL]

Take it to a aluminum retailer ? most would have a few k worth of saw sitting there that can accurately cut any thickness with the help of the lubricant they run with.

The guy I bought my tube off cut it free , I couldn't imagine them charging much for 50 mm .

[gmbfilter (Geoff)]

I use a makita 255mm drop saw saw with tungsten blade
Al tube about 12mm dia 1.5mm ish thick
Usually a wood saw but cut the tube OK
Clamped the tube and went slowly and wore full PPE
No problems cuts are accurate and square
Try on an off cut first
Good Luck

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

Originally Posted by nightstalker

Take it to a aluminum retailer ? most would have a few k worth of saw sitting there that can accurately cut any thickness with the help of the lubricant they run with.

The guy I bought my tube off cut it free , I couldn't imagine them charging much for 50 mm .

Good suggestion. However, my experience is unless you are looking over their sholder for every cut, the lengths won't match, . Something I need to cut myself.

Gmbfilter, my GMC drop saw isn't as good as your Makita, , TC blade and all.

[gmbfilter (Geoff)]

When I have wanted poles the same length, I've bundled them together and cut both ends
All the poles are the same (ish) length
I waited and watched while they did it

[CoombellKid]

Originally Posted by nightstalker

Take it to a aluminum retailer ? most would have a few k worth of saw sitting there that can accurately cut any thickness with the help of the lubricant they run with.

The guy I bought my tube off cut it free , I couldn't imagine them charging much for 50 mm .

I'm with Graham, also any joinery shop will have a similar cutter most
with a jig that will give you repeats of exactly the same length. It ain't
worth buying a cutter.

Cheers,CS

[CoombellKid]

Originally Posted by mental4astro

Good suggestion. However, my experience is unless you are looking over their sholder for every cut, the lengths won't match, . Something I need to cut myself.

Gmbfilter, my GMC drop saw isn't as good as your Makita, , TC blade and all.

Just strike up a repore, and hope you dont get the 17yr old floor
sweeper. But I suppose when you live in a rural area most places are
family own and the old blokes are only too keen to help especially once
you let them know what yor up too and why you need it cut a
certain way. Once I told Casino Joinery I was building a 8" then a 16".
Dennis started giving me trade discount, last time I went in to have
some split blocks cut, he did it personally for free and a top job he did.

They have all the tools you need when the bunnings bench saw and such
doesn't cut the mustard.

Cheers,CS

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

I use a drop saw for very accurate cutting of 1.6mm thick aluminum tubing myself. Although it is square tubing it works the same. I also invested in a 100 tooth saw blade to give a finer cut as well. Occasionally small burrs occur ut are easily trimmed and neatened.

[GrahamL]

most with a jig that will give you repeats of exactly the same length

Yep the overhead crane drops onto the bench which is clamped at the desired length so every cut matches .. the thick walled stuff and thick plate is hideously expensive so I doubt they make many dud cuts.


Good luck with it alex I understand the DIY bit.. someone will have one big enough

[Lumen Miner (Mitchell)]

Sorry mate, I was wrong looks like the Buzzings genious buying thinks people only cut up to 35mm, we no longer have the 45mm one.

[acropolite (Phil)]

Ditto with the drop saw technique, provided your work is securely clamped and you cut slowly you'll get perfect results.

[AdrianF (Adrian)]

Originally Posted by acropolite

Ditto with the drop saw technique, provided your work is securely clamped and you cut slowly you'll get perfect results.

If you use a dropsaw with the standard cutoff blade use soap on the blade , just rub it on both sides the blade.
MS blades are not meant to cut soft material like Aluminium and can and will clog the pores on the blade this will overheat the blade and can cause the blade to shatter.
I have seen this happen too many times in the last 35 years in workshops.

Adrian

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

I'll have another go with the drop saw. I'll soap up the blade this time, and look at fashioning a better clamp to hold the sizeable length.

And do the cut even slower this time too.

Or stalk ebay some more.

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by AdrianF

If you use a dropsaw with the standard cutoff blade use soap on the blade , just rub it on both sides the blade.
MS blades are not meant to cut soft material like Aluminium and can and will clog the pores on the blade this will overheat the blade and can cause the blade to shatter.
I have seen this happen too many times in the last 35 years in workshops.

How about a low flow water jet on to the tube to rinse away the cuttings?

And a length stop at the other end of the pipe.

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

Originally Posted by mithrandir

And a length stop at the other end of the pipe.