Cutting conduit, I hate it already...

[Lister1987]

Any tips for cutting conduit to ensure a good finish? We're starting with it at College and I hate the stuff, I end up cutting to length fine but after touching up it's all buggered.

Unfortunately due to my cerebral palsy, my fine motor control is pretty shot, along with my ability to judge by eye (I can see where the adjustment is needed but either end up doing top much and making worse or not enough) so any tool that will cut straight and smooth would be a god-send. Tips welcome too.

im thinking a plumbers pipe cutter, I know they do copper but not sure they'll be up to doing steel/pvc without blunting or clogging up.

 

[GBDamo]

Any tips for cutting conduit to ensure a good finish? We're starting with it at College and I hate the stuff, I end up cutting to length fine but after touching up it's all buggered.

Unfortunately due to my cerebral palsy, my fine motor control is pretty shot, along with my ability to judge by eye (I can see where the adjustment is needed but either end up doing top much and making worse or not enough) so any tool that will cut straight and smooth would be a god-send. Tips welcome too.

im thinking a plumbers pipe cutter, I know they do copper but not sure they'll be up to doing steel/pvc without blunting or clogging up.

I use a battery angle grinder for pretty much everything or ratchet pipe cutters for mini but this depends on the temperature and quality of the trunking, cheap stuff or if it's too cold will shatter.

A pipe slice wont do gavl, angle grinder it.

 

[KennyKen]

I use the Milwaukee bandsaw. Fantastic tool. Other than that use an Hacksaw.
I always referred to the setting Over another pipe or obstacle a “Bubble set”.
Remember after you cut and thread the conduit to file the Burrs inside. The amount of time that people don’t do it and score the cables.

 

[Toneyz]

If you are struggling to cut conduit straight try wrapping insulation tape around it to give you a line to cut.

 

[Dave OCD]

But make sure you wrap the tape round straight. ?

 

[Lister1987]

If you are struggling to cut conduit straight try wrapping insulation tape around it to give you a line to cut.

I did not think of that, saves Sharpies etc, genius

But make sure you wrap the tape round straight. ?

Yea.....that ?

 

[Edtwozeronine]

Any tips for cutting conduit to ensure a good finish? We're starting with it at College and I hate the stuff, I end up cutting to length fine but after touching up it's all buggered.

Unfortunately due to my cerebral palsy, my fine motor control is pretty shot, along with my ability to judge by eye (I can see where the adjustment is needed but either end up doing top much and making worse or not enough) so any tool that will cut straight and smooth would be a god-send. Tips welcome too.

im thinking a plumbers pipe cutter, I know they do copper but not sure they'll be up to doing steel/pvc without blunting or clogging up.

The worst thing about galvanised conduit is the piles of swarf left lying around on the benches after cutting threads, which if you're not careful like me will have you leaning on a pile of it and getting it embedded in your hand(s).

Then you have to wait until you get home to tweezer all the little bits out.

 

[Strima]

A good quality hacksaw frame and blades also make a world of difference, also a but of cutting oil/paste will make it easier and the blades last longer.

 

[ipf]

I use the Milwaukee bandsaw. Fantastic tool. Other than that use an Hacksaw.
I always referred to the setting Over another pipe or obstacle a “Bubble set”.
Remember after you cut and thread the conduit to file the Burrs inside. The amount of time that people don’t do it and score the cables.

A damn site worse than 'scoring' can occur. Take a look at 2 posts before yours.

 

[Shoei]

If your fine motor control needs a bit of help it may be worth considering a grinder in a stand. Once it's set up the cut is square and goes where you want it. Battery bandsaws are fast and clean but still need fine control and can be hazardous if juggling tools isn't your thing. Grinders can do you harm but it's unusual to get a serious cut from one.

This kind of thing might do, with a suitable grinder..
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000P3DX6K/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_J4.GDb5GWE0ZY

 

[Pharlo]

cordless angle grinder fo me. can never find the dam hacksaw

 

[Dustydazzler]

Has anyone used this...

Flexicon 20mm Galvanised Flexible Steel Conduit - 10Mtrs | Flexicon (FU20-10M)

In place of normal galv pipe

 

[Andy78]

Has anyone used this...

Flexicon 20mm Galvanised Flexible Steel Conduit - 10Mtrs | Flexicon (FU20-10M)

In place of normal galv pipe

Not really in place of standard galv pipe, only really for things like machine connections from isolators. Usually the coated version of that too not the plain steel.

 

[KennyKen]

A damn site worse than 'scoring' can occur. Take a look at 2 posts before yours.

Well yeah my point exactly.

 

[Intoelectrics]

If I'm doing loads I usually use my chop saw and as i'm cutting spin the conduit, this method is fast and leaves little de-burring work to be done after. Using a pipe slice leaves a nice neat outer cut but then I have to use a de-burring tool on my cordless to ream out the inner, or worse, if I don't have that to hand elbow grease and a good file. Hacksaw or cordless grinder for quick odd pieces, depending on what I have handy at the time.

 

[Simon47]

Learning how to properly measure and bend steel conduit will save so much time. It was sad watching an electrical company installing some galv conduit a while back, they would make a bend, then cut the end to make it fit, then make a second bend in another length and then cut that to fit and join it to the last piece. So much wasted pipe and time cutting and threading.

Indeed, but I suspect it's a dying art these days. I remember learning to do metal conduit as an apprentice in the shipyard, as well as bending flat bar on the flat for cable ways to band cable to. Never done the latter again ever, and only recently did a bit of galv conduit - first at church, then on my house. Had to go out and buy a die set - dad's set was imperial threads. Made do with dad's old 3/4" pipe bender for bending it.
In a way it's easier than plastic - it stays where you bend it to, and/or doesn't bend where you don't want it to.
But done a fair bit of plumbing - including bending a full crossover (that's what the plumbing guys call them) in some chrome pipe for my mates bathroom. I practised that first on a bit of scrap Been doing a fair number of offsets in chrome while doing the heating in our house.