ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Cutting conduit & Panasonic Metal Cutter

When I first started in the Trade, I was told tubing cutters were not allowed. Something about changing the diameter of the conduit. Never seen one used either,nor have I, but often thought about it.

Are they legal for that use?

As long as you ream it after the cutting it is fine to use a tubing cutter.

Anytime we have a pipe threading machine on the job we use pipe cutters, of couse that is for RMC but the rules are the same for EMT.


ARTICLE 358 Electrical Metallic Tubing: Type EMT

ARTICLE 344 Rigid Metal Conduit: Type RMC

Bob

[This message has been edited by iwire (edited 08-08-2004).]

Learned the tubing cutter trick from my last foreman... glad I did!

Ideal also makes a "triple reamer" called the Bur-Master - swivel cap on the handle, and a much shorter OAL make it my choice over the Klein.

We have used all types, but we recently purchased a blade from Milwaukee that fits our 6.5" circ. After cutting 2000' of conduit it is still going strong. Clean cuts. Safety glasses a must, cutting overhead treaturous.

Just in case anyone wants to know I looked at the new Milwaukee netal cutting circular saws today. It looked like a good tool but it was made in Tiwan.Ijust could not bring myself to buy a tool made for an American company in the Orient.I am really narrow minded about that and proud of it.It seems that everything we use anymore comes from overthrer

AMEN to buying made in America

I bought a Milwaukee 18 volt combo the circ. saw,Sawzall US made The blade made in NZ the batteries Japan the flashlight,radio,charger were made in China and the drill mfg in Germany. I forgot the case Chinese too,I do not like giving money to a country that has missles pointed at us.

Edited to change comment.

[This message has been edited by NORCAL (edited 08-19-2004).]

Tubing cutter and round file here. both fit in the tool pouch and are easier to deal with when you 20 feet off the ground.

15 inch abrasive cutoff wheel, (looks and works like a powered miter box) for anything heavier than 1 inch EMT.

Carbide blade in a power miter for the plastic.

TW

Look at the Makita 4390D cordless recip saw.

And .........

PVC can be cut with a fishing string!