How to cut steel pipe

Steel pipes are widely used in construction sites, pipeline laying construction, scaffold,home decoration, and DIY projects, and their processing operations are also commonplace. The first step in steel pipe processing is cutting. For some beginners, how to safely and quickly cut a long steel pipe into the desired length is an important skill that must be mastered. This article will introduce the protective measures, cutting tools, methods, and cutting techniques you need for steel pipe cutting from various perspectives. After reading it, you will have a comprehensive understanding of steel pipe cutting.

1. Common Cutting Tools For Steel Pipes

In daily life, the most common cutting tools for small diameter steel pipes are as follows: mini cutters, pipe cutting machines, angle grinders, etc.

1.1 Mini Cutter

Mini cutting knives can be divided into copper pipe cutting knives, aluminum alloy cutting knives, carbon steel cutting knives, stainless steel cutting knives, alloy cutting knives, etc. according to the material of the pipe. The advantage is that it is easy to carry, easy to operate, and relatively lightweight. The disadvantage is that the cutting amount is not easy to be too much, which is not suitable for cutting large-diameter pipes.

1.2 Pipe Cutting Machine

A pipe cutting machine is a pipe cutting tool that is slightly larger in size than a mini cutter. Most pipe cutting machines use electricity, so there must be a power source around them when using them. The advantage is fast cutting speed and large cutting volume. The disadvantage is that it must be connected to electricity for internal use in factories and machining workshops.

1.3 Angle Grinder

Angle grinder is a common polishing and cutting tool. The angle grinder uses brushless DC motor to make the angle grinder have longerlife and higher performance, and at the same time reduce wear and heatgeneration during cutting.The materials of pipes that can be cut by an angle grinder include copper, steel, iron, aluminum, alloy, stainless steel, etc. In addition to cutting function, angle grinder can also be used for polishing, grinding and other processing operations.

What are the cutting tools for large-diameter steel pipes in industrial applications? Below, we will introduce several large diameter steel pipe cutting tools to you:

1.4 Manual Rotating Explosion-Proof Cold Cutting Steel Pipe Cutter

The manual rotary explosion-proof cold cut steel pipe cutting machine for large-diameter pipelines generally cuts pipes with a diameter of 14-22 inches. The materials that can be cut include steel, iron, copper, and stainless steel. Its advantage is that it can cut large-diameter circular steel pipes, petroleum pipes, chemical pipelines, etc. in narrow spaces.

1.5 Cold Cutting Saw - Sharp Tool For Cutting Medium Caliber Soft Steel Pipe

Cold cutting saws can cut a variety of steel pipes and materials, such as square steel pipes, rectangular steel pipes, circular steel pipes, steel bars, angle steels, C-shaped steel pipes, I-beams, etc.

The advantages of cold cutting saws are fast cutting speed, flat cutting surface, large cutting volume, no need for water cooling, environmental protection, and no smoke and dust.

The disadvantage of cold cutting saws is that they must be connected to electricity for use, and steel pipes or pipes with too large diameters cannot be cut.

1.6 Other Cutting Equipment

For cutting pipes with a large quantity and a larger diameter, the cutting equipment includes large laser pipe cutting machines, flame pipe cutting machines, and plasma CNC pipe cutting machines. These devices generally occupy a large area, have a large cutting volume, and good cutting quality, but are not very suitable for daily pipe cutting scenarios.

2. Protection Before Steel Pipe Cutting

Before cutting steel pipes, we need to prepare some protective tools, such as goggles, helmets, protective clothing, and gloves, and wear them correctly. These are necessary tools to ensure your safe operation.

2.1 Protective Clothing

Cutting operations are a relatively dangerous job, so you need to prepare protective clothing in advance. These protective clothing can protect your body from sparks and steel slag from cutting. It is best to choose protective clothing materials that are not easy to cut, wear-resistant, and have good flame retardant effects. As shown in Figure 1, it is a protective suit made of cowhide material.

2.2 Protective Cover

When cutting steel pipes, head protection is also very important. It is best for you to wear a head protective cover when performing steel pipe cutting operations.

Steel pipe cutting protective cover

2.3 Goggles

When cutting steel pipes, eye protection is also very important, and it is best to have a good pair of goggles.

Steel pipe cutting protective goggles

2.4 Anti Cutting Gloves

The protection of hands when cutting steel pipes is also very important, and equipping a pair of gloves that are resistant to cutting, high temperatures, and water is also an important part. Protective gloves can effectively prevent the danger of our fingers being cut.

3. How To Cut Steel Pipe

Below we will explain the commonly used process of cutting ordinary steel pipes.

3.1 Using A Small Cutter

When using a small cutter to cut steel pipes, you should pay attention to the following points and steps.

Small cutter

3.1.1 Measurement

You need to measure the position you want to cut in advance and mark it with a pen.

3.1.2 Fixation

You need to fix the steel pipe or other pipes in the marked position and tighten the screws to make the cutting blade tightly adhere to the surface of the steel pipe.

3.1.3 Rotation

Continue rotating your cutting blade until the steel pipe is cut.

3.1.4 Polishing

If you find burrs on the cut steel pipe end, please use pliers to break it off, or use an angle grinder, sandpaper, etc. to polish it smooth. Prevent steel pipe burrs from piercing people.

Pipe cutting machines can be divided into steel pipe cutting machines, copper pipe cutting machines, aluminum pipe cutting machines, and stainless steel pipe cutting machines. We choose different types of pipe cutting machines for different materials. The following will focus on how to use a steel pipe cutting machine.

3.2 Using A Steel Pipe Cutting Machine

Firstly, adjust the blades, position the baffle, check if the machine is running properly, and wear protective tools.

Secondly, fix the steel pipe on the support frame.

Thirdly, start cutting.

Fourth, finished product polishing.

The pipe cutting machine utilizes the principle of gear differential feed to achieve longitudinal feed of the cutting tool on the high-speed rotating cutterhead, thereby achieving a new concept of steel pipe clamping without moving and cutting with the cutterhead rotating. Effectively solved the problems of high energy consumption, machine tool shaking, low cutting efficiency, short tool life, low production operation rate, poor quality of steel pipe end face, and inability to determine the length in the high-speed rotation processing of steel pipes.

3.3 Using An Angle Grinder For Steel Pipe Cutting

How To Cut Galvanized Pipe

3.3.1 Preparation Before Using The Angle Grinder

The first point is the inspection of the angle grinder. You need to pay attention to whether the accessories are intact, whether the insulated cables are damaged, and whether there are any signs of aging. After inspection, plug in the power before starting the operation.

Secondly, when cutting steel pipes, there should be no personnel or explosive or flammable materials within one meter of the area. Do not work in the direction of others to prevent injury or death.

Thirdly, when it is found that the grinding wheel blades of the angle grinder have been used up and need to be replaced, the power supply must be cut off for replacement to prevent accidental pressing of the switch, which may cause unnecessary personnel accidents.

The fourth point is that when working with dangerous and flammable materials, two or more fire extinguishers must be equipped to prevent accidents. Adhere to the principle of safety first and production second.

The fifth point is that when used for a long time of 30 minutes, rest should be stopped for more than 20 minutes and work can only be carried out after cooling down. To prevent damage and work-related accidents caused by high temperatures during long-term use.

3.3.2. Measurement And Marking Of Steel Pipes

Measure the length with a tape measure and mark the position to be cut.

3.3.3. Fixed Steel Pipe

Fix the long steel pipe to be cut on the cutting table

3.3.4. Deburring Of Steel Pipes After Cutting

After cutting steel pipes with an angle grinder, sometimes there are burrs on the cutting surface of the steel pipes, which need to be polished with an angle grinder.

3.4 Steel Pipe Cutting With A Hacksaw

3.4.1 Steps For Using A Cold Cutting Saw

The cutting method introduced below is currently a popular method for cutting steel pipes, called the cold cut saw cutting method. The steps are as follows.

The first step is to measure the length of the pipeline and mark the cut area.

The second step is to fix the pipeline. Wear protective gear.

Step three, adjust the angle of the saw blade.

Step 4, adjust the cutting depth. Adjust the cutting depth according to the actual thickness of the steel pipe. If the cutting depth is too small, it will not be able to complete the cutting task.

Step 5, fix the pipe material. Fix the steel pipe workpiece that needs to be cut on the workbench to ensure stability.

Step 6, start the cold cutting saw. Press the power start button and wait for the normal RPM to be reached.

Step 7, cut smoothly. Slowly press down the saw blade to perform the cutting action. The grip strength should be stable and not sudden shaking.

Step 8, pay attention to safety. Avoid hands or fingers getting close to the saw blade. After cutting the steel pipe, immediately cut off the power.

3.4.2 Advantages of Cold Cutting Saws

1. High Precision

The precision of cold cutting saws is very high, suitable for many occasions of labeling.

2. The Saw Blade Is Durable

The blade of the cold cutting saw is made of high-strength alloy, and the lifespan of a single saw blade can reach 100-500 hours. The saw blade can be repaired and reused.

3. High Quality

The cutting quality of cold cutting saws is very high, and during cutting operations, they rarely generate heat, reducing the risk of thermal deformation and heat treatment.

4. Wide Applicability

The cutting application scenarios of cold cutting saws are very wide, suitable for cutting various metals, such as aluminum, copper, stainless steel, steel and other materials.

3.4.3 Disadvantages Of Cold Cutting Saws

Although cold cutting saws have many advantages, they also have their own drawbacks. For example.

1. High Cost

The price of cold cutting saw blades is higher compared to grinding wheel cutting blades.

2. Limited Cutting Thickness

Cold cutting saw is actually more laborious for steel pipes with a thickness exceeding 10mm, and it has advantages over band saw cutting.

The following is a cutting video for your reference.

4.What Are The Other Methods For Cutting Pipelines?

In addition to the steel pipe or pipe cutting methods mentioned earlier in the article, you may also need to understand the pipe cutting methods and usage scenarios.

4.1 Band Saw Cutting

The method of dividing a workpiece or material into narrow grooves using a band saw blade is called band saw cutting. Band saw cutting is the most commonly used cutting method, and large diameter steel pipe band saw is the most commonly used. Small diameter steel pipes are often cut using circular saws and pipe cutting machines. Band saw cutting equipment usually takes up a lot of space, and this method of cutting pipes has the following advantages and disadvantages.

4.1.1 Advantages Of Band Saw Cutting Method

A. Fast and efficient. Band saw cutting steel pipes can effectively improve production efficiency and quickly complete cutting tasks through mechanized operations.

B. High accuracy. The cutting accuracy of sawing steel pipes is high, and can be adjusted to different degrees according to needs. The saw blades with various tooth shapes can meet the cutting needs of different materials.

C. Low cost. Band saw cutting steel pipes has a high degree of automation, low production costs, and the machine has the ability to work continuously for a long time, which is relatively energy-saving and environmentally friendly. Although sawing pipes has many advantages, there are also some drawbacks.

4.1.2 Disadvantages Of Band Saw Cutting

The following are several drawbacks of using a band saw to cut pipes:

1. The noise is loud. When cutting pipes with a band saw, it produces a lot of noise, which has a certain impact on operators and the surrounding environment.

2. There is a lot of dust. During the process of cutting pipes with a band saw, a large amount of dust and harmful substances are generated, which can cause allergic reactions among operators and have an impact on their health.

3. High vibration. During the operation of band saw cutting pipes, a large amount of vibration is generated, which has a certain impact on the stability and service life of the machinery and equipment.

4.2 Flame Cutting

Flame cutting of steel pipes is a cutting method that uses high-temperature flame to melt steel pipes. Oxidative gases such as acetylene, propane, or natural gas are often used as heating gases. It can achieve cutting of various metal materials and pipelines, such as steel pipes, steel plates, stainless steel plates, stainless steel pipes, aluminum plates, aluminum pipes, copper plates, copper pipes, etc., and can achieve automatic control, with a relatively long service life.

4.2.1 Advantages Of Flame Cutting

The advantage of flame cutting steel pipes is its low cost, with a maximum cutting thickness of up to two meters. It is suitable for cutting large seamless steel pipes, with fast speed and low cost. However, flame cutting also has some drawbacks.

4.2.2 Disadvantages Of Flame Cutting

Flame cutting can easily cause deformation and oxidation of steel pipes, with a large area of thermal deformation and rough cutting sections, often resulting in slag accumulation. In addition, the accuracy of flame cutting of steel pipes is not high, so before cutting the steel pipes, the needs of subsequent processing should be considered, and the steel pipes should retain the surplus processing.

Overall, although flame cutting has some drawbacks, its low cost and ability to cut large steel pipes make it still a good choice in certain situations. However, with the development of technology, flame cutting has gradually been phased out.

4.4 Laser Cutting

Laser cutting is a cutting method that uses high-power and high-density laser beams to cut materials or workpieces. Mainly used on pipes or workpieces with a thickness of less than 30mm, characterized by efficient and precise cutting.

4.4.1 Advantages of Laser Cutting

The quality of laser cutting is excellent. It not only has a fast cutting speed, but also has very high dimensional accuracy, reaching an accuracy of ± 0.05mm. The most important thing is that due to the laser beam acting on a very small area, the heat affected zone is extremely small, and the deformation of the workpiece is very small.

Laser Cutting Vs. Plasma Cutting

Compared with plasma cutting, laser cutting is superior in cutting quality, but slightly inferior in cutting speed.

4.4.2 Disadvantages Of Laser Cutting

Laser cutting is not suitable for cutting thick pipes or steel parts. The skill requirements for operators are also relatively high. Improper or incorrect operation can lead to equipment failure. Laser cutting can produce smoke, which can harm the health of operators.

At present, laser cutting technology has low equipment costs, and laser cutting technology is also constantly improving. Therefore, compared with other processing methods, laser cutting technology has strong competitiveness.

4.5 Water Jet Cutting

Water jet cutting, also known as high-pressure water jet cutting, originated in the United States. Early application in the aerospace industry in the United States. With the upgrading and iteration of technology, in order to improve cutting speed and thickness, people will add abrasives such as pomegranate sand and diamond sand to high-pressure water for auxiliary cutting. This cutting method has high accuracy and does not change the properties of the workpiece.

4.5.1 Advantages Of High-Pressure Water Cutting

Due to the use of water as the medium, the biggest advantage of water jet cutting is that it does not produce thermal effects. This means it can be used to cut various materials, even special items such as shells.

High pressure water cutting is an environmentally friendly and efficient cutting method. It uses high-pressure water flow to impact the pipe and achieve cutting. The advantage of this method is that the quality of the incision is very good, without deformation or pollution.

4.5.2 Disadvantages Of High-Pressure Water Cutting

The cost of high-pressure water cutting equipment is relatively high, so it is mainly suitable for certain specific materials.

The strength of high-pressure water cutting is limited and not suitable for cutting steel pipes or steel workpieces.

Overall, high-pressure water jet cutting is an efficient and high-precision cutting method, suitable for certain specific applications, but its advantages are incomparable to other cutting methods.

Summary:

For different steel pipe materials and cutting requirements, appropriate cutting methods should be selected. When deciding on the cutting method, we need to comprehensively consider factors such as cutting accuracy, efficiency, cost, and environmental protection, in order to find the most suitable cutting plan for a specific situation.

5. Steel Pipe Cutting Notes:

5.1 Manual cutting requires the operator to have stable hand coordination ability, significant hand strength, and high patience to ensure smooth cutting lines.

5.2 Mechanical cutting is suitable for pipelines with larger diameters. Mechanical cutting is fast and efficient, but operators need to have certain cutting experience and skills.

5.3 Flame cutting is suitable for pipes with larger diameter and thicker wall thickness, and can be cut using oxygen and fuel. Flame cutting requires high safety measures and operators need to have rich cutting experience.

5.4 Safety measures must be taken properly. When cutting steel pipes, regardless of the method used, you must wear protective gear. Protecting one's personal safety is the first element.

5.5 Treatment after steel pipe cutting: After completing the pipe cutting, the cutting edge needs to be treated, otherwise the sharp edges of the cutting area will cause harm to personnel and equipment. So you can use an angle grinder, pliers, file, or sandpaper to trim the cutting edges and make them smooth.

5.6 Employment of professionals

If you are not very confident in the operation of steel pipe cutting, do not have professional equipment, or do not have the energy to handle the steel pipe cutting operation, please make sure to spend money to hire professionals to carry out the steel pipe cutting operation. Of course, you can also contact us, and we will pre cut the steel pipe in the factory workshop to meet your requirements for any length of steel pipe. At the same time, we are also willing to participate in your project, We provide you with online technical support and guidance, and offer you various services within our capabilities.

In summary, pipeline cutting is a highly technical task. Operators need to have certain experience and skills. Before cutting steel pipes, it is necessary to make sufficient preparations and choose appropriate tools and cutting techniques. During the operation, pay attention to safety measures and handle the cutting edges. Only in this way can the quality and safety of steel pipe cutting be ensured. That's all for my sharing with you. Thank you for reading and following.