# Best way to cut thick metal pipe. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 13, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-cut-thick-metal-pipe/655608 "2013-04-13T14:59:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![stormpebbles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@stormpebbles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stormpebbles)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-cut-thick-metal-pipe/655608/21 "2013-04-17T12:17:41Z")
no one has answered the OPs question , what size of grinder does he need , ?? are u talking a 3 inch pipe or 2-3 foot diameter pipe ? big heavy one imho… but im a girl , angle grinders are great things , will cut anything , but watch out cutting into heavy pipe if u get a big grinder , the kick back can be really mean ,dont cut deep into the pipe , keep moveing round and round the pipe ---
**Author:** ![rfence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@rfence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfence)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-cut-thick-metal-pipe/655608/22 "2019-03-05T13:33:31Z")
I’ve been cutting galvanized pipe for over 20 years with a portable electric 4" Milwaukee band saw. Works best when you are cutting outdoors and have lots of room. It’s too big to fit into confined areas. Then you would want to use a Variable Speed Reciprocating Saw with a metal cutting blade. Be sure to sweep up or shopvac your debris if you indoors or on a hard surface. If you have to cut a lot of heavy pipe don’t waste time with battery powered tools. Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-cut-thick-metal-pipe/655608/23 "2019-03-05T13:48:59Z")
> [@rfence](#): > > I’ve been cutting galvanized pipe for over 20 years with a portable electric 4" Milwaukee band saw. Works best when you are cutting outdoors and have lots of room. It’s too big to fit into confined areas. Then you would want to use a Variable Speed Reciprocating Saw with a metal cutting blade. Be sure to sweep up or shopvac your debris if you indoors or on a hard surface. If you have to cut a lot of heavy pipe don’t waste time with battery powered tools. > > Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk It’s been six years. The OP has either succeeded, or given up by now. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-cut-thick-metal-pipe/655608/25 "2019-03-05T23:49:03Z")
> [@Mdcastle](#): > > Sawzall blade was 14TPI. Because of how confined the space is I couldn’t vary which part of the blade was used, so the 3-4 teeth in contact with the metal were worn down. Not sure if it helps in your situation, but you can put a sawzall blade in upside down and cut from the bottom up. If, for no other reason, to extend the life of the blade, but it’s usually helpful when you can’t access the top of the material. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-cut-thick-metal-pipe/655608/26 "2019-03-06T16:01:21Z")
> [@Kamandi](#): > > \ And of course the most important safety rule when using your power tools is to wear these – safety glasses. \ One of my pet peeves is this. Safety glasses had side shields, I wear them every day at work. His don’t. He also wears a respirator with a full beard, he might as well wear nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-cut-thick-metal-pipe/655608/27 "2019-03-06T16:17:59Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > One of my pet peeves is this. Safety glasses had side shields, I wear them every day at work. His don’t. He also wears a respirator with a full beard, he might as well wear nothing. I had a job for many years where we made safety glasses. Not all safety glasses have side shields, and some that do have detachable side shields. Depends on the nature of the work. Also the notion that you can’t wear a respirator with a beard is a [myth](https://www.ehstoday.com/news/ehs_imp_32822). > [@](#): > > The issue of beards and respirators has been > addressed a number of times by OSHA in letters of interpretation. > OSHA has repeatedly pointed out in these letters that it is not the wearing of beards that is the issue, it’s > the face-to-face- piece seal. In other > words, Santa Claus could wear an air-supplied hood or helmet whose > fit would not be affected by his beard. Colonel Sanders might even be > able to wear a tight-fitting respirator provided his goatee did not > interfere with the face-to-facepiece seal. ---
**Author:** ![Gbro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-cut-thick-metal-pipe/655608/30 "2019-03-06T18:37:16Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Chop saw. > > Horizontal Band Saw (if you want BIG toys) it is a weighted hack saw with a motor to push it back and forth. Takes a while, but can be set up and turned on, then leave for lunch. You have a Power Hack Saw(Reciprocating Saw) pictured in your head, However a “Band Saw” is not a “Back and Forth” saw 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gbro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-cut-thick-metal-pipe/655608/31 "2019-03-06T18:54:08Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > I had a job for many years where we made safety glasses. Not all safety glasses have side shields, and some that do have detachable side shields. Depends on the nature of the work. Also the notion that you can’t wear a respirator with a beard is a [myth](https://www.ehstoday.com/news/ehs_imp_32822). In my last few months as a Fire Fighter i let my scant beard grow and didn’t plan on any interior work, however the best of plans can fall. I doned a new MSA SCBA for a conveyor belt fire and opened the bypass valve for extra flow and could not believe how much smoke i ate! I had to bale out of the belt gallery immediately. One of my Grandsons is an asbestos abatement contractor and his beard is 4+ time heaver than mine and he passes all the tests without a clean shave and large goatee. I do worry for his health but he re-certifies his “Stos” and MSHA annually. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-cut-thick-metal-pipe/655608/32 "2019-03-07T17:50:22Z")
[https://www.grainger.com/product/24U092?gclid=Cj0KCQiAn4PkBRCDARIsAGHmH3dbcow\_T28xh0d4o-hlPsjeLtc2xTlVYiS7fynhppxbVqEICB2ZIasaAsnJEALw\_wcB&cm\_mmc=PPC:+Google+PLA&ef\_id=Cj0KCQiAn4PkBRCDARIsAGHmH3dbcow\_T28xh0d4o-hlPsjeLtc2xTlVYiS7fynhppxbVqEICB2ZIasaAsnJEALw\_wcB:G:s&s\_kwcid=AL!2966!3!50916744477!!!g!82166759997](https://www.grainger.com/product/24U092?gclid=Cj0KCQiAn4PkBRCDARIsAGHmH3dbcow_T28xh0d4o-hlPsjeLtc2xTlVYiS7fynhppxbVqEICB2ZIasaAsnJEALw_wcB&cm_mmc=PPC:+Google+PLA&ef_id=Cj0KCQiAn4PkBRCDARIsAGHmH3dbcow_T28xh0d4o-hlPsjeLtc2xTlVYiS7fynhppxbVqEICB2ZIasaAsnJEALw_wcB:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!50916744477!!!g!82166759997)! Done deal. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-cut-thick-metal-pipe/655608/33 "2019-03-07T18:08:01Z")
> [@Uncommon\_Sense](#): > > [https://www.grainger.com/product/24U092?gclid=Cj0KCQiAn4PkBRCDARIsAGHmH3dbcow\_T28xh0d4o-hlPsjeLtc2xTlVYiS7fynhppxbVqEICB2ZIasaAsnJEALw\_wcB&cm\_mmc=PPC:+Google+PLA&ef\_id=Cj0KCQiAn4PkBRCDARIsAGHmH3dbcow\_T28xh0d4o-hlPsjeLtc2xTlVYiS7fynhppxbVqEICB2ZIasaAsnJEALw\_wcB:G:s&s\_kwcid=AL!2966!3!50916744477!!!g!82166759997](https://www.grainger.com/product/24U092?gclid=Cj0KCQiAn4PkBRCDARIsAGHmH3dbcow_T28xh0d4o-hlPsjeLtc2xTlVYiS7fynhppxbVqEICB2ZIasaAsnJEALw_wcB&cm_mmc=PPC:+Google+PLA&ef_id=Cj0KCQiAn4PkBRCDARIsAGHmH3dbcow_T28xh0d4o-hlPsjeLtc2xTlVYiS7fynhppxbVqEICB2ZIasaAsnJEALw_wcB:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!50916744477!!!g!82166759997)! > > Done deal. Get the Harbor Freight Model. It has a considerably larger throat and it’s a lot cheaper. I think I paid $80 for mine. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-cut-thick-metal-pipe/655608/34 "2019-03-07T18:10:35Z")
The plumbers I work with start out with an angle grinder and finish with a Milwaukee Diablo carbide blade in the sawzall. Or the pipe snapper if they have cash for one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-cut-thick-metal-pipe/655608.md?page=1)