Best way to cut scaffold tube

sarabande

sarabande

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I have about 40 - 60 cuts to make in standard glav scaffolding tube.

The idea of all the nasty sharp edges left by a disc cutter does not appeal to me, nor does one of the expensive electric machines used by the professionals (too many sparks near a hay barn.

Is there a manually operated machine which does a slow but steady job please ? (Not a hacksaw clamp)
 
sarabande said:
I have about 40 - 60 cuts to make in standard glav scaffolding tube.

The idea of all the nasty sharp edges left by a disc cutter does not appeal to me, nor does one of the expensive electric machines used by the professionals (too many sparks near a hay barn.

Is there a manually operated machine which does a slow but steady job please ? (Not a hacksaw clamp)
Click to expand...

When I used to a metal saw either circular or band would cut tube with very little burr and a brush deburrer would remove what was left.

We made tube cut off machines which was popular in those days due to the quality of the finish of the cut end
 
Power hacksaw?
Chopsaw/Mitre Saw?
Personally, I'd probably use my big angle grinder then deburr with a file, or grinding disc in the small angle grinder.

The best thing to do is often get the stockholder to cut it for you.
Sell your long poles on ebay and buy some the right length!

Cutting it manually by hand seems like hard work and expensive in hacksaw blades.

For conduit, the big boys use a 'Pipe threader' to cut tube as well as putting a thread on it.
Manual, electric or diesel.
 
+1 for a hand held band saw, its cold cutting so no sparks. They are now standard use for pipe fitters. I’m not sure you can hire them and are about £400 to buy.
They will cut a 2” tube in about 30 seconds, straight edge and no burr.

The ones we use are Milwaukee, you can get battery or mains
Milwaukee HD18BS-0 M18 Band Saw https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003TFDTKG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_Bi7ECb3NMXQKY
 
sarabande said:
Thanks everyone. I can cut in another location with 240v away from shed, so a power hacksaw looks like a good ibvestment as I also have some stainless tubing to cut for the boat's new gantry.
Do these Rothenberg cutter hand tools look like hard work ? I don't mind if they are a bit slow.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000XJ5...=9045304&hvtargid=pla-422982179693&th=1&psc=1
Click to expand...

Mine was not a Rothenberger but a cheaper one of the same type. Maybe like this one:
https://leachs.net/record-pipe-sing...MI-eSr57Lm4AIVirDtCh3j9gKeEAQYASABEgK7nvD_BwE

It wasn't hard work using it, and it wasn't that slow. I used some cutting oil with it.

I think I still have it somewhere. If it stops raining I'll go to the shed and look for it.

As I mentioned before, I didn't need to worry about the burrs it left on the inside of the tube because they were inside fittings or else capped off with plastic caps.
 
alahol2 said:
Probably not that one which is over £200. It's the spare cutting wheel that's £28.
Click to expand...

I am indebted to you! I would not have spent even as much as £100 on my cutter, so I must have bought it on eBay.

By the way, I think it was after going to view your winter shelter cover that I decided to make one similar but with a scaffold tube frame to give extra support.
 
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Here it is in all its glory:

Record 202 Pipe Cutter.jpg

It is a Record 202 in excellent condition. A better product than the RottenBugger shown in a previous post!

I didn't realise they cost so much now. Time I listed it on eBay, I think!
 
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As to speed, the opening scene from Cool Hand Luke gives a demo. Whiskey optional.

Power hacksaw aka donkeysaw works well and come up cheap 2nd hand. Bandsaw my prefered and they also are not expensive used.
Local B&Q have a disc cut off for 139 euro. OK, bit of flash, but a touch with the flap disc in the hand grinder is quick.
 
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