To cut cast iron pipe, start by marking the line you want to cut on the pipe with chalk. So, unless you have plenty of hours and energy to spare, it’s probably best not to use this tool. Using a cold chisel to cut through a cast iron pipe is much more efficient than … Many experts can strike the tile several times with a trowel and get a clean break but using a saw will insure a clean break. Cut through the mark on the pipe with a handsaw or hacksaw. Yep, use the 4.5in grinder with a stone or diamond disc on it, shouldn't be a problem. These are some of the tools you can use to cut your old cast-iron sewer pipes. It didn’t dull. Big, bad bends. Since this will be your guide when cutting with your saw, make sure the mark is straight so you’ll end up with a pipe with smooth edges. ... Editorial An Easier Way to Cut Pipe. You really just need to mark the pipework with some chalk or even a crayon and fit yourself with the appropriate PPE gear. Snap cutters essentially look like scissors with a roller chain in place of blades and a ratchet for a handle. Temporarily run pipe—longer than it needs to be—so it comes near the old pipe. Plastic Pipe Cutter. It's going to depend on whether or not the old pipe is secured already. MSW serves municipal decision-makers, sewer and water directors, technicians and private water and wastewater contractors who install, inspect, maintain and rehabilitate sewer, water and stormwater infrastructures. This isn’t really a problem — until your pipes become rusted or damaged and need to be replaced. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Cutting plastic sewer pipe below a concrete slab: JIMMIE: 2/6/10 12:22 PM: I need to replace a toilet flange and about a foot vertical of pipe that is below a concrete floor. There are a few different tools you can use to cut cast iron: a snap cutter, a reciprocating saw, or a grinder. Mark the existing pipe for cutting. Toilet Vent Option 1: Indirect Connection. By using our site, you agree to our. This article has been viewed 129,570 times. Cons: Acute … The sewer pipe connecting a house to the municipal branch or main sewer line under the street (in a typical installation) is called a lateral. Place the chain around the pipe and apply pressure on the ratchet to cut the pipe. Bedding Pipe. Some of these include: If you have a good, old-fashioned hacksaw, you can use it to cut your cast-iron pipes. Diamond grit blades are the newest technology and tend to last longer than their carbide grit counterparts. Cut clay pipe with a chain tool. A sewer line that is backing up needs to be professionally snaked out before enzymes are introduced to the system. Working in a cramped spot, I bent the blade a dozen times. This is usually a 4-inch pipe that is buried below the frost line in a trench that is properly prepared and sloped. Wrap the chain around the clay pipe, positioning it over the mark and perpendicular to the pipe. Like reciprocating saws, circular saws let you cut cast-iron sewer pipes in a quick and less stressful way. You will just need to rotate the pipe while cutting it. Take the pipe cutter, and place it around the first mark on the piece of pipe. What is the most important aspect of engineering? Fortunately, if you’re handy with tools, you don’t have to worry since there is several equipment you can use to cut these pipes and prepare them for replacement. Rigid pipe can be cut with such PVC pipe and tube cutters as hacksaws, power miter saws and scissor-type cutters, but ratchet-style cutters tend to strike an effective balance of affordability, flexibility and ease of use.. With a hacksaw, slowly draw the blade back and forth, making sure that the cut is straight.Reduce speed near completion to provide a clean cut at the end. pipe cuts, it continued to cut without a noticeable slowdown. To create this article, 11 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. A snap cutter can bend the pipe or even crush it and grinder wheels can fly off when using them, so a reciprocating saw is probably your best bet. Then, wrap the chain of a snap cutter around the pipe so it's over the line. Once you’re done, take your reciprocating saw, set it at the lowest speed, and follow the chalk line to cut your pipe. Last Updated: April 26, 2019 Locate the Damaged Area. Always wear eye and hearing protection when cutting cast iron pipe. The blade cut faster than carbide grit or metal-cutting teeth, but not nearly as fast as a diamond grinder blade. Any tool similar to a Craftsman All-in-One Cutting Tool can also be used. Preparation. Place the chain around the pipe and apply pressure on the ratchet to cut the pipe. Use a cold chisel. Depending on the amount of growth, the remaining debris might need to be flushed out of the system. Mark your cut point with a felt tip marker, or wrap a newspaper around the pipe at the cut point or score the point with a chisel. Cast iron pipe is non-flammable. You can use a circular saw with a masonry blade to cut clay sewer pipe. Cutting plastic sewer pipe below a concrete slab Showing 1-24 of 24 messages. To create this article, 11 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Choose either a diamond grit blade or a carbide grit one to ensure it will easily cut through your pipes; both of these products can be easily found in large hardware stores. Each brand can be slightly different and the directions can vary slightly from the ones given in this article. Scrape away all plastic burrs with a workman's knife. Above this pipe/bedding slot is a benched area which often provides a resting place for the trench box plates to rest on. This is probably the best tool to use for cutting cast-iron pipes since it lets you do the job in a relatively quick and easy way and create smooth, even edges. References. % of people told us that this article helped them. Wrap the chain of the snap cutter around the pipe as evenly as possible. There is about 1/4 inch clearance Will cutting an iron pipe with a saw cause it to vibrate too much? Make a straight perpendicular cut through the pipe. larger than the replacement. When cutting an existing cast iron vertical sewer pipe in an older home, do I need tie off the pipe going up, or will it stay up on its own? Cut pipe with a power cut-off saw with a masonry blade; some use a diamond-tipped blade. For troubleshooting tips when you're cutting a cast iron pipe, keep reading! To avoid injuries, it’s best to have another person assist you during the process and to use clamps to support the pipe and keep it steady as you cut it. This article has been viewed 129,570 times. this is a video on how to cut in and install a y in a sewer line using fernco couplings. Reciprocating saws make cutting cast-iron pipes a breeze so, if you have one, make sure to use it. However, don’t just use any kind of blade with your saw; instead, look for a diamond blade that’s specially designed to cut through cast-iron items. All Rights Reserved. You'll have to dig deeper and underneath the pipe where you're … You may need to rotate the pipe slightly before making the final cut if you are cutting replacement pipe on the ground. It also takes a substantial amount of time, especially if you have several pipes to cut. Make sure the paper wraps over itself and in line to ensure a square mark. These are some of the tools you can use to cut your old cast-iron sewer pipes. this same method can be used on a horizontal stack. It didn’t break. Mark the existing PVC sewer pipe at the point where the end cap needs to be installed. Once the clamps are in place you can start cutting the cast iron piping. Copyright © 2021 Rooter Guard. For troubleshooting tips when you're cutting a cast iron pipe, keep reading! Cast iron pipes were used before the invention of PVC pipe and was the choice for main stacks and waste drains. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. If the toilet … Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. To cut a cast-iron pipe in the ground, you need a soil pipe cutter, a specialty tool that can be rented from supply houses for a small fee. How to Cut PVC Pipe Square. What do I do if there isn't enough room to install a rubber flange? After that, an enzyme monthly maintenance plan will keep the pipes open and clear. You will be able to tell when the pipe is cut … Choose a Toilet Vent or Drain Configuration. Unfortunately, snap cutters can be on the pricey side so, if your budget is limited and/or you don’t see yourself using the tool again in the future, it’s better to rent one from a reputable dealer. If you don't have a snap cutter, you can use a reciprocating saw instead. Just fit it with a long metal cutting blade, line it up with the chalk line, and set the saw to low speed. Before doing anything else, though, install a long cutting blade into your saw. This article will teach you how to cut cast iron pipe. Once the chain is in place, apply pressure to the handle of the snap cutter to cut through the pipe. Hardest part was banding the new piece to exsisting pipe… A quality miter saw (a powerful electric saw typically used in carpentry) can cut PVC piping accurately. Cast-iron sewer pipe is heavy and difficult for a do-it-yourselfer to cut. Ensure that there are as many cutting wheels as possible against the pipe. Mark the pipe where it needs to be cut. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Using a Pipe Cutter Get a plastic pipe cutter. [2] X Research source Also, remember that cast-iron is a heavy material, so handle it with care. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. To my surprise, it didn’t break. Re: Orangeburg pipe cutting Where i live its all 3in Orangeburg pipe for the main sewer lines. Video Playback Not Supported. Nothing is more important than preparation. Afterward, place the blade guide tight up against the pipe and gently squeeze the trigger to start the cut. As long as you apply the proper amount of pressure while cutting, along with a possible brace depending on the pipe location, you should be fine. In many older homes, cast iron wasn't secured to anything, in which case you will want to double wrap rope around pipe and secure above the area you are cutting. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e7\/Cut-Cast-Iron-Pipe-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-Cast-Iron-Pipe-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e7\/Cut-Cast-Iron-Pipe-Step-1.jpg\/aid1338592-v4-728px-Cut-Cast-Iron-Pipe-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"