There are a variety of ways to cut ductile pipe including manual rotary cutters, hinged cutters, abrasive or diamond blades on hand held quick-cut saws, and the PowerGrit diamond chain system. Each has their advantages.
Rotary Cutters and Hinged Cutters
A manual method which uses four (4) cutter wheels that are rotated around or partially around a pipe, the advantage with these is that they are ideal for confined spaces where normal cutters cannot be rotated completely around or difficult interior cuts.
Diamond Blades for Ductile Pipe
These Blades are used on gas powered cut-off saws and speed up the cutting process, much faster than a manual cutter. They are good for making cuts above ground but they require more space than the rotary cutter, hinged cutter, or the PowerGrit Saw. These blades have an abrasive material adhered to the core allowing you to clean metal burrs and make beveled edges after the cut. These blades are sometimes used to cut a broken pipe in the ground. However the rotary cutters and PowerGrit chains are usually a better option requiring less excavation and smaller access holes. Cutting with gas powered hand-held saws require large holes and significantly more excavation.
POWERGRIT Utility Saw – Chain
PowerGrit™ Utility Saw Chain is a revolutionary new cutting product designed to change the way the job gets done. From ductile iron to plastic pipe, PowerGrit will get you in and out of the job faster, easier and safer than other methods. Utilizing a brazed layer diamond coating on a patent pending chain design, coupled with an extremely durable chain platform, PowerGrit technology provides dramatically improved access to the cut with far less excavation. Single-side access reduces excavation time, operator effort and total time to complete the job.
Reed UPC – Universal Pipe Cutter
This is a lightweight and portable pneumatic saw that is easy to set up. It is capable of cutting ductile pipe up to 48inches in diameter. When set up properly it is an ideal way to get professional straight cut on a round pipe. It uses a special wet cutting diamond blade that results in a nice finish after the cut is completed. This make it easier to get great results when matching to other pipes or valves.
