Cutting stainless tube

[All U Get]

Hi all,

I'm making a solar panel frame using stainless tube and was going to use a hacksaw to cut the tubes. A search came up with a thread from 2011 and nothing since. It appears nobody needs to build their own frames anymore.

All U Get

 

[Ron20324]

I do, I do!!! I have a heavy duty pipe cutter I was lucky enough to find at a yard sale. Otherwise, a metal cutting blade in a miter/table/circular saw???

 

[dlochner]

Try one of these tubing cutters: Shop LENOX 1/8-in to 1-3/4-in Copper Tube Cutter at Lowes.com Then change ou the cutting wheel to this wheel: Shop LENOX Replacement Cutting Accessories at Lowes.com

Lenox makes tubing cutters in 2 sizes, get the bigger one. I learned the hard way. The stock cutting wheel is not hard enough for SS, so you'll need to get the SS cutting wheel. I used this last year to shorten a SS Pedestal Guard.

Other hardware stores will have similar products.

 

[GorillaToast]

I used my 6" angle grinder with a metal cutting wheel. Like the well known hot knife thru butter!

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

I used my 6" angle grinder with a metal cutting wheel. Like the well known hot knife thru butter!

yep. Keep one of those in an angle grinder always

All new mast tangs cut using one and a drill press

 

[agprice22]

10" metal saw by Milwaukee. Just like a miter saw. Fast, accurate, and clean.

 

[agprice22]

And to drill holes in stainless tube: cut a tiny X with an abrasive cutting wheel on a dremel. It will break the smooth surface and give the drill bit a place to bite while eliminating bit walk.

 

[rardiH36]

Without much angst, several years ago, I made 12 cuts of 1" x 1/16” SS tubing successfully using a hacksaw. Who would have thought!? The blade required changing several times though.

 

[jssailem]

The hacksaw can work, bit the tube cutter is the way to go. It cuts the tubes square and quickly with minimal effort.

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

easier is to just center punch

 

[All U Get]

Good ideas, now I have some options. This should only take a few hours.

All U Get

 

[Maine Sail]

Good ideas, now I have some options. This should only take a few hours.

All U Get

I can drop off my RIDGID pipe cutter for you next week. It is old, grungy and decrepit looking but it cuts SS easily. I only ever use the SS cutting wheels so it already has one installed. Sorry I have been too busy/swamped to get out to your boat as of yet...

 

[JRacer]

We are all "old, grungy and decrepit looking" Maine! ;-)

 

[LeslieTroyer]

I guess the current plan is to use MS's tubing cutter. But for those of us who don't have such fantastic neighbors. If you do use an abrasive cutoff wheel and get bluing on the tube, go to a motorcycle shop and ask for some muffler de-blue. Works great

Les

 

[All U Get]

Already done with 12 inch miter saw. Cleaning the edges with my flat file and chainsaw files. Now to mount the base units next weekend. The panel should arrive by then.

All U Get

 

[Maine Sail]

Excellent work!!