If a miter saw can cut all kinds of wood and metal, it should be easy to cut plastic and PVC. It depends on the blade you are using, though. This leads us to the question, can you cut pvc pipe with a miter saw? The Short answer Yes, you can cut pvc with a miter saw
You can cut PVC and a wide range of other materials with a miter saw. A multi-toothed blade is the best choice for cutting PVC because it is made to cut non-ferrous materials like plastic. Keep in mind that a saw blade with more teeth will make a cleaner cut.
If you don’t know how to use a miter saw to cut PVC pipe or how to use it in general, keep reading to learn how and where you can use this power tool around your home. If you are only using it for plumbing, we may have a cheaper way to show you how to cut PVC quickly and easily below.
How Can You Cut PVC with a Miter Saw?
In a word, with care. The most important thing is that you and your limbs and fingers stay safe. Manufacturers make miter saws to be useful and easy to use. But it can be dangerous to use any power tool the wrong way. So, start with the steps below to help you cut PVC pipe safely.
Depending on the size of your miter saw, you should be able to cut through the most common sizes of PVC pipes. Miter saws come in variations depending on blade size. The size of the blade on your miter saw can range from 8 inches to 12 inches. Because of this, you can cut PVC and other materials into different sizes. But a miter saw with an 8-inch blade will work just fine for plumbing at home.
How To Use A Miter Saw: Safety Guidelines And Tips:
Getting to know your tools might seem like a no-brainer, but many people don’t realize how much of a difference a good look can make when it comes to using a saw the right way. If you’re not sure what to do, always check the manual that came with the product. Each miter saw is different, but most of them have the same basic parts:
- The handle is how you control how hard the saw pulls down. Most of the time, the Power Switch or tab is inside the Handle. To get the saw blade to spin, you have to push down on the Power Switch. Most of these power switches have resistance, which means you have to keep pressing the button to keep the blade turning.
- A Guard is a plastic case that goes around the bottom half of the spinning saw blade. As you move the saw blade toward the thing you want to cut, the Guard will move back. The Guard protects both you and the saw blade, so don’t take it off, and don’t use your hand or anything else to hold it back. It’s your second line of defense. Your brain is the first.
- The Table is where you put the things you want to cut, and the Fence is the metal plate that goes behind it. The Fence has clamps to hold your PVC or other materials in place.
- A knob or lever called a Miter Lock Handle sticks out of the front of the Table of your miter saw. The Miter Lock Handle is attached to the Table, which is set on top of a Miter Scale area. The Miter Scale shows the angle in degrees at which you are cutting.
- When you press down on the Miter Lock Handle, you can turn your saw and change the angle at which you want to cut.
- The Slide Rails on the back of the miter saw make it possible for the saw to slide, which lets you cut different-sized materials.
- This is only true for miter saws with two blades. But for many projects, you don’t need a compound miter saw, and a regular one will do just fine.
- When you look at your PVC, make sure it doesn’t have any nails or other metals that could hurt you or the saw. Luckily, there are only four main kinds of PVC pipes: PVC-U, C-PVC, PVC-O, and PVC-Hi. Even though all four are made of different materials, you shouldn’t have any trouble cutting through any of them as long as the pipe fits on the Table of your miter saw.
Use PPE:
If you want to do any DIY, you need to make sure you have the right safety gear. Even more when you use a miter saw. Most of the time, PPE like dust masks, goggles, and ear plugs are used when cutting materials with a miter saw. PVC particles can easily get into your lungs or eyes, so it’s important to wear all of the PPE together. Either one can hurt your lungs or make you go blind.
Prepare Your Work Space:
Make sure that your miter saw and the PVC you want to cut have enough room. Be aware of your surroundings at all times, whether you’re doing this inside or outside, so you don’t trip or fall. When cutting things with a miter saw, it helps to have a clean work area. This is especially true when cutting PVC, which makes a lot of dust and small pieces.
Establish your Miter Saw:
Most miter saws are easy to set up in a short amount of time. Some may need to be bolted or mounted to a bench. Others are made and sold already attached to a base. No matter what kind of miter saw you’re using, make sure it’s mounted well. I suggest hooking up a vacuum cleaner or a dust bag to your miter saw to get rid of the PVC dust and keep your work area clean.
Measure Twice and Fasten Once:
Use a permanent marker or box cutters to mark the length or area of the PVC pipe that you want to cut. If you don’t have a multi-toothed saw blade, mark where you’re going to cut by putting masking tape on the pipe where you measured it.
This simple trick should keep the miter saw blade from chipping the PVC pipe and let you make a clean cut. Now, use a pipe clamp or a regular clamp to hold your PVC to the fence of the miter saw. Do not only use your hand to hold the pipe steady, as this is a great way to cut yourself or lose a finger.
A quick tip is to only cut it once, and if there are any rough edges, cut just a tiny bit off the edge so you don’t end up with two pieces. This makes a lovely flat edge that is great for joining.
Change, Speed Up, and Cut:
Now that you have measured twice and clamped that bad boy down, your miter saw is set up correctly. Now, all you have to do is decide what kind of cut you want to make, set up your miter saw for it, turn it on, and let it rip! In case you didn’t know, you can cut angles of up to 45 degrees with a miter saw by adjusting either the base of the saw or the blade.
If you want to make a standard vertical 90-degree cut, grab the handle, squeeze the power switch gently but firmly, and move the saw down while keeping your other hand away from the blade. Since the PVC pipe is hollow, the saw blade should be able to go right through without much trouble.
Do not lift the blade of the miter saw while it is moving. This can make something kick back (but not at you because of how the blade spins), which can be very dangerous.
What Else Can You do With a Miter Saw?
Miter saws are used all over the world in construction to cut wood, pipes, and vinyl flooring, as we’ve already said. You can use your miter saw to cut through aluminum, copper, brass, or even tiles, but you shouldn’t do this without cutting fluid and a new blade.
Miter saws can be used for many different projects, and they can make quick work of building the frame for your shed or putting up fencing.
Cutters and Blades Fluid:
Freud LU77M012 D1296L has 96 teeth and is made of high-density Carbide. It has a 12-inch blade. It also has a Silver Ice coating on the blade that keeps it from getting rusty or hot. The coating is also non-stick, which makes the blade move faster and keeps it from sticking together. This is probably the best way to get a clean cut. For smaller miter saws, this blade also comes in a 10-inch size.
Trim MicroSol 585XT is a semisynthetic cutting fluid and microemulsion coolant with a high level of lubricity. This means that it will keep your saw’s blade cool and well-oiled. Since it is semisynthetic, you can use it to cut a wide range of metals and plastics without worrying about it hurting the material.
Bottom Line: Can You Cut PVC With a Miter Saw
Even though cutting PVC pipe might not seem like the hardest thing in the world, a miter saw will make the job a lot easier. There are also many other things you can do with a miter saw. If you like to do things yourself, buying this tool will give you a lot of options to try.
We hope that our guide on how to cut PVC pipe with a miter saw will help you understand the right way to cut.
FAQ’s about Can You Cut PVC With a Miter Saw
Can You Cut PVC With a Miter Saw?
The Short Answer Yes, you can cut pvc with a miter saw
How Do You Use a Mitre Saw to Cut PVC?
Set the pipe down securely under the miter saw. Wear something to protect your eyes and ears. Turn on the saw and slowly move it down the pipe until it cuts through. Stop the saw and wait until the blade stops moving before taking the pipe out.
Is it Hard to Cut PVC?
PVC isn’t always easy to work with. You won’t have any trouble finding the fittings and cement you need to connect pieces of pipe, but it can be hard to cut PVC pipe in half. If you don’t do it right, the cut ends won’t be square and will have annoying burrs that will slow a plumber down.
What Kind of Cut works Best with a Miter saw?
Power miter saws are made to make cuts at an angle for molding, trimming, rafters, and other general carpentry tasks. Saws can also make straight crosscuts, and a miter saw with the right blade is an important part of a professional carpenter’s toolbox as well as a DIYer’s.
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