Copper pipe chopping

Ignoramus19161 fired this volley in news:ptWdnYB6b8mAq6LOnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@giganews.com:

Ig, if crushing the pipe isn't an issue (didn't figure it would be for scrap) get thyself a log splitter wedge. It's good tough steel, will keep a sharp edge for a while, and is almost always weldable (and re- sharpenable).

That on a platen softer than the wedge but harder than the copper should do the trick.

LLoyd

A friend uses a big old paper guillotine [no guard fitted] for exactly this job. Cuts copper like butter.

JB

It seems like you want to take the workpiece to the press? I'd rather use a simple pipe cutter (tool that looks like a C-clamp, with rotating cutterwheel). They come in all sizes, including some that work well in crowded spots.

It isn't much work to make a cut- no powertool safety issues.

I know you just want another project to keep you busy, Ig, but why don't you use a multi-disced pipe cutter? They're FAST!

Not an issue

OK, looks like a fun, easy project and the result will be safe to use.

A sharp axe and a hardwood chopping block would work. I have cut up aluminium screen door sections this way to make thm more convenient to handle.

How about a "Lopper" mini chainsaw?

Just an idea - my local scrappy has what looks like a large set of bench shears that are hydraulically driven. He cuts aluminium extrusions, heavy cable, pipe, just about anything with it.

Yes, this is exactly what I want!!!

The guys I sell scrap to use one like this, only smaller.

I saw something which would do the job for you at a hamfest today (well ... yesterday by now.

It was a service kit for some kind of "Jaws Of Life" setup. I forget the actual name. It had an arc shaped anvil, and a blade like about 1/3 of a disc (blued steel, and getting thicker towards the cylinder), and it was driven by a hydraulic cylinder. It was quite hefty.

It looks like it would be quite comfortable with 4" diameter copper. I didn't price it, nor do I remember who was selling it, but you might look for something like this.

Enjoy, DoN.

Snip..

Will your scarp metal dealer trust you with the ends of the pipe crimped? One could hide a length of rebar inside.

Yeah, they're quick, but Ig doesn't want to waste a few ounces of copper each cut on large pipe. It adds up after filling a truck with cut pieces. Plus, catching all the filings is damned frustrating and time consuming. I'd want the same thing if I had lots of scrap.

He can build a portable alligator-jawed press quickly and cheaply, if he can't find a used one for a song.

I can always ask my chopping guy to open up the ends, with the same chopping press, just press down at 90 degrees less than fully cutting, they will open. Scrap dealers around here are very smart and not easy to cheat.

It is both, time, an copper sawdust, that I want to save.

Someone else suggested using the ram from a log splitter - why not just scrounge a complete log splitter?

It is both, time, an copper sawdust, that I want to save.

Yabbut, you lose half of it down the tubes, which aren't always easy to tilt into the box. OK, it's doable but not worth the hassle.

Larry Jaques on Sun, 06 Apr 2014

As my boss would say on occasion, you're trying to pick the fly s*it out of the pepper. Unless the copper sawdust is going to be a major fraction of the total copper (I.e., you have a very small amount of copper pipe), you are intending to spend a lot of time to save fractions of a penny. But if that is your intent, then it is time to get out the pipe cutter, and just spin it round and round and round. If you think that your time is more valuable - hire someone else to do that. Or get the sawzall, and just saw the pipe up.

-- pyotr filipivich "With Age comes Wisdom. Although more often, Age travels alone."

I certainly see Ig's points. By cutting it cleanly:

Waste is eliminated. Time is saved. Cleanup is eliminated, or drastically diminished.

Triple win. Plus, with a fast-acting shear, it could be even faster. Weld/bolt a hook onto the end of the cutter, or use a toothed cutter to keep the pipe in the machine as it shears.