Step one: Place the cutter on the pipe where you want the cut. Step two: Tighten the thumb wheel until the blade bites into the copper like a hungry beaver.
Now, rock the handle back and forth. Don’t spin it—that’s for amateurs. With each rock, you tighten the wheel a quarter turn. After three or four rocks, the pipe will snap cleanly.
Copper Pipe Cutter For Tight Spaces
I once did this while hanging upside down from a pipe in a basement. The cut was perfect. My chiropractor bill was not.
The Bloody Secret of Burrs
Here’s the part YouTube doesn’t tell you: Copper pipe edges are sharp. After you cut, the inside of the pipe looks like a tiny sword factory exploded. You must use a deburring tool.
If you skip this step, your new pipe joint will weep water like a sad movie. More importantly, you’ll slice your finger open when you shove it into a fitting. Ask me how I know.
A quick pass with the reamer—it’s the pointy end of most cutters—makes the pipe smooth as a baby’s cheek. Literally. I’ve tested this. The baby was not amused.
