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| Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips |
2010-07-29, 11:40am
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Newfoundland lover!
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Join Date: Sep 03, 2005
Location: south shore, Mass.
Posts: 979
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Best saw for cutting tubing (pandora style)
Hi
I just wanted to check and see what people are using for cutting thier silver and copper tubing. I have a mini saw from Harbor Freights. I, like some others, are getting a burr. The burr is getting bigger. I haven't really had it that long though. I snip and file after, but size of the burr really warps the tube final result. I stink at a jeweler's saw. I am not thrilled with this saw for others reasons.
Just curious what other tool maybe out there...any suggestions appreciated!
Thanks!
Merilee
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-Merilee
Lynx, tanked propane, M-10 oxy and refurb oxy -5.
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2010-07-29, 11:46am
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Happy Beadmaker!
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Join Date: Sep 08, 2005
Location: Clearwater, FL
Posts: 2,345
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Hey Merilee, I use this saw and love it -- but didn't at first! The trick is to not force the cut at all!!! Just slow & easy and let the saw do its work! The sterling is so soft that when you apply pressure to the cut, the burr happens!
Try it again and see if that helps!
Lea
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2010-07-29, 11:51am
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Experimentalist
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Join Date: Nov 15, 2005
Location: Penryn, California
Posts: 6,758
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I use a pipe cutter. It's extremely easy to use and then I de-burr with my de-burring tool.
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2010-07-29, 11:57am
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Happy Beadmaker!
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Join Date: Sep 08, 2005
Location: Clearwater, FL
Posts: 2,345
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I used a tube cutter for probably 8 or 9 years and then switched to the saw. OMG, soooo much easier!
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2010-07-29, 12:00pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Feb 24, 2010
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 133
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I use a mini tube cutter I purchased from Home Depot and a deburring tool I purchased from Art in the Round. I forgot my Deburring Tool for a show and ended up using an exacto blade which did the job.
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2010-07-29, 12:50pm
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Newfoundland lover!
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Join Date: Sep 03, 2005
Location: south shore, Mass.
Posts: 979
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I might try a mini tube cutter like you guys suggest.
BUT Lea, I am really glad you explained how you use it because what I am doing is wrong, I think. I press hard and fast which sounds like the opposite of what you or what one should do!
So I'll give this a shot and see...thanks for any advice, tho!
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-Merilee
Lynx, tanked propane, M-10 oxy and refurb oxy -5.
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2010-07-29, 1:07pm
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honorary bead lady
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Join Date: Jan 14, 2008
Location: Mostly the doghouse
Posts: 5,180
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But what blade are you using??? do a search in the jewelry thread there was a discussion about this last (?) year.
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David
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2010-07-29, 1:11pm
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Experimentalist
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Join Date: Nov 15, 2005
Location: Penryn, California
Posts: 6,758
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Quote:
Originally Posted by merigypsy
I might try a mini tube cutter like you guys suggest.
BUT Lea, I am really glad you explained how you use it because what I am doing is wrong, I think. I press hard and fast which sounds like the opposite of what you or what one should do!
So I'll give this a shot and see...thanks for any advice, tho!
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I first used the pipe/tube cutter on acrylic so I REALLY had to get the feel for a gentle hand. But that's how it is... very easy, steady pressure... not pushing to cut.
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2010-07-29, 1:52pm
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Newfoundland lover!
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Join Date: Sep 03, 2005
Location: south shore, Mass.
Posts: 979
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Thanks Laura!
David, I am using the blade that came with it. I'll do a search, but if you know a better blade, let me know if you can- thanks for the heads up!
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-Merilee
Lynx, tanked propane, M-10 oxy and refurb oxy -5.
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2010-07-29, 1:57pm
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Bad Cat Glass
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Join Date: Oct 18, 2008
Location: The Pirate Nation
Posts: 873
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In addition to pressing very lightly, it help to holding the saw at a slight angle to the silver and then try to make your motion back and forth really, really straight. The blades are so thin that any movement to the left or right of where you began the cut will cause the saw to stop cutting and get bound up in the silver. If you use a lighter touch with the saw, you'll have a lot less sanding to do.
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2010-07-29, 2:01pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 21, 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 4,629
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I use a jewelry saw and bench clamp ... quick, easy and if I've cut straight a quick run around the rim with the champfering tool (deburring tool like Dave sells?) does the trick. I do have a jig to help me cut straight but rarely use it on the small size tubing for the beads.
I did have a tubing cutter (my son managed to bread the wheels) but honestly I find it much easier to cut with the jewelry saw and much kinder to my wrists too.
Sadie
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2010-07-29, 2:24pm
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Newfoundland lover!
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Join Date: Sep 03, 2005
Location: south shore, Mass.
Posts: 979
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Maybe I'll give the jewelry saw a try sometime. Yet I may wait a bit because I was in a mixed media metals class last summer and I was so bad that I kept breaking the blades!
Maybe with the tubes being thin it may be different!
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-Merilee
Lynx, tanked propane, M-10 oxy and refurb oxy -5.
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2010-07-29, 7:21pm
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Experimentalist
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Join Date: Nov 15, 2005
Location: Penryn, California
Posts: 6,758
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2010-07-29, 8:15pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 21, 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 4,629
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Quote:
Originally Posted by merigypsy
Maybe I'll give the jewelry saw a try sometime. Yet I may wait a bit because I was in a mixed media metals class last summer and I was so bad that I kept breaking the blades!
Maybe with the tubes being thin it may be different!
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For lots of people there's a small learning curve with a jewelry saw ... like riding a bike. Or making a rounded bead for that matter.
Tubes are slightly trickier than flat metal as the tendency is to close the gap produced by the saw blade and pinch the metal as you work down the diameter of the tube, but once you've done a few you'll have the tension down I suspect.
Good luck!
Sadie
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2010-07-29, 8:22pm
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Silver Hogs/Tool Junkies
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Join Date: Jun 09, 2006
Location: Lake Mary, Florida
Posts: 1,028
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This saw from Harbor Freight works GREAT!! So much easier than that monotonous hand-held pipe cutter. Saves a lot of hand twisting.
Jack
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2010-07-30, 10:43am
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To bead Yeah! ;)
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Join Date: Apr 23, 2007
Location: South Africa
Posts: 3,708
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Cutting metals always leaves a burr, a small round needle file for the inside of the tube and a bit of sandpaper on the outside will do the trick too.
To make sawing easier run your jewellers saw through a bit of bees wax.
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NEW "Marble Twist" tut!
HOLLOW BEAD, 3D SQUARES for hollow beads, Rose Murrini and Multi Murrini tut, JETZT alle in DEUTSCH erhältlich!
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2010-07-31, 2:56pm
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Newfoundland lover!
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Join Date: Sep 03, 2005
Location: south shore, Mass.
Posts: 979
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Beeswax, thank you Astrid. I didn't know a burr is always left! I think the main problem is me going to fast and pressing a bit too hard.
Thanks Jack for the link.
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-Merilee
Lynx, tanked propane, M-10 oxy and refurb oxy -5.
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2010-07-31, 8:33pm
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Silver Hogs/Tool Junkies
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Join Date: Jun 09, 2006
Location: Lake Mary, Florida
Posts: 1,028
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You're very welcome! Good luck!
Jack 
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2010-08-03, 7:23am
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Noobie
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Join Date: May 28, 2006
Posts: 621
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SadiesJewels
For lots of people there's a small learning curve with a jewelry saw ... like riding a bike. Or making a rounded bead for that matter.
Tubes are slightly trickier than flat metal as the tendency is to close the gap produced by the saw blade and pinch the metal as you work down the diameter of the tube, but once you've done a few you'll have the tension down I suspect.
Good luck!
Sadie
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I had no luck with the pipe cutter..it bent the tubing, Im going to try a jewelers saw...I just ordered one from cgbeadroller..hopefully that will work better for me.
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2010-08-03, 7:33am
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Experimentalist
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Join Date: Nov 15, 2005
Location: Penryn, California
Posts: 6,758
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cherie
I had no luck with the pipe cutter...
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Apparently they're monotonous too 
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2010-08-03, 7:47am
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Happy Beadmaker!
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Join Date: Sep 08, 2005
Location: Clearwater, FL
Posts: 2,345
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Cherie: The tube cutter probably bent your tubing because you tightened it too tight -- if you want to try it again, just barely tighten it, turn a couple rounds, re-tighten, couple more rounds, and re-tighten again and finish the cut. Sterling is so soft you can't crank the cutter too tight or it will compress the tubing.
HTH,
Lea
P.S. I've been coring beads probably about 10 years, used the tube cutter forever 'til I discovered the little H-F mini-chop saw and now I'm a convert!
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When I reach the place I'm going, I will surely know my way! Wynonna Judd
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2010-08-03, 9:40am
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Silver Hogs/Tool Junkies
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Join Date: Jun 09, 2006
Location: Lake Mary, Florida
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Tighten, turn, tighten, turn, tighten, turn... THAT'S monotonous.
Jack
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2010-08-03, 9:46am
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Experimentalist
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Join Date: Nov 15, 2005
Location: Penryn, California
Posts: 6,758
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J&M
Tighten, turn, tighten, turn, tighten, turn... THAT'S monotonous.
Jack |
Heh... I get frustrated with a jeweler's saw (Finding table with appropriate edge, screwing clamps onto table, positioning item to be sawed, sawing, unscrewing clamps, putting everything away... ugh).
Monotonous works for me. Maybe it's the zen factor
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2010-08-03, 9:47am
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Happy Beadmaker!
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Join Date: Sep 08, 2005
Location: Clearwater, FL
Posts: 2,345
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No, Jack, it is ...tighten, turn turn turn, tighten, turn turn turn, etc.! That's monotonous. 
And that's why I switched to the mini-chop!!! 
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2010-08-03, 9:52am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jan 01, 2009
Location: K'zoo, MI (wishing it were St. Thomas-USVI)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J&M
This saw from Harbor Freight works GREAT!! So much easier than that monotonous hand-held pipe cutter. Saves a lot of hand twisting.
Jack |
I have this one and I love it! You still have to file the burr off.
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BarbR in Kalamazoo.
Scorpion, bulk propane, 2 5lpm oxycons, tanked O2, a Minor and a HH (just in case)
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2010-08-03, 9:54am
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Experimentalist
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Join Date: Nov 15, 2005
Location: Penryn, California
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Well, I just had a look at that link from Harbor Freight and that looks smashingly better than the clamps and jeweler's hand saw that I was picturing. Bravo!
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2010-08-03, 10:13am
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Happy Beadmaker!
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Join Date: Sep 08, 2005
Location: Clearwater, FL
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Barb: See my note to OP Merilee below re: bur. HTH!
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2010-08-03, 10:44am
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Silver Hogs/Tool Junkies
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Here's my little set-up:
 
Jack
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2010-08-03, 10:56am
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Experimentalist
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Join Date: Nov 15, 2005
Location: Penryn, California
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That's a nice set-up. I don't have a work area... hell, I don't even have a bedroom or a living room.
So for me to do most anything it's a matter of "setting up". Which is why I'm not overly fond of using a jeweler's saw for little projects.
I may feel differently when I have a place where I can leave things SET UP, know what I mean?
But this little do-hickey from HF looks spiffy. What kinds of things have you cut with it?
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2010-08-03, 11:06am
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Newfoundland lover!
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Join Date: Sep 03, 2005
Location: south shore, Mass.
Posts: 979
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Thanks Jack for sharing your set up! Mine is similar.
I am going to go Practice right now!
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-Merilee
Lynx, tanked propane, M-10 oxy and refurb oxy -5.
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