Klein Tools Ratcheting PVC Cutter

It cuts 1/2-inch through 2-1/2-inch white and gray PVC, in both schedule 40 and schedule 80 wall thicknesses. For conduit or pipe larger than 2-1/2 inches you need a different tool. It will not cut metallic pipe or cable wire, and it should not be used on cold PVC.

No. A flip-out support built into the jaw keeps diameters under 2 inches (51 mm) from flattening while you cut, and a hooked jaw holds the pipe square so the cut comes out straight and burr-free. That's the difference between a cut that glues up clean and one you have to ream.

Yes. The replacement blade is Klein Cat. No. 50035. Changing it takes no tools and there's a one-handed quick release, so a dull blade on the job doesn't cost you the rest of the day. For crews doing volume conduit work, keeping a spare blade in the bag is the practical move.

The ratchet action lets you work one-handed and build force in stages, so you can hold the pipe or the ladder with the other hand, which is the main reason electricians prefer it overhead or in a trench. A saw leaves burrs that need reaming; this makes a straight, burr-free cut ready to cement. A scissor-style cutter runs out of leverage well before 2-1/2-inch schedule 80, which this handles.

No. The Klein ratcheting PVC cutter is for PVC only. Klein specifically warns against cutting metallic pipe or cable wire with it, and against using it on or near live electrical circuits. Wear approved eye protection when cutting.

The body is die-cast magnesium alloy with a rubber grip, so it stays light for all-day overhead work without the heft of a steel-framed cutter. The blade sits inside the body of the tool, which protects the edge when it is thrown in a bag and keeps it off hands.

It does. Klein's instruction is not to cut cold PVC with this tool, because chilled pipe tends to crack or shatter rather than shear. On a cold-weather job, let the pipe warm up or move the cuts indoors before running them through the cutter.