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[Roger2561]

I need to re-route a 1 inch PVC conduit with 3 6AWG and 1 8AWG wires in it.  In order to do this I need to cut the PVC conduit.  I'd like to do it without removing the conductors.  The circuit will be turned off before I start working on it.  Does anyone know of a way that I can safely cut the PVC conduit without having to remove conductors first?  Removing them first will both be time consuming and a royal PITA. Thanks.  Roger 

[mlappin]

Use a tubing cutter just like for copper tubing or brake lines. Don’t apply very much pressure then it won’t leave near the ridge on the inside.

Or use a conduit cutter meant for plastic conduit, only go part way in, then rotate the cutter around the conduit to score it deeply then snap it off.

Have done both and both work if your careful.

[Roger2561]

Use a tubing cutter just like for copper tubing or brake lines. Don’t apply very much pressure then it won’t leave near the ridge on the inside.

Or use a conduit cutter meant for plastic conduit, only go part way in, then rotate the cutter around the conduit to score it deeply then snap it off.

Have done both and both work if your careful.

Thanks for the tip.  Believe me, I'll be working very methodically not to damage anything that I'm not supposed to.  Roger

[coolidge]

Leave the power on, you will work even more carefully.

[Cabo]

If you don't have room to rotate a cutter, take a piece of mason twine 2'-3' long and run it under the conduit, start pulling it from side to side, as the friction build it will melt in.  Keep working around the pipe and it will be cut in no time.  Try it on a scrap piece first, you won't believe how quickly it goes through.  A lot safer then teeth on a saw.  I use this all the time when conductors are in the pipe.

[Roger2561]

Leave the power on, you will work even more carefully.

 

[Roger2561]

If you don't have room to rotate a cutter, take a piece of mason twine 2'-3' long and run it under the conduit, start pulling it from side to side, as the friction build it will melt in.  Keep working around the pipe and it will be cut in no time.  Try it on a scrap piece first, you won't believe how quickly it goes through.  A lot safer then teeth on a saw.  I use this all the time when conductors are in the pipe.

I would have never thought of that.  Now I gotta find some mason twine.  Quick question - what is mason twine?  I have never heard of it.  Roger

[RSI]

I was going to mention that but thought it would cut into the wire insulation more than the scoring and breaking mentioned above.
A guard at a state prison where I was working once suggested doing it to cut a conduit flush to the floor.

[Cabo]

I apologize for not know the proper name for the twine.  It's what you'd use for a string line, white, orange pink, yellow, ect.  You do have to pay attention as it can go into the insulation but you can usually tell when you get through the wall of the conduit.  Like RSI said, you can also score it that way and then twist/snap the piece off.

[BIG AL]

One of my buddies does commercial electric work and they always use thin twine to cut conduit. He swears it's faster and cleaner than a saw and really inexpensive. I've cut PVC pipe that way too worked great.

[Roger2561]

I went our local orange box store and picked some up.  I'll see how it works hopefully this weekend.  Roger

[aarmga]

Hopefully that works for you!  I used a copper tubing cutter and spun it around the pipe maybe 50 times and I could snap the pipe right off.  I then used a shingle razor or hook blade if you willto cut the pipe.  Then I was able to get all the wires by my stove without having to unhook anything in the woodshed.