The objective of cutting tubing is to produce a square end that is free from burrs. Tubing may be cut using a standard tube cutter (fig. 5-3), a chipless cutter (fig. 5-4), or a fine-toothed hacksaw if a tube cutter is not available. When you use the standard tube cutter, place the tube in the cutter with the cutting wheel at the point where the cut is to be made. Apply light pressure on the tube by tightening the adjusting

knob. Too much pressure applied to the cutting wheel at onetime may deform the tubing or cause excessive burrs. Rotate the cutter toward its open side (fig. 5-3). As you rotate the cutter, adjust the tightening knob after each complete turn to maintain light pressure on the cutting wheel. When you use the chipless cutter, take the following steps:

1. Select the chipless cutter according to tubing size.

2. Rotate the cutter head to accept the tubing in the cutting position. Check that the cutter ratchet is operating freely and that the cutter wheel is clear of the cutter head opening (fig. 5-4).

3. Center the tubing on two rollers and the cutting blade.

4. Use the hex key provided with the kit to turn the drive screw in until the cutter wheel touches the tube.

5. Tighten the drive screw 1/8 to 1/4 turn. Do not overtighten the drive screw. Overtightening can damage soft tubing or cause excessive wear or breakage of the cutter wheel in hard tubing.

6. Swing the ratchet handle back and forth through the available clearance until there is a noticeable ease of rotation. Avoid putting side force on the cutter handle. Side force will cause the cutter wheel to break.

7. Tighten the drive screw an additional 1/8 to 1/4 turn and swing the ratchet handle back and forth, retightening the drive screw as needed until the cut is completed. The completed cut should be 1/2 degree square to the tube centerline.

After the tubing is cut, remove all burrs and sharp edges from inside and outside of the tube (fig. 5-5) with deburring tools. Clean out the tubing. Make sure no foreign particles remain. A convenient method for cutting tubing with a hacksaw is to place the tube in a flaring block and clamp the block in a vice. After cutting the tubing with a hacksaw, remove all saw marks by filing.