Cutting Clay Pipes with a Sawzall

Carbide Grit Saw Blade: amzn.to/3dCVYv3
Respirator: amzn.to/2Xy0HTw
In this video we will be cutting a brittle clay drain aka terracotta pipe with an ordinary reciprocating saw. To do this, you will need either a diamond blade or a carbide grit blade. The blade that I used was a FREUD DS0930CGX Carbide Grit Reciprocating Blade, 9". This worked well for cutting in the hole that I dug. A circular saw or angle grinder would also work if you have a larger, more open hole to work with. The sawzall that I am using is a Hitachi CR13V2 10-Amp Reciprocating Saw with Variable Speed Trigger.
As a member of the amazon.com affiliate program, I make a small commission when amazon links are clicked through these videos. This helps fund future content and video equipment. This channel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

[@tonymozarella7915]

I had to replace a section of clay pipe at my parents and had no idea how to cut it. Google told me a carbide blade so I bought one and got to cutting. I went in dry the whole time and after nearly an hour and 2 full batteries I wasn't even halfway through the pipe. Finally got the bright idea to let the hosepipe run on the blade as I cut and it started cutting through the clay like butter. The next cut took me 10 minutes lol. So now I'm here to see what else I don't know.

[@92410]

I'm about to do the same with my parents house. Valuable info. Thanks

[@fanningconstruction2050]

From a pro who uses these tools daily, stay with the diablo blades.

[@ozmonaut]

Thanks for the video, I tried the sawzall method but found an angle grinder with a masonry disc was much faster.

[@integralsun]

Excellent. I’m subscribing.

[@billrose5146]

Thanks for the info. I was worried I needed a diamond grit blade and your video gave me good confidence that a carbide grit will work (yes, they're both carbon, but I thought diamond grit might be needed). Thanks for talking about the water cooling, too. I was curious about the blade speed. Is it a given that the faster the better works best for clay pipe?

[@Chikton]

I have Used reciprocating saws but definitely a grinder with a 7" concrete blade works better for me.

[@charlesdeiliberi]

Plumber here, those blades are meant to be used at half speed. If you have to so it again try it and you'll be impressed

[@CoolStuffGuysLike]

Awesome, thank you for the tip! I will try that out next time.

[@brandonfontaine5095]

How much speed and pressure am I suppose to use? I cut some 5” today and I was full speed and pushing card. Took forever to cut. I kept cooking the blade off after about 12 seconds of cutting

[@charlesdeiliberi]

@@brandonfontaine5095 i go at about half speed and pressure as though I'm cutting through PVC

[@michaelprosperity3420]

Good advice go at half speed and us a old plastic mustard container filled with water to squirt water on the blade while cutting.

[@Reloadeez]

Have been cutting them for years with a 9 in diamond grit Milwaukee torch Sawzall blade.

[@CoolStuffGuysLike]

It works like a charm!

[@eichelman]

please update your respirator link

[@loumitch1]

I purchased the blade used in this video to cut out a section of clay pipe and replace with an ABS clean out insert with rubber couplings. Cutting only took a couple of minutes for each of the 2 slices. I was very pleased with the product.

[@CoolStuffGuysLike]

I've been really happy with all those Diablo blades. I have a metal cutting blade for my circular saw and it cuts steel like it is wood. Not super cheap but worth it if you need them!

[@shahnawazalam7708]

Which type coupling we can use for 800 mm clay pipes to 800 mm grp pipes?

[@5mile458]

800 mm coupling

[@billrose5146]

Here's an update. I had good luck buying an inexpensive Ryobi 4 1/2 angle grinder with a Rigid diamond tipped blade. The blade does not even get hot. The problem is that the angle grinder does not work on the bottom third of the pipe. I had hopes that using a DeWalt reciprocating saw with a Lenox carbide grit blade would finish the job. It would, but would be 30 or possibly much more minutes to cut through the bottom third of the 5" clay pipe. The water cooling is very necessary. I do not know if I should try to find a diamond grit blade for my reciprocating saw, but my latest thinking is to dig a big hole, so I can cut the pipe from somewhat underneath with my angle grinder. I was also thinking of trying a circular saw with a masonry wheel/blade, but I cannot make a 5" cut with it which seems needed. This pipe is from ~1975 and I'm guessing different clay pipe may be easier or harder to cut than others ... I hate mine now :-)

[@esotomeza2121]

What blade please

[@leonmorris5602]

Why don’t u use a grinder or a quick cut?

[@CoolStuffGuysLike]

A grinder would require me to have more room around the pipe since the little 4.5 inch wheels only give you about 1.5 inches of cut depth. It would probably work okay if you were just cutting the pipe on a bench and could go around it.

[@leonmorris5602]

@@CoolStuffGuysLike I know what ur saying but when you get good at it it’s just better to use the right to for the job it would actually take less time to dig it out and grind it, if u have a quick cut it cuts all the way through, grinder is easy too just cut half the pipe tap it out and cut the rest leaves a perfectly smooth cut not like yours, that’s gonna cause blockages/tree roots to get in your drain

[@leonmorris5602]

I wouldn’t be touching drains unless your licensed plumber dude, if I saw my apprentice doing this I’d sack him, do it properly or don’t do it al all

[@matthewh1561]

Use a grinder with cut off wheel, not a saw blade

[@experienceprecision5406]

Never showed the blade bud

[@GoldenJoe]

This was awful and took a whole hour to get through a 4" pipe. I'm guessing the diamond wheel on angle grinder is the correct solution.

[@JeepyGunner]

Honestly, using a sawzall to cut clay tile is a bad idea. It's so inefficient. An angle grinder with a diamond blade will cut it so quick and clean. Typically you use the grinder perpendicular to the pipe where you want the cut to be made, then go up the pipe and cut to lines parallel with the pipe along the top and use a hammer to knock that piece out. Once that section is notched, you can flip your grinder and continue cutting along where you want the actual cut to be until you get to the bottom of the pipe. Cutting through a 4" clay tile pipe shouldn't take but 2-3 minutes at most. A sawzall will take an eternity.

[@CarlosLopez-kx6bf]

Thanks for the idea on how to cut it so you can reach the bottom

[@nikkloskidd1796]

And if you break that pipe off any farther that you desired, you will be in trouble. Plus you run the risk of a fractured pipe upstream.

[@chrisdowney6576]

Get. To. The. Point.