Copper tubing has been used in plumbing applications for millennia. Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt had copper plumbing in palaces and temples. Iโm not sure how installs were done back then, but now you donโt often have the luxury of space when cutting copper tubing. Sometimes you may not even be able to fully see the work area even if yourย arm and hand can fit. Water takes itโs toll on tools and can corrode a cutterโs moving parts. Even if the cutterย is in good working order, water makes it slippery and difficult to tighten. The new Milwaukee 1-inch mini copper tubing cutter promises to let us cutย pipesย with fewer headaches. I put it to the test as I repaired leaks under slabs and performed installationsย including water heaters. Take that,ย Tutankhamun.
First Impressions
I first noticed the large, black grip knob on Milwaukeeโs signature red cutter. It has two protrusions for the thumb and index finger to hold and turn securely. Theย 1/8โณ โ 1-1/8โณ cut capacity cutter is only 3โณ x 1โณ x 2.25โณ and weighs 0.4 pounds. This will make it easy to fit in tight spaces and simpleย to use.ย Milwaukee really nailed it with chrome rollers โ these resist the corrosion that other cutters develop. Milwaukee claims the proprietary adjustment mechanism gives the mini 5x the life of its competitors. That longevity is beyond the scope of this review, but itโs certainly plausible with this design and these materials.
Cutโs Like aย Knife, But it Feels Alright
You canโt practically cut tubing with any more accuracy and precision than with aย cutter. In a pinch you may be able use a hacksaw, but itโs not the best tool for the job even if you had the space for the saw and sawing motion. Very often you wonโt. Thatโs why cutters that spin around the pipe are an essential tool for the job.
Using the cutter is pretty straightforward. Place the jaws around the pipe, gently snug the the cutting wheel and rollers around it with the large knob, and then spin it. As the cutting wheel scores the pipe, tighten the knob. Soon, a clean cut will emerge when the pipe is severed. As expected, theย Milwaukee 1-inch mini copper tubing cutter did an excellent job of fitting in the tight spaces that I needed to work. The large knob isย easy to grab and allows you to use just one hand to tighten. ย This certainly helped when my hands were wet.
Milwaukee 1-inch Mini Copper Tubing Cutter Features
- 1/8โณ toย 1-1/8โณ Cut Capacity
- Proprietary Adjustment Mechanism
- Chrome Rollers
- Easy Grip Knob
- Extra Blade Included
Milwaukee 1-inch Mini Copper Tubing Cutter Specifications
- Length: 3ย in.
- Width: 1ย in.
- Height: 2.25ย in.
- Weight: 0.4 lbs
- Sign: Sagittarius
Pro Tip:
You can use this kind of cutter incorrectly by tightening it too much. Gently snug it up but let the cutting wheels do the work. Too tight and the pipe may deform into an oval, especially if the copper is older or if itโs thinner pipe. Copper pipe is typified by M, L, K types, which refer to the wall thicknesses. M is the thinnest and K is the thickest.
The easy, tool-free blade change mechanism is another great feature. Itโs a simple push-pin verses screws that Iโve seen on other cutters. Pop it out, switch the cutting wheel, and get back to work. The Milwaukee comes with an extra blade, too.
The Bottom Line
Everything about the Milwaukee 1-inch mini copper tubing cutter makes the job easier. It fits in tight spaces, is easy to adjust, is easy to spin around the pipe, and it uses materials and a design that is sure to last longer than its competitors. At about $23, itโs a great value and I certainly recommend it to other professionals.
