Cutting exhaust pipes
Cutting exhaust pipes Anyone ever use cutting wheels with a dremel to cut exhaust pipes? If so, does it do the job well? Anything I should know if I end up doing this? I'm going to be removing my stainless steel loudmouth exhaust where it meets the stock I pipe and probably cutting at the hump over the axle.
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Texas
I am assume you are talking about the 1.5" wheels that are available for the Dremel. You can do it but you will need a lot of wheels and time, you best bet would be a chop saw, band saw, or reciprocating saw.
Dremel makes 2 small sandy cutoff wheels. One is quite thin, the other is thick (about twice as thick as the thin).
If you go easy on the thin one, you can get a good 10 inches to a foot of use out of it on exhaust pipe before it frags. NEVER push down and force it. Just let the RPMs do their work. Light touch works best.
The thicker (maybe 1mm) / heavy duty ones are FAR superior. They last much longer. They can take some pushing as well. I will reach for the thick one every time if one's available.
That said, you will spend ~1 hour with a Dremel doing what you're looking at.
Or about 30 seconds with a Sawzall.
Sawzall owns. I love mine.
If you go easy on the thin one, you can get a good 10 inches to a foot of use out of it on exhaust pipe before it frags. NEVER push down and force it. Just let the RPMs do their work. Light touch works best.
The thicker (maybe 1mm) / heavy duty ones are FAR superior. They last much longer. They can take some pushing as well. I will reach for the thick one every time if one's available.
That said, you will spend ~1 hour with a Dremel doing what you're looking at.
Or about 30 seconds with a Sawzall.
Sawzall owns. I love mine. Trending Topics
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,231
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From: Just This Side of Damnation
I use my sawzall for that kind of stuff. It's hard to make a straight cut, but with care it can be done. Also, if there's room, starting the cut from more than one place can give a straighter final product.
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Great info on everything. I'll have to take a look at the cutting wheels that I purchased to see if they are what you described for the thicker versions.
I saw that Harbor Freight has a $59 Sawzall on sale for $20 :O. Kinda of scary though with such a low price.
Now that chopsaw doesn't sound too bad either. Hmmmmm.....
I saw that Harbor Freight has a $59 Sawzall on sale for $20 :O. Kinda of scary though with such a low price.
Now that chopsaw doesn't sound too bad either. Hmmmmm.....
coldsaw rules for cutting tubing when you've got it free. Sawzall is great for gently removing old exhaust. 
rolling the tubing when you're cutting it with a sawzall (provided you've got a line marked) helps make a straight cut.
rolling the tubing when you're cutting it with a sawzall (provided you've got a line marked) helps make a straight cut. TECH Fanatic
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Just This Side of Damnation
Marking a straight line on tubing tip: I have a piece of belt sander belt that I wrap around the tube/pipe. Line it up and make your mark with a Sharpie. I learned that from my old pipe-welding days.
Originally Posted by Mr Incredible
Marking a straight line on tubing tip: I have a piece of belt sander belt that I wrap around the tube/pipe. Line it up and make your mark with a Sharpie. I learned that from my old pipe-welding days.
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Originally Posted by Evaporate
Anyone ever use cutting wheels with a dremel to cut exhaust pipes? If so, does it do the job well? Anything I should know if I end up doing this? I'm going to be removing my stainless steel loudmouth exhaust where it meets the stock I pipe and probably cutting at the hump over the axle.
edit: hmm, I don't remember posting 400 times.
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 377
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From: Fairfax County, VA (You know you're here when you see the bad roads)
Go to any auto parts store and pickup a exhaust pipe cutting tools. I just used one, its no more than $20 and it makes perfectly straight cuts. It has a handle attached to a chain with a bunch of cutting wheels in it. Easy as cake.