How Do You Cut Brass Tube?

[Bill Eh?]

I have tried to cut a 2.5 mm slice off a 1/8" K & S brass tube. I have tried using my K & S tube cutter with no success. A friend suggested using an X-acto knife by rolling on a hard surface. In both cases the blade wandered. I have attached a pic to show what happened. So those who are familiar with and work with brass, how would you go about ding this? Any advice would be appreciated.

[Oldriginal86]

I’ve had the best cuts using a fine tooth saw in a hobby miterbox.

[peteski]

Yes, a very fine saw and miter box works well.

If you have steady hand you can also cut it with a cutoff wheel mounted in a Dremel tool.  Just hold the tubing steady on the edge of your bench. Then you can then use the side of the cutoff wheel as a grinding wheel to dress the cut (but do it gently not to break the cutoff wheel).

I do use a hobby knife rolling the tube on a hard surface, but that works on the thin-wall variety (not the standard brass tubing)  The knife blade will not wander if it is perfectly perpendicular to the tubing, so this is a hit-or-miss method (but I do have decent track record of doing  that).

[Fat Brian]

I do the "rolling it on a hard surface" method. Start with light pressure until you get a straight groove, then you can start to increase the pressure. 

[Bill Eh?]

1 hour ago, Oldriginal86 said:

I’ve had the best cuts using a fine tooth saw in a hobby miterbox.

Thanks Rancdy. That was how I first tried to make my slice. The depth of the miter box was such that I could not maintain a solid enough grip on the tube. It took a chunk out of the razor saw blade. I might try this again by placing a strip of styrene in the bottom of the miter box to raise the tube.

 

1 hour ago, peteski said:

Yes, a very fine saw and miter box works well.

If you have steady hand you can also cut it with a cutoff wheel mounted in a Dremel tool.  Just hold the tubing steady on the edge of your bench. Then you can then use the side of the cutoff wheel as a grinding wheel to dress the cut (but do it gently not to break the cutoff wheel).

I do use a hobby knife rolling the tube on a hard surface, but that works on the thin-wall variety (not the standard brass tubing)  The knife blade will not wander if it is perfectly perpendicular to the tubing, so this is a hit-or-miss method (but I do have decent track record of doing  that).

Thanks Peter. I do have Dremel style rotary tool with cut off wheels. I will try this method as well. If I cut it correctly, it will only be 1/8" wide by 1/10" long.

 

1 hour ago, Fat Brian said:

I do the "rolling it on a hard surface" method. Start with light pressure until you get a straight groove, then you can start to increase the pressure. 

Thanks for the suggestion Brian. With the hardness of brass, you can see the lack of success that I had with this method. I may need to try this method again if the prior two methods don't work.

Thanks to all of you for replying with solutions to my problem.

[yh70]

a very fine saw and miter box is what i use..but also you can heat the brass with a lighter and it will soften the metal like if u cutting large solid rods..a trick the aircraft - armor builders use.. works great on bending Brass also..

 

[NOBLNG]

I use both rolling the tube under a sharp hobby knife and the razor saw and mitre box.

[Bill Eh?]

8 minutes ago, yh70 said:

a very fine saw and miter box is what i use..but also you can heat the brass with a lighter and it will soften the metal like if u cutting large solid rods..a trick the aircraft - armor builders use.. works great on bending Brass also..

 

Thanks Dave. No matter which method I choose to cut the tube, I will definitely use a lighter to heat the tube before and during the cut.

 

7 minutes ago, NOBLNG said:

I use both rolling the tube under a sharp hobby knife and the razor saw and mitre box.

Greg, although I have a few razor saws, I have been using the saw and miter box box from UMM. I think it is time to invest in a larger miter box, like the one you have. LOL

[Chariots of Fire]

Using the KS cutter on 1/8" stock is hard because you are near the end of the line for the size.  I have had the same difficulty with the cutter but if you go slow and watch the line you may be able to guide it around.  It takes some practice.  The other way is with a dremel and cutting wheel but be careful not to bind the cutting wheel or it will either shatter or go zipping across the stock.  Go slow with it and then use a file to smooth up the cut edge.

[Straightliner59]

Beeswax on the saw blade makes cutting easier, as well. It lubricates as it cuts.

[Bill Eh?]

12 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

Beeswax on the saw blade makes cutting easier, as well. It lubricates as it cuts.

Daniel, thanks for this additional tip. Would this apply to any saw blade be it Dremel or razor saw? I know that bee's wax can also be used to seal troublesome nozzles on airbrushes.

[Straightliner59]

15 hours ago, Bill Eh? said:

Daniel, thanks for this additional tip. Would this apply to any saw blade be it Dremel or razor saw? I know that bee's wax can also be used to seal troublesome nozzles on airbrushes.

It can be used on any. It's especially helpful with a hand saw, though. It also works well on drill bits! Very handy stuff!

[Bill Eh?]

7 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

It can be used on any. It's especially helpful with a hand saw, though. It also works well on drill bits! Very handy stuff!

I just added this to my hobby shop, or possibly grocery store shopping list. Thanks Daniel