[Duane Bledsoe]

I have a piece of 1-1/2 inch PVC pipe that I need to cut a pair of matching parallel slots about 10 to 11 inches long and 1/2 inch wide in. One 1/2 inch channel per side on opposite sides. I'm wondering if there is a safe way to do this on the router table.

What I'm doing is building a rudder for a small plastic boat using the pipe as the shaft and a plastic cutting board as the rudder itself. Totally waterproof. The board is 1/2 inch thick. I want to "split" one end of the pipe lengthwise about 10 or 11 inches and insert the board between the two halves, and then bolt it in place with predrilled holes drilled in the pipe prior to making the cut.

I have had several ideas for making the cut. All involve clamping the pipe into a jig to prevent it from rotating or moving, drill a 1/2 inch hole all the way through the pipe at the end of the proposed slot location, and then push the pipe through:
(a.) the tablesaw four times, cut once, flip and cut again, then move fence 1/2 inch and repeat.
(b.) the router table using a 1/2 inch bit, cut once, flip and cut again, or (and this scares me to death) use a 1/2 inch bit tall enough to span the pipe and cut both slots at once (this one I think I'll skip).
(c.) the bandsaw, use a fence and cut once, move fence 1/2 inch and cut again. The trouble is I have seen my blade drift in straight cuts and haven't yet worked this out. I know I should but just haven't yet. I'd rather go fishing 😁 but I need a boat rudder first. 😂

 

[Stick486]

router table and spiral bit...
plunge and then cut..
make sure the pipe is trapped between the fence and a parallel guide board..
be sure to use hold down feather boards..

 

[woodknots]

I would use the band saw - you're only making a cut less than a foot so how much drift can you have - go slow. No need to move the fence after the first cut. Make the cut, then rotate the piece and make the second cut with the other side against the fence.

 

[Duane Bledsoe]

Is it not safe to simply enter at the end of the pipe with a straight bit, even just doing one side at a time? I only have a 1/4 inch spiral. Didn't really want to have to buy anything else to get the job done.

 

[Duane Bledsoe]

The band saw feels like the safest way. I will try some scrap first and see how it works.

PVC is something I'd like to work with more often. I have cut it for years using a miter saw, and saw videos of it being kerfed on a table saw but also heard warnings of it exploding while doing so. I thought I'd ask some questions before just diving in. The lack of lots of videos and info on using routers and table saws with the stuff has me thinking it's not done much. I did use the router table to round over the edges on the ends of some pipe to make rod racks, and it worked well but that's not the same as cutting a groove.

 

[Cherryville Chuck]

Blades or bits with a hook angle can grab the plastic and it can explode when it happens. There are bits for cutting plastic and they have what the makers describe as "O" flutes. I would also think that a fiberglass bit should work like this one but I haven't tried it on plastic: https://www.amazon.com/Amana-Tool-F...ss+router+bit&qid=1554003108&s=gateway&sr=8-1 While I was looking for that link I saw this one about spirals: https://www.amazon.com/Amana-Carbid...ss+router+bit&qid=1554003108&s=gateway&sr=8-4 If you use the bandsaw use the finest blade you have with teeth that have the least hook angle.

 

[DesertRatTom]

If you switch to schedule 80, it will be thicker and stronger. I'd prefer using a band saw. If you use a router with a spiral bit, Be sure to mark the centerline on both sides so you can make certain your cuts are on opposite sides, not offset. I'd rout extra long slots but not all the way to the end, then I'd go back and cut the end off.

I would also consider doing this with a Japanese saw. You'd need a jig to hold it and prevent rotation.

 

[sunnybob]

Hot glue the pipe to a piece of scrap wood. Full length glue both sides.
Cut on the bandsaw with a fine toothed blade, slice the hot glue off with a knife or wallpaper scraper.

 

[ger21]

Blades or bits with a hook angle can grab the plastic and it can explode when it happens. There are bits for cutting plastic and they have what the makers describe as "O" flutes.

An "O" flute bit will grab just as much as regular bit.
The main difference is the flutes have more clearance to clear the chips and minimize the chances of the plastic melting.

 

[ger21]

Build a box, that holds the pipe so that it can't move. The top of the box will have the slot cut in it, and be your template. Use a guide bushing, or top bearing bit, and make 2 or 3 light passes. This is by far the safest and easiest way to do it.

 

[mgmine]

I would run it through a table saw with a dado blade or two saw blades with a spacer in between them. As you said mount it into a frame so that it won't turn. Another way would be to heat the pipe up with a heat gun and cut it with a knife but it might not come out straight. Pipe is cheap so you can try several methods. The router would work as well but it would seem to be the most difficult way to do it because of trying to set it up.

 

[harrysin]

Are the slots stopped or do they reach the open end?

 

[ger21]

I would run it through a table saw with a dado blade

:surprise:

My gut feeling tells me there's a good chance a dado blade could grab and the pipe would explode into little pieces. I would NOT attempt this.

 

[Nickp]

Duane...the rudder will be stronger if you make the shaft a bit longer and make stopped slots. This will add some strength to the bottom of the rudder. Make the slots so that you can slide the rudder portion through the stopped slots and screw through the shaft and through the rudder.

If you do it this way you will need to use the router to make the slots ...OR... drill the hole at each end of the slots and use a fine tooth blade on a jig saw at an angle...OR...drill a hole at each end and use a coping saw to make the slices for the slots...

However you decide to make the slots, I would still make them stopped and push the rudder through them for mounting...

 

[DesertRatTom]

This string is the perfect expression of the idea that there are always many ways to accomplish anything. Lots of good thinking going on here. Would love to see a pix of the pipe and later of the boat.

I particularly liked the idea of hot gluing the pipe to a carrier, and using a band saw. Pipe's cheap so you could try it in shedule 40 and 80. I also like the idea of making it a stopped slot, but you could accomplish that by gluing a connector to the split end after cutting, then cutting most of that connector away so you have just a thin ring on one end.

To make sure the sides of the slot stay parallel, I'd cut the first side, then insert some card stock to keep the slot open while you cut the other side. If you want the edges of the slot to be parallel, you won't want to rotate the pipe, so you'd need to hot glue to two pieces, set on each side of the pipe.

 

[DaninVan]

I've done the TS method without any excitement. Keep in mind that the blade only has to rise enough to barely enter the inner cavity. Mind you I haven't tried a dado blade...
As I recall i put on a 40 tooth 8" blade (on my 10" saw).
Now if it's a stopped cut, I'm calling off the bet.

 

[boogalee]

Make a through cut on the band saw then glue a sleeve on the end.

 

[RickKr]

Interesting situation. I would definitely use Schedule 80. As you already know, you will need a jig or fixture to hold the pipe securely, particularly once you have cut the slot on one side and go to make the slot in the other. If you don't support/secure the open end, the pipe will flex and possibly grab if using a router

I think my approach would be to use a well set up bandsaw to cut the slot undersized and then clean it up with light cuts on the router table. Cleaning it up may not even be necessary if the slot turns out straight and clean enough. PVC is cheap. Try it different ways. After the first cut, when making the second cut, the upper part, which is unsupported, may flex downward into the blade.

You should be able to eliminate the blade drift. I would definitely be using a very sharp blade, which may go a long way toward eliminating the drift. There are multiple sources of info on setting up your bandsaw, but the one I like the best is

Once you have the slot cut using the bandsaw, I would find some way to insert a wooden plug in the open end before making the router cuts (I might find a way to do this for the initial bandsaw cuts also). It may mean putting a few screws through the pipe into the plug, to keep the pipe in place. Also, I think I would put a spacer in the upper slot as you clean up the bottom slot, probably more to help with stabilizing the pipe in the jig so it can be held securely. That would eliminate being able to see the bottom cut from the top, but I think that would be quite difficult while holding the jig/pipe and making the cut, so I regard that as moot.

I am still racking my brain trying to figure out what sort of jig/fixture would hold the pipe securely as you make these cuts. Grabbing it from the outside will work until one or more cuts are made, after which the pipe may collapse and possibly become too loose in your jig. This is where the plug will help. On the notion of putting screws through the pipe into the plug, any holes in the pipe may compromise its integrity during use. I think I would make the pipe/slot longer such that the plug could go into the extra length at the open end and then cut that section of pipe off for your final length after all the slotting it complete.

Thinking that latter point through a bit, I think I would make a plug for the end of the pipe as part of your rudder mounting, also. Without something rigid in the end of the pipe, I think it will flex and/or collapse if you put bolts or whatever to secure the rudder in the pipe. I also think it is at risk of bending/breaking right at the top of the slot if not supported in some way. Water is amazingly powerful in subtle ways. PVC is not very structural. It won't take much lateral pressure on the rudder

Good luck and keep us posted,

Rick

 

[Duane Bledsoe]

There is already a video on youtube where a guy has my same little boat, a Sundolphin Sportsman, and he made a huge rudder from PVC pipe and plexiglas. He didn't cut it like I want to, he simply used a bunch of fittings and glued up a frame on a long arm that's not even straight, it has a 90 degree turn in it. He used zip ties to hold the plexi sheet in the frame, and said it all worked well. I'm making a rudder that's half the size of his. His and mine both are just to control boat rotational drift, not intended to take any real force. These boats are fair weather vessels only, and used only in the same conditions a kayak is used. Calm waters only. That said, I do worry about impact from bumping a log.

 

[Duane Bledsoe]

Are the slots stopped or do they reach the open end?

The plan was open ended on one end, but others here don't recommend that. I think it would be easier to cut though, and I'd run a bolt through the pipe and rudder blade near the end anyway, which would be stronger than leaving a small amount of PVC, or so I believe.