It’s totally tubular! How to cut PVC pipe for string teaching aids

Many string teachers have been using PVC pipe to aid students with the learning of bow hand shape, basic detaché bowing, and more.

As I demonstrate these strategies at conferences and professional development workshops, many people have questions about what size PVC I use, how to cut the pipe, etc. so this post will cover exactly that!

There are different sizes and specifications for PVC pipe.  Some is used for drainage (thin walled) and some is meant to withstand water pressure (thick walled).  The thin walled PVC is most economical and will work best for pedagogical purposes.  It’s also easier to cut and lighter.

Thin walled vs. thick walled PVC

Pricing & Availability

I purchase pipe at my local home improvement store.  Prices are usually very similar.

• 1/2 inch thin-walled PVC at Home Depot is under $5.00 for 10 feet (120 inches).  Cut in segments of 5 inches, you will get 24 tubes for under $5! (That’s under 20 cents a piece!)
• 1 inch thin-walled PVC at Home Depot is about $5.00 for 10 feet. Cut in segments of 4 inches will yield 30 tubes. (Under 15 cents each.)

1/2 inch PVC, cut into 5 inch segments

I use these pieces for bow hand shapers and also dowel rod bowing. The tube is larger than the bow stick or a pencil and helps round the fingers, shaping the hand to hold the bow.  This is great to use as the very first bow hold strategy.

1 inch PVC, cut into 4 inch segments

I use the 1 inch PVC and affix it to the to violin, viola, and celli using a rubber band to practice detaché motion with the bow.

How do I cut it?

First, I use a sharpie and measuring tape to pre-mark the cut lines.  Pipe comes in 10 ft. (120 inch) pieces and it divides nicely by 4 or 5.  The best way to cut PVC tubing is to use ratcheting PVC cutters. These provide a clean cut with zero mess and without burrs or sharp edges.  The ratcheting action makes the cutting fairly simple, although you will want to use gloves to protect your hands from possible blisters.  I would personally not let students use these cutters.

Watch this short video to see how I’ve cut PVC tubing:

Here is a link to highly rated, yet inexpensive ratcheting PVC cutters on Amazon.

You will want to purchase these cutters as you will be making a number of cuts.  It might also be a good idea to get together with string teachers in your area to share the cutters.  You will hopefully use the cutters one year and simply reuse the pipes each year!

SaleBestseller No. 1

Bates- PVC Pipe Cutter, Cuts up to 1-1/4″, Ratcheting PVC Pipe Cutter Tool, Pipe Cutters PVC, PVC Pipe Shears, PVC Cutter, Plastic Pipe Cutter, PEX Pipe Cutter, PVC Cutter Tool, PVC Ratchet Cutter

• Bates ratchet-type pipe cutter is made of manganese steel with high hardness, good toughness, strength, and durability. It also features a ratchet mechanism that makes cutting through pipes quick and easy – perfect for anyone who wants to get the job done fast.
• The rubber-textured handle is comfortable to use, reliable to hold, and not easy to hurt. A stainless steel buckle is at the bottom of the tube cutter for easy storage. When you don’t use it, you can shrink the handles on both sides and lock the security lock to save space and prevent accidental injury.
• Bates ratchet-type pipe cutter is perfect for easily cutting through pipes. The triangle design at the edge of the knife allows better access to the pipe, while the unique structure design makes it easy to cut pipes with a few presses.
• This tool is not only powerful but also easy to use, which makes it an ideal choice for people who are not familiar with such tools. The fish-shaped handle provides a comfortable grip that guarantees long-lasting working.
• Our tube Cutter is ideal for use on various plastic pipes and tubes. It is an essential cutting tool for handymen, plumbers, electricians, and vehicle mechanics. The cutter is commonly used for cutting most kinds of plastic (PVC, CPVC, PP, PEX, PE, rubber hose) and multilayer tubing.

$9.99

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SaleBestseller No. 2

Libraton PVC Pipe Cutter, Up to 2-1/2″, Ratchet Pipe Cutter Heavy-Duty, Pex Cutting Tool for Cutting PEX, PVC, PPR Plastic Hoses and Plumbing Pipe

• 【Heavy Duty & Premium Quality】The Libraton PVC pipe cutter body is made of durable hardness aluminum alloy steel. The thick 3mm blade used is SK5 material with precision sharped and Teflon coated. Sturdy construction and big size suitable for heavy-duty use.
• 【Widely Application】The Libraton ratchet cutter is designed up to 2-1/2-inch (63mm) outer diameter capacity ideal for use to cut a variety of plastic pipe and tube(PVC,CPVC,PP-R, PEX, PE, Rubber Hose etc.), It is an essential cutting tool for your home handyman, plumbers, electricians, and vehicle mechanics.
• 【Quick Change】This PVC pipe cutter is unique designed with Quick Change system. You can quick change the blade replacement easily within 10 seconds without any other tools. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE REPLACEMENT BLADE IS NOT INCLUDED. If needed please purchase separately.
• 【Tips on Cutting Pipes Straight】 Please make sure that the pipe is perpendicular to the blade before cutting, as it helps to ensure cut the pipe straight.
• 【Tips on Cutting Thin Pipes】 When cutting a thin PVC pipe, please rotate the pipe a little bit after the pipe has been fixed by the V-shape part of the blade, and then do the cutting job. As the thin PVC pipe could be broken if you directly cut it without rotating it.

$25.99

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Bestseller No. 3

AIRAJ Ratchet PVC Pipe Cutter,Cuts up to 2-1/2″PEX,PVC,PPR and Plastic Hoses,Pipe Cutters with Sharp SK5 Stainless Steel Blades,Suitable for Home Repairs and Plumbers

• 🌷High Quality:The durable tube cutter is made of manganese steel and high-quality aluminum alloy that is high hardness,good toughness,strength and durable not easily to rust.
• 🌷Wide Application:The tube cutter is commonly used for cutting most kinds of plastic (PVC,CPVC,PPR,PEX,PE,Rubber hose,ect.)and multilayer tubing.Cutting capacity is up to 2-1/2 inch.
• 🌷Safe and convenient for you:Ratchet drive design makes sure auto-locking function in the process of cutting, which protects users away from hurt because blade bounces back.Because of the rubber handle the stainless buckle is not easily to slip off.Buckle the safe lock,the tube cutter will become small to carry or store.
• 🌷Labor-saving:Gear driver,save strength.The ratcheting action allows for easy,one-hand cutting and blade release.
• 🌷Ergonomics handle Design:rubber-made handle is comfortable and powerful which guarantee on long-lasting working.

$16.99

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Bestseller No. 4

AIRAJ Ratchet PVC Pipe Cutter Heavy Duty,Cuts up to 3 Inches,PVC Cutter with One-Click Blade Replacement,Plastic Pipe Cutter, PVC Cutter Tool,PEX Pipe Cutter,PVC Pipe Shears with Extra Spare Blade

• The AIRAJ pvc pipe cutter is made of high-strength all-aluminum body with one-piece molding. The pvc cutter surface is polished and powder coated for high corrosion resistance. The blade is made of sharp sk5 manganese steel V-shaped blade. The V-shaped design can easily penetrate the pipe without causing extrusion, making the cutting more labor-saving and the incision smoother.
• Accessories with patented design can improve your stability when cutting pipes of different diameters. You can use it according to the diameter of the pipe you need to cut, the maximum cutting diameter is 3 inches(75MM).The pipe cutter is suitable for cutting most plastic pipes such as PVC, CPVC, PP, PEX, and PE.
• Designed with one-click convenient blade replacement, additional replaceable blades (added to the package) are provided, and the two blades ensure long-term use. It’s an essential pvc cutter tool for handymen, plumbers, electricians, and auto mechanics.
• The pvc cutters adopt labor-saving ratchet drive technology for high cutting efficiency and simple operation. AIRAJ pvc pipe cutter is the best solution for home water pipe cutting and repair.
• The ratchet pipe cutter is a new product launched by AIRAJ in 2024 after five years of production and sales experience. It has a larger cutting range, longer service life, and higher cost performance! If you encounter any problems after purchase, please feel free to contact us to get the best after-sales service.

$25.99

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SaleBestseller No. 5

KNIPEX BiX Cutter for plastic pipes and sealing sleeves 20 – 50 mm 90 22 10 BK

• Clever pipe cutter: Cuts pipes without shavings and fits comfortably in the hand
• Can cut high-temperature plastic drain pipes and electrical conduits in next to no time
• Can be used to cut sealing sleeves during final assembly – close to the wall, standard-compliant
• Cuts unreinforced plastic pipes from Ø 20 to 50 mm with a wall thickness of up to 2.4 mm
• Cuts soft plastic pipes and those with foam cores from Ø 20 to 50 mm with a wall thicknesses of up to 3.5 mm

$29.50

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Bow hold teaching strategy using 1/2“ PVC pipe…

Teachers: What else do you do with PVC pipe in your classroom?  Share your ideas in the comments below!