A handsaw works fine on an open bench. It does not work inside a wall cavity, under a vanity, or in a roof space where you have maybe 150mm of swing room around a 40mm or 50mm DWV pipe. That is the gap the Plumtool PVC Cut & Join Kit (PTKIT-PVC) is built for: a confined-space cutter plus everything needed to join the pipe straight after, in one case.
What's in the kit
- Plumtool PVC Clean Cut Pipe Cutter, 40mm (PTCC9345)
- Plumtool PVC Clean Cut Pipe Cutter, 50mm (PTCC9365)
- Replacement blades for PVC Clean Cut, 5-pack (PTCB3618)
- Solvent Mates Applicator Pair (PTSM773)
- Glutote holster to suit 500ml applicators (PTGT347)
The two Clean Cut sizes cover the two DWV diameters you run into on almost every domestic job: 40mm for basin and tundish waste, 50mm for floor waste and branch drain work. Each gives a square, burr-free cut with a ratcheting action that doesn't need the swing of a handsaw — the whole point when you're cutting inside a stud wall or a tight roof void.
Clean Cut vs a hacksaw or drainer saw
A hacksaw blade can get into most of the same spaces, but it leaves a cut edge that needs deburring before you solvent-weld it, and it's slow one-handed. The Clean Cut's jaw closes around the pipe and shears it in a few ratchet strokes, square to the pipe every time — which matters for a clean solvent-cement joint, since an angled cut leaves a gap on one side of the socket that a bead of cement won't reliably fill. If you want the full comparison against the heavier-duty Procut 100mm cutter and the 420mm Drainer Saw for pipe you can't get the Clean Cut's jaw around, see our guide to all three PVC cutting tools.
Why the kit instead of just the cutter
Buying the five pieces separately comes to $297.05 (40mm cutter $55.94, 50mm cutter $57.94, blade 5-pack $20.87, Solvent Mates pair $83.30, Glutote $79.00). The kit is $267.35 — a genuine 10% off, not a bundle mark-up dressed up as a saving. It's worth the kit specifically if you don't already own a Clean Cut: you get both sizes plus a spare blade set and the solvent-cement side sorted in one purchase. If you already have a 40mm or 50mm cutter and just need spares or the applicators, buy those individually — see our Solvent Mates and Glutote guide for when that pair earns its spot in the kit.
Keeping blades cutting clean
A Clean Cut that's starting to leave a slight burr or needs more than a couple of extra ratchet strokes to get through the pipe wall is telling you the blade is due — that's what the 5-pack spare blades (PTCB3618) are for, and it's worth keeping a spare set in the van rather than finding out mid-job. A burred cut doesn't just look rough; it leaves a lip inside the socket that solvent cement has to bridge, which is exactly where a joint is most likely to let go.
Frequently Asked Questions
What DWV pipe sizes does the kit cut?
40mm and 50mm — the two most common domestic DWV diameters, covering basin/tundish waste (40mm) and floor waste/branch drain work (50mm).
Can I buy just the Clean Cut cutter without the rest of the kit?
Yes, the 40mm and 50mm Clean Cut cutters are both sold individually. The kit is worth it specifically when you need the full set — both cutters, spare blades and the solvent-cement applicators — since buying all five separately costs $297.05 against $267.35 for the kit.
How do I know when the blades need replacing?
When the cutter stops giving a clean, square cut and starts leaving a slight burr, or takes noticeably more ratchet strokes to get through the pipe wall, it's time to swap in a fresh blade from the 5-pack.
What's the Glutote actually for?
It's a holster for the 500ml Solvent Mates applicators that hooks onto a ladder or has a ground spike, so the applicators stay upright and don't get knocked over or lost on site.