Cutting cardboard forms to the right length can be a challenge if you don’t have the right tools or technique. You could use a tape measure to make multiple marks around the form and follow that with your saw, but the results may not be satisfactory. Fortunately, there is a better way, and Rick Tyrell of Prosperity, South Carolina, has discovered it.
Rick’s technique not only allows you to mark a line all the way around the tube, but it also serves as a guide for a circular saw to make those cuts quicker and easier.
The first step is to measure three inches in from the clean factory edge on the end of the tube and cut that part off neatly. This step creates the guide. Then, he makes a couple of marks six inches apart and cuts a small slot in the middle of the tube. He proceeds to cut the tube in half right between those marks.
Next, Rick gets a four-inch hose clamp and cuts it. He slips the two loose ends into the slots he has cut in the tube, folds them back to catch on the tube, and creates an adjustable clamp that will fit all the way around the cardboard tube.
To use it, he slips it over the tube, lines it up with the cut line, and tightens it down. If you’re just using it to make a line, you can draw a clean line all the way around with a pencil. However, Rick takes it a step further by using the clamp as a guide for a circular saw.
He backs it off five inches from the cut line, tightens it down again, and gets ready to make his cut. With this technique, you can achieve precise cuts every time.
If you frequently need to cut concrete form tubes to the exact same length, this technique can save you time and frustration. Thanks to Rick for sharing this great tip!