Here is how you notch pipe or tubing when you are too cheap to buy a tubing notcher.

I use a sawzall to make a pair of 45 degree cuts in the end of the tube. Then I attach a vice grips to each of the “notches” and bend it it back and forth until it breaks off. Then I use a bench grinder to finish shaping the notch. Hold another piece of tubing against the notch to see where the metal needs to be ground off.

This technique is actually pretty quick and easy and accurate after just a little practice.




1234AD09-E34C-44DD-9856-B3893DC6CEA5.jpeg0EAFB99F-E705-4767-B2B4-945A85F6FE4A.jpeg2AB0F028-889D-4766-811C-8DF7FAED7A36.jpegC8557461-B52E-4F54-9B9B-1E615B4D6F99.jpeg2B504A88-9A11-4B17-908C-72B4DC567887.jpeg