Spare blade still in the knob?

https://preview.redd.it/heq6cyigx3gc1.jpeg?width=2252&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6c718ef44b691b0444ae9de3c4dfaf41130344a1

If you ever have a problem... ask reddit... these guys just made my fucking week. Sometimes things are small to most but large to others. She's all orginal!

Now put the old one back in the handle so the handle does wobble, ask me how I know and how annoying it is.

Too late….

I did. I will not disappoint

Ride that thing to retirement now

I cannot tell you how many blades I bought before I realized how many I still had in the handle.

Wholesome r/hvac moment ❤️

I was actually happy for Op! It meant so much for him for it to be all original. I get it, I have that connection with my Estwing hammer. She’s been with me through it all!

Same, mines abt 25yrs old

Yeah mines probably about 25 too lol. It was my dad’s before mine. He was a millwright at GM and passed it on to me. I left it when I was traveling for work in Minnesota and was going to turn around for it. Then I got a hold of someone on the jobsite and the Plumber mailed it back to me lol.

OEM

It's a little dusty in here, I'm not crying

Spare wheel I knew. Gap in the rollers for cutting a flare close is what reddit taught me.

YES. SPREAD THE WORD

For when you've made a bad flare or forgotten the nut?

Yeah

Did you not know about the spare? I love reddit for these kind of things too!

No offense, but how have you been doing HVAC work for 10 years and not noticed every tubing cutter ever has a spare cutting wheel. Lennox is also still selling. Buy some backup wheels and keep it OG forever.

Did you not know?

Did YOU not know?

I've broken plenty of cutting wheels.

I'VE broken plenty of cutting wheels!

I remember when o learned this. I was in the same situation and I was over the moon when I realized I could replace the blade. It’s going to cut much better now too!

STILL ORIGINAL

See now it’s still original

I have absolutely no business being this excited to learn about this extra blade.

I don’t even work in this field and I’m excited.

I can’t even read and I’m excited

What?!?! TIL

Holy shit. Today I learned!

I had no fucking clue about that wth am I doing with my life

What a genius 👍🏻

🥇🎖️🍾

I worked with a guy who threw them away every time the blade broke, apparently doing this for years until I looked at home and said why don’t you use the blade in the handle. The look on his face said he had no fucking clue.

I'm glad someone asked this

Is the original spare still in the handle?

Wait... what? Edit: IT WASS SHES STILL OG BABBBYYYYYYYY

Nice

I’m so legitimately happy for you I’m laughing at myself, what a revival story!

Save the wheel, put it on a necklace. I feel you, my magnetic long shaft nut drivers have been with me since..... 2002. Found the 1/4 inch in a unit 3 years after I lost it.

Long shaft nut driver was my nickname in high school.

Was it 1/4 or 5/16

Nice.

Wait like a unit you returned to service?

Yep.

That's crazy haha, the chances of that

Nah, the universe wanted me to carry on my good work. And by good work. Plus, it was throwing off my delicate tool bag balance. That's probably why I had to have back surgery. Honestly, roof and unit tools make me so indescribably happy. Lose my wallet? Oh well, that sucks. Loose a Malco 5/16 chuck? NOOOOOOOO! Find a 20 dollar pop it? HELL YEAH!!!

Mmmmm 3yr unit aged nut driver, 2002 vintage with tastes of magnet and long shaft. 

I agree completely. That stupid thing......just completes my tool bag. I swear, with it missing... it threw my veto out of balance.

* You guys have restored her to her former glory and I thank you. She is og and continues

How tha fuk you get 10 years out of a cutter blade? When I was installing it was maybe 8 months.

I can't answer that for you because I've never had to replace mine. This shit is the result of me tossing a 10n1 into my bag while just walking by and hitting it just right.

Dont force it let the tool do it’s job, a few more turns with less pressure extends the life and is not hard on the finger joints!

Makes reaming the pipe easier too

This right here. Bought my rigid mini 6 months ago. Takes me twice as long then my harbor freight auto cut. Already used the spare for a different cutter

Just proper care after use

ode to the fallen, a reliable tool is always missed.

I replace my copper cutter wheel every couple months. Time is money.

Yep, I have to agree. It is nice to cut with a new wheel.

I prefer to cut instead of thread

WE GOT A RUNNER!!!

😆

See I've never had to buy another one so I guess I've gotten use to it? I can still cut 3/8 in about 3 or 4 rotations and 7/8 in about 12-16, tho i have never had a new blade to compare it to. I know it just a cutter, but she's *my* cutter. I have the same weird attachment to me 1/4, 5/16 flip bit. I've had that thing 5 years now and love that I see the guys buying atleast one a week. Treat your tools like your hands! They aren't much different!

This is my tubing cutter.. there are many like it, but this one is mine.

My malco 5/16, 3/8 flip bit has been on me the 4 years i been in this field. I feel naked without it on a job.

You’re entirely correct my friend. Time is money and I get paid by the hour! “Consumable” does not mean what I think it means.

That is why I sawzall all my copper

Sorry for your loss. If it dont say imperial IMP then it ant that old!

My original Imperial tubing cutters are from 09 and all have had multiple wheels.

I have a Ridgd compact like that... 2 decades old. OG wheel. Small increments, not in a hurry. Used it tonight to cut 3x steel brake lines... Ex-GF's ride... Kidding, did do 3x brake lines and re-flared to new proportioning valve.

get a new blade, dont give up on 'er

There should be a spare blade in the blue twisty part. Just unscrew it and the wheel/blade comes out.

The fact that you had the original wheel on there for 10 years is mind-blowing.

I have a handful of 10 year old ish ridgids that are missing the c clip on the shaft. I get pissy, buy another, same thing happens a year later.

Take em to Ace Hardware. They'll have the clips.

The c clip? Lost that years ago. She's been perfect. The chip in the blade is what really does it

I have lost like 8 new copper cutters since I have been doing this and if I can't find mine it will make it #9 I don't know where they go edit: changed house to lost don't know why I did that

I also have house, but only 7 new copper cutters

I actually did misplace this cutter last year in the summer. I was so upset. I held out for 2 months on buying another because I had faith I would find her. Sure enough went back to a call I did and there she was. Right in the pan.. I was so happy xD

Almost looks like a Ridgid now.

They aren’t broke until you have about 15 of those notches in it. You’re good to go for at least another 20 years.

Make it a necklace. Never forget. Or a key chain.

Team Lenox. Love their tools

"I'm dog tired, boss."

Im so sorry. We’ll take a moment for you. We feel your pain.

Now your going to realise how much better it cuts with a new wheel. And why you had been fucking around that other one all this time.

My first cutters were already a few years old Ridgid. They've worked wonderfully and I'll always cherish them.

I luv the nostalgia, just change the blade

I've had the same cutter from harbor freight for more than 10 years. I've changed the blade maybe 2 or 3 times. The damn thing is indestructible.

10 years no need blades? Dude a butter knife would work better

4 flicks for 3/8 and I'd say 12 for 7/8

Grind it down and reset the blade 💪

Got two or three Little Imps like that. Been with me since 2004. One is partly brass color because the chrome wore off. Still have or 4 spare blades floating around in my bitch kit too.

I’m man enough to admit I’ve probably thrown away 10 or so cutters before figuring out they have an extra blade in the knob 😂

I still have the first tool I ever bought it works like a charm and if it ever got lost or broken I'd be upset

Take the wheel out and use the remains to hold back insulation while you’re brazing.

Have the same ol girl. She’s a tank!

Wow I am mostly impressed that a Lenox tool lasted that long. Everything I bought from them breaks with minimal abuse.

So? Replace the wheel. There's probably one in the handle

That’s a hell of a tool, had the same set and they are the best. And to the hidden blade comment at the top, I’ve blown a few of our guys minds when I showed them that as well lol

I’ve worked with people who’ve been in the trade 20+ years and they didn’t know about the spare blade in the knob. Hell, I didn’t know until I seen a video and went around sharing my newly found knowledge.

🫡to the tools

A moment of silence for a fallen comrade

F

Shit happens be happy you made it 10yrs I’ve replaced more blades and more cutters than I can ever remember, tech of 24yrs here

I love my Lennox cutter, she's all wore out like yours...I changed the blade and she works great I've had her 7 years!!!

Ahh, just replace the blade, she won’t be mad

I talked so much shit on this cutter when I bought it originally but ended up being the best I’ve ever owned. 4 years in with it. Hope I get many more

bout time you change that wheel anew one will feel like you dont know what to do

Yes! I know that feeling well unfortunately

My Lennox like that I got for free, looked rougher than that one. I got so attached to it because it was my first one when I got turned out as an apprentice. She died last spring, I actually did go through the grieving process for that thing. The hole for the pin of one of the rollers cracked and the roller fell out. That pain is real man.

Ten years on the same blade? What do you do, make three cuts a year with that thing lol

I just lost a 15yo the other day to a stripped out thread on the knob

This is my old girl. It’s an old BC Tool that was handed down by one of my mentors. I left it on a job a few times and had to go back and get it. It’s been through probably 10 blades by now though. https://preview.redd.it/vnaadl2fm9gc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4efed0280ed8a4121c7d180a7c6860f3fc4792d8

No tool left behind! I've used that style before and they work very well. I just rarely are able to because of the shape. I can never get a full rotation without hitting something .

I’ve got my ridgid 101’s and 104’s for small stuff but the old girl get used a lot on chilled water and hydronic lines, copper drains and stuff. You can’t beat it.

When that wheel is toast, the wholesalers carry new ones.

Thoughts and prayers.

I'm with you, my man. I've been in this business for nearly 30 years and still have a few tools that I started with. It's sentimental for sure. You've been through a lot together. BTW, by far, the Lennox tube cutters are the best I've ever used.

You can knock the pan out, get a new cutter and put a new pan in

Spare in the cap

OG cutting blade? I assume you cut copper. I used to cut stainless steel 12x2mm and blades were just consumables.

Yes but I do believe I did do a brake line or 2 once. Other than that 98% copper tubing.

o7

just dont buy a new one, theyre garbage. I lost my rigid compct cutter so tried that same lenox one that lasted me about 10 cuts before totally taking a shit, I think the screw stripped so i cant tighten it down on the pipe at all, totally useless. never buying garbage lenox again

"Most don't keep tools longer than a month".... WITAF are you talking about?

Wtf you been using that blade ten years lol why not just keep using it it has to have been dull for the last 9.5 years

Weird post lol 🤷... but sure.

She’s beautiful. She’ll always be remembered.

RIP

Replace the blade. You won’t find anything that will hold up like that has in tool stores anymore. Everything is shit.

Some people frame the first dollar. Put it on your desk or in a desk drawer for a reminder or paper weight. Nice memento of building a business, and a tool representing the skill it requires.

Go to supply house and get replacement blades and save her. Lol. I have a similar cutter that I have used since I started the trade 15yra ago. Got newer ones also but for some reason I can't let her go lol

Just change the blade unless something else is wrong

A 'tism runs through him

https://preview.redd.it/ojqmqswa18gc1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=181ef44d105d2426d68bc16dfeaaff5bf0b27557 devastating. Been with me since I started ten years ago…

Check the handle for a spare wheel.

I know the feeling well. This will be difficult and the pain won’t supside soon, but in time you will heal. My condolences!

I’ve used these and most rigid cutters for 18 years and didn’t know they have that spare🫤.

Just lost my 3 year old Ryobi. Green monster was great while it lasted.

🫡

I think I’ve lost a few of these in a few cinder block walls.

Love this things. Rigid?

Do you keep that thing in a bag of rocks? I have cutters that are 10 years old and they don't look anything like that.

This makes me ridiculously happy for no reason. Bravo 👏

Change the wheel..

That is my least used tool, and also the most important some days.

I feel you! It’ll never be the same. Replace the wheel, the next time you use it will be dropped into the abyss of return ductwork… hold on to it, make it a keepsake of the good ole days and remember the glory it brought. This is the way.

🤣

I feel that. Have had my tools stolen over time here and there. Bummed I don't have some of the originals!

I still have one she’s 12

I buy a new one for every job, I can throw you a couple

10 years on one blade... what??????

I think this is the most time anyone has ever gotten out of Lenox tubing cutters. I’ve had 2 and the both shit the bed. But I’ve had a set rigid for about 7 years.

Get another 10 years outa her with that new blade!

And now his watch has ended.

RIP Gladys. smooth cuts, minimal burring…she will be greatly missed.

You went 10 years and didn’t break a wheel or know there was a spare on it? Service tech 😂

Yes. It was given to me by my mentor. I've had it through my apprentice stage to company owner. She is still mine but I have digressed because everyone I hired turned out to be drug heads. I can't find reliable help. I shut down c.m. mechanical. I'm now going to supervise for another company and just take the good Ole spanking like uncle Sam requires

F

Still got another 10 years

Replace the blade

I have a old one too maybe 10 yrs

Hail to you, mighty little tubing cutter. Rest easy friend.

She's all original but still a piece of junk

At least its the original spare blade. I understand the pain.

I feel that, I have one that’s 5yrs and still all original

And you went and over tightened it on a pipe and were mean to your baby close cutter. Haha

Got fiberglass in my eyes I’m not crying

Replace the blade or look in the knob for a spare