I need advice from pros here. I’m building new deck railings, no threading needed. I need 6 finished pieces each just over 6 feet long. That means 6’ nipples are too short and the obvious choice is to buy 2 x 21’ sticks at one of my major US city’s fine trade houses. I’m cheap and do not want to pay for delivery or to have to go home to secure them mid-day after delivery because, well, major U.S. city, and scrappers cruise the alleys.
But, I do currently have me all of the following tools:
Corded reciprocating saw.
Hacksaw.
F-150.
Plenty of 20v Dewalt batteries.
Plenty of drop cloths.
I do not anticipate ever again needing to cut tube of this size in the field.
Here’s my question. If I have to be absolutely certain I can cut 21’ sticks into 7’ sticks in the parking lot of a supply house (or into a 14’ and 7’, so I could plausibly drive it), and it absolutely has to work, what do I want?
Ridge tube cutter seems to be like $160; HF knockoff “Doyle” is $70; Amazon cheapos are like $30 (so cheap that I don’t want to ride or die at that price point). The HF looks like a knockoff of Ridge, Amazon looks like an upscaled version of what I slide for 1/2” copper.
Reed - $257. That would absolutely be the right tool for the job.
But I am having a hard time even plinking down $170 for something I’ll make 10 cuts with and never use again. I also have zero intention of doing all of this with a hacksaw.
So, do I just get a 20v Dewalt recip. saw, and enjoy the portability and freedom of going cordless, but rendering my nice corded one obsolete? Is there a risk the supply house will be pissed I’m dropping filings in their parking lot (even if I catch them with a drop cloth), such that I really need to use a tubing cutter instead? Can I trust the HF one to make it through at least the 2 cuts I’d have to make at the yard in order to safely load them and haul them in the truck (as 14’s)?
HF and take hacksaw backup? Cordless recip. saw and hacksaw backup or HF as backup? Just buy the Reed and someone wins huge at my estate sale in 40 years?
Thanks!