Band Cutter

Disclosed is a band cutter (20) for removing a metal band (10), wherein the band may be crimped around a plastic pipe for holding the pipe onto a fitting. The band cutter comprises a main tool body (24), a fixed jaw (22), a moveable jaw (21), a moving means (23) and a cutting blade (not shown). The main tool body defines upper and lower portions thereof. The fixed jaw is situated on the upper portion of the main body and contains therein the cutting blade. The moveable jaw is attached to the main tool body in a manner allowing sliding movement of the moveable jaw. The moveable jaw is adapted to support a band of a banded plumbing fitting thereon. The moving means is adapted to move the moveable jaw toward and away from the fixed jaw. The cutting blade extends downwardly from the fixed jaw, towards the moveable jaw, which allows abutment of the blade with the supported band. The band cutter clamps the band between the moveable jaw and blade until the blade tangentially cuts through the band. The moveable jaw may then be moved away from the fixed jaw. The band cutter preferably cuts the band without damaging the pipe underneath. The moving means may move within a guide. The main tool body, fixed jaw and guide may form a c shape in cross section. The moving means may be controlled by a motor. The moving means may have a quick release mechanism to allow quick release of the clamping action after the cut has been made. o'N l m