Ways to cut open an Oil Filter?

[chief]

I use a filter cutter made by OTC. Bought it at NAPA several years ago. Makes a clean cut in about 15 seconds without putting metal shavings in the filter. I ve used it on regular auto filters right up to large filters on 500hp Detroits

 

[kevint]

I bought a big pipe cutter on ebay for <$20. Works really well.

 

[kanling]

I've been using a cutting wheel on a Dremel tool. I won't say it works great, but it works. Definitely need safety goggles using this method. I found the cutting wheels sometimes shatter and pieces go flying, plus a lot of sparks.

 

[gudmund]

I quess what it comes down to is what you are willing to pay for a tool to cut oil filters open. For me who is "CHEAP" the $5.00 swing-a-way can opener has and is working fine. Yes on some of the thick shelled filter it takes a little more elbow grease to crank the opener but in time it does work- what you really need to be careful with is the prying of the lip from the baseplate with the straight edge screwdriver- it is very easy to do a little blood drawing from your hand when you stab yourself with it!! over 50 filters cut so far and 3 to 4 stab wounds == $5.00 and a few bandaids -- like I said "CHEAP" (won't mention the cost of all the filters)

 

[TallPaul]

quote:

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Originally posted by Winston:
Paul, I think this is the cutter you should have gotten from Harbor Freight;
Oil Filter Cutter

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That definitely looks like a good tool to open an oil filter, but too small for my FL1A Motorcraft filters. I think the problem is the cutter I bought does not have a super sharp blade. Now if I can figure out how to sharpen it.

If I had it do to over again though, I would stick with the hacksaw. Works great.

 

[Winston]

I use the can opener method, but it does not work that well for me. Especially with the thicker cans. Sometimes I finish the job with a hammer. I just hammer on the can near the baseplate all around the bottom. Eventually the baseplate breaks off. I am sure if anyone walked in and saw me hitting an oil filter with a hammer they would think I was a wacko.

Paul, I think this is the cutter you should have gotten from Harbor Freight;

Oil Filter Cutter

 

[jacy]

i use a pair of vise grips.i clamp the vise grips in the threaded hole and side of filter.then use a plain old hand held can opener and go around the side cutting it open.

 

[daemonite]

hacksaw and some oil to lube the saw teeth.

i can cut a filter in about 10 minutes...

 

[chenobylite]

There are several dedicated filter can cutters out there for not too much money. Cutting filters open has been done in the aviation sector for decades. I myself have three lying around. Expected to pay $30 or so from a aviation supply house. I think Summit sells one also.

 

[sjlee]

Quite a few people here seem to like to cut open their used filters to see how they held up. I have two questions...

1. How do you know that you're not damaging the filter's internals when you are pulling them out of the can?

2. How can you correctly criticize a filter if you look at the internals outside of the can? This is more in regards to the endcaps. Some people complain that E-core filters have "loose" encaps. Isn't the can itself is holding the endcaps on?

Wouldn't it be nice if they made a clear oil filter so you could see what was going on inside? Of course, it probably would still be hard to see anything with all that oil in it.