Above: Rabbit Tool is an expansion of Continental’s line of cut-off machines, like this pneumatic, semiautomatic machine the Model 3A.
April, 2025- For more than a century, Continental Pipe & Tube Cut-Off Machines has manufactured machines that cut round pipe and tube. In mid-2022, Continental expanded its portfolio of cut-off machines with the acquisition of a series of product lines from Rabbit Tool.
“These machines are a fast and efficient way to cut pipe and tube to length,” notes Dan Craychee, product manager at Continental.
Continental was aware, for several years, of the Rabbit Tool pipe cut-off machines, which work in the same manner as Continental’s core line of rotary cut-offs. “The Rabbit Tool is smaller and more economical than Continental’s main product line. It is the perfect extension to our product offering and ideal for customers that are not cutting tube constantly,” Craychee says.
NO TEETH
Unlike band saws, rotary cut-off blades lack teeth. “Instead, the rotary cut-off is similar to hand-held cutters used for copper tubing—the machine spins the pipe and rolls a groove into the pipe until it parts off,” explains Craychee. Because the rotary machine only cuts through a small portion of the pipe’s wall thickness, users can save time in their pipe processing operations.
“The speed of the rotary cut-offs vary depending on the thickness of the pipe. Most Continental and Rabbit Tool cut-offs are performed in under 10 seconds,” says Craychee. “This compares to five minutes that it might take a band saw to cut a similar pipe. A major time savings is achieved with rotary cut-offs, including Rabbit Tool.”
Designed to be permanently mounted in place, Rabbit Tool achieves a very clean cut. “The break-offs leave minimal burrs, so oftentimes there is no deburring operation required,” reports Craychee, highlighting another time-saving aspect of Rabbit Tool.
LINE EXTENSION
The Rabbit Tool line includes the Supercutt er tube cut-off machines, DB-Series tube end deburring machines and PR-Series tube end pinch-roll machines. The K250 and K400 Supercutters can cut through tube up to 3-inch diameters, and 4.5-inch-diameter tube and pipe, respectively. The deburring and pinch-roll machines support similar size pipe and tube.
The pinch-roll machine is a new offering for Continental. “It’s a good option for customers that are cutting a very thin wall,” explains Craychee. When a thin-walled pipe gets cut, sometimes the end will crimp or pinch. “The Rabbit Tool PR-Series incorporates a function at the end of the cut that removes, or reverses, this pinch,” says Craychee.
In addition to now manufacturing Rabbit Tool cut-off machines at its facility in Addison, Illinois, Continental is also stocking blades and other replacement parts to support the brand. “In the past few years, some customers had trouble finding Rabbit Tool consumables. With this acquisition, Continental can help Rabbit Tool users keep their machines running for many years,” notes Craychee.
Rabbit Tool products are in use by customers in a range of industries. Craychee cites examples of customers who use Rabbit Tool machines to cut off the ends of pipes for chain link fencing, heat exchanger piping, custom exhaust systems, fire sprinklers and handrails for buses. The cut-off machines are built to order and, depending on options, have a sixto eight-week lead time.
Looking ahead, Craychee anticipates Continental will add an automation option to its Rabbit Tool offering. The existing lineup of Continental cut-off machines already includes automation.
CUSTOMER-FRIENDLY
After the 2022 acquisition, the Continental team spent about a year incorporating Rabbit Tool parts into production operations. “We inherited paper drawings of the components, which needed to be digitized before putting the parts into production,” recalls Craychee. Continental has been making parts for, and manufacturing, Rabbit Tool machines for about a year.
Those machines are now running on customer shop floors. “Customer feedback has been positive, with people telling us Rabbit Tool products are working very well,” reports Craychee. About half of the Continental sales for Rabbit Tool machines are customers who were already loyal to the brand and have simply purchased a newer machine.
The balance of customers are from the Continental prospect list. “Our sales team is starting to quote Rabbit Tool and can now offer Continental customers a cut-off machine that is more in line with their production volume and budget,” explains Craychee.
During the selling process, Continental sales reps probe for what the customer is cutting, their volume and current equipment. Rabbit Tool purchasers can also access Continental’s instruction manuals and product support.
OPERATOR FRIENDLY
In sales meetings, most customers reveal they are struggling with labor challenges. The ease of operating a Rabbit Tool helps job shops and service centers manage personnel and maintenance scheduling. “Rabbit Tool cut-offs are very simple, robust machines. There are only a few settings and no programming required. The operator can quickly change the diameter and set up for a new run. So customers don’t need a highly experienced operator to use them,” notes Craychee.
Because Rabbit Tool machines are mechanically straightforward, maintenance is also easy, Craychee says. “Most customers can maintain and service the machines themselves.”
Another easy aspect about Rabbit Tool, was the decision to acquire the brand. “Continental is a manufacturing company. We are manufacturing people. We respect how an operator can become attached to a dependable, older machine. We didn’t want to see a line of good, quality machines fade away simply because operators could no longer get parts and consumables,” says Craychee.
“We are proud to have taken the opportunity to support a workhorse of a product line for a lot of people a line that has been used for years.” Now, the Continental team is focused on bringing this line to a new generation of users.
The manual Rabbit Tool K400MU, with its compact footprint, cuts up to 4.5-inch-diameter tube with speed and efficiency.
Unlike band saws, Continental’s cut-off machines use a rotary blade that saves time.
Continental Pipe & Tube Cut-Off Machines, 800/264-5950, http://continentalcutoff.com/
