Need safety tips for cutting PVC pipe with my shop vac attachment - almost lost a finger!

Hey guys, total newbie question here but I'm kinda freaked out. I was trying to cut some 2-inch PVC pipe for a drainage project in my yard, and I rigged up this attachment for my shop vac to suck up the plastic dust. Problem is, the pipe kept slipping while I was cutting with my circular saw, and I almost took my thumb off! What's the safe way to do this? Should I be using a different tool? I see pros do it all the time but clearly I'm missing something.

DemoDave, first rule of machining: secure your workpiece! You can't be holding PVC with one hand while running a saw with the other. Get a vise or some clamps - even a couple c-clamps on a workbench will do. For dust collection, yeah a shop vac helps with PVC fumes (nasty stuff), but make sure you're using a HEPA filter. Personally, I'd use a miter saw with a fine-tooth blade for cleaner cuts, but if you're stuck with a circular, go slow and let the tool do the work. And WEAR EYE PROTECTION! Plastic chips are no joke.

Larry's right about securing materials. In roofing, we use sawhorses with v-blocks for piping. But listen: your main issue is using the WRONG attachment. That shop vac hose probably created suction that moved the pipe. Use a dust collection shroud that mounts to your saw, not something you rig. Also, check if your blade is for plastics - regular wood blades can grab and kick. Seen two guys in ER from PVC kicks. OSHA would have a field day with your setup.

Wow, thanks both! I didn't even think about the suction moving things - that explains why it felt "jumpy." I've got some clamps in my garage, and I'll look for that plastic-cutting blade. Larry, would a handsaw be safer for a beginner? I'm just doing about 20 cuts for some French drain sections.

For 20 cuts? Get a PVC cutter - $15 at Tool Discount Club last I checked. Clicks right through, no dust, no power needed. Sometimes the simple tools are safest. Just mark your line and squeeze. Your shop vac can stay in the truck for this one.