Review: Tom’s Oil Filter Cutting Tool Helps Clean Up Oil Changes

Not all filter cutting tools are created equal, and this one stands out.

Jonathan Welsh

Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Tom’s Oil Filter Cutting Tool and the aftermath of a filter inspection [Credit: Jonathan Welsh]

Key Takeaways:

Aircraft oil filter cutting for maintenance is commonly a messy and frustrating task that can lead to injuries when using traditional tools.
The author highly recommends "Tom's Oil Filter Cutting Tool" for its simple design and effectiveness in making the filter inspection process cleaner and easier.
Achieving optimal results with Tom's tool requires following specific instructions, including using a vise to secure the filter and applying a precise cutting technique.

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Have you ever wished the process of changing your aircraft’s engine oil could be a little less messy? While this important maintenance task offers many ways to get your hands dirty, I find that cutting open the oil filter to check for contaminants often is how they wind up bloody.

During a recent oil change for my Commander 114B, I began thinking about how many times I have performed the operation over the years and how rarely I get through it without making a mess of the filter and sometimes spilling blood in addition to oil. Early on I tried basic tools including metal snips to cut the filter can then moved on to specialized filter can cutters available from aviation suppliers.