Abstract: A portable, hand-held, motor-driven tube cutter (126) includes a disc-shaped gear (12A) driven by motor (16). A housing (10) has a roller support (6) and a blade support (12) movably mounted with respect to each other within the housing (10). Roller support (6) and blade support (12) engage grooves (30, 31) in a side of gear (12A). Brake elements (9, 11) are positioned in contacting relationship with housing (10), and supports (6, 12) move toward each from a starting position to cut a tube positioned within the cutter (126) as the motor (16) drives gear (12A) in a forward direction and as the brake elements (9, 11) restrict rotation of the housing (10). Supports (6, 12) move away from each other as the motor (16) drives gear (12A) in a reverse direction and as brake elements (9, 11) restrict rotation of housing (10) so that the tube cutter (126) is returned to its starting position and is ready for the next tube cutting.