Abstract: For severing long workpieces, in particular pipes of metal material, especially at high temperatures, in a normal plane relative to the axis at an arbitrary site with the aid of a metal-cutting tool, a workpiece is firmly clamped and at a standstill, while the tool is guided in an interrupted cut around the workpiece with continuous radial advancement. The tool remains in engagement with the workpiece over only a portion of its path, which is effected by way of example in that the central circling of the cutting movement has superimposed upon it an eccentric planetary movement, so that the line of cutting is not a continuous circular line. In an apparatus for performing this method, a knife head (3) equipped with cutting knives (5) is seated on the end toward the cut of a hollow working shaft (2) rotating in a housing (1). A hollow control shaft (7) is preferably supported centrally in the hollow working hsaft (2) carrying the knife head (3).