How do you to drill a 1/2" hole in a steel pipe that has a 1/16" thickness?

Question

Type of drill bit to use? How to align and guide without slipping off of the round pipe with the drill bit?

Answer 1

Drill press and carbide bit with oil. If you don't have acess to a drill press, take the pipe to your local hardware store, they will drill it for you rather cheaply.

Answer 2

A stepped bit is a good option. This is a bit that starts small and increases in diameter in steps. Can be bought at any hardware - tooling store.

Can also by clamp on guides, some attach to the pipe and have a guide hole, some attach to the chuck and guide the whole drill. I would use a punch set to establish the pilot mark.

Answer 3

firstly i would clamp the pipe and face up the part of the perimetre you will to drill use a centre punch to make a indent so your drill bit wont slip use a sharp 3/32" or 1/16" high speed drill bit and drill a pilot hole then use your 1/2" bit to make your required size hole i would use a bench drill if u have one but an electric hand held would do

Answer 4

If you have attic space go up into it and if there is wiring exposed then one of you can tap on the ceiling below where you are wanting to drill a hole. Decide where you want to drill. You can draw a diagram of your ceiling Mark where the ceiling light is or not but the center of your room and approximately the distance away from the center eitner North, South, East or West or clockwise. This way the person going up into the attic will be able to see if it is safe. In the inside of the house get a stud finder and if the stud is next to a door chances are if there is a light switch do not drill are nail because these studs are used to mount light switches and same goes for plugins. We have used a tiny long nail to hammer into the wall just through the sheetrock and Have been able to check for pipes or wiring. Jo Ann

Answer 5

USE a center punch to make a good dent in the pipe then a 1/4 inch bit then a1/2 inch bit

Answer 6

use a awl to put a dent in the pipe where you want the hole to be... than use a 1/2 inch drill bit ...

this stops the bit from sliding off of the pipe...

Answer 7

Use a centerpunch.Pipe should be in a v shaped base on a drill press.Use oil to cool and a carbide bit then reamer.Take your time.

Answer 8

Carbide tipped bits, but start smaller and then gradually increase the size until you've reached the desired 1/2" diameter.

Answer 9

You can use a 1/2 hole saw bit it will go through it.

Answer 10

use a center punch then use the drill