How do I drill a hole through a piece of conduit, so I can stick a
bolt through the sides? If I use a hand drill, the bit will skip
around, jam in the hole, and break. I need something like a drill
press with a clamp. How do I make (or where can I buy) a jig to hold
the pipe and drill together?

---

Request for Question Clarification by denco-ga on 01 Oct 2006 19:47 PDT

Howdy kyrie1618-ga,

How much did you have budgeted for hardware?  Did you want a drill press type
of setup, or do you have a drill press?  If the latter, there is the "Wel-Bilt
Self-Centering Drill Press Jig" as shown here on the Northern Tool website.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200308355_200308355&issearch=155700

"Steel drill press jig automatically centers and holds tubes, pipes, dowels or
any round stock for a straight, on-the-mark hole every time. Bolt or clamp to
drill press or workbench. ... Only $14.99"

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

---

Clarification of Question by kyrie1618-ga on 02 Oct 2006 00:46 PDT

Planning on drilling 3/4 inch or 1 inch galvanized steel pipe.
Willing to pay around $50 for tools.
I'd like something like a drill press but I do not have one right now.
I could use a vicegrip to hold the pipe, but it may not be enough -- I
need to hold the drill steady, too.

---

Clarification of Question by kyrie1618-ga on 02 Oct 2006 00:51 PDT

I could perhaps use a dremel tool - but am concerned it may not have
enough power to go through the pipe steel.

---

Request for Question Clarification by denco-ga on 02 Oct 2006 09:56 PDT

Howdy kyrie1618-ga,

I think what you need instead of drilling is a structural pipe fitting.  Please
check out the following to see if they could meet your needs.

"Easyfit Structural Pipe Fittings Catalog"
http://www.easyfit.com/maincatalog.html

"Kee Klamp Online Catalog"
http://www.hooverfence.com/pipe-fittings/kee-klamp/catalog.htm

"Kee Lite Online Catalog"
http://www.hooverfence.com/pipe-fittings/kee-lite/catalog.htm

"Hollaender Slip-On Pipe Fittings"
http://www.hollaender.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewpage&page_id=EC24FDAE-CC9C-BA86-D8D542E83A8C403F

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

---

Clarification of Question by kyrie1618-ga on 15 Oct 2006 14:24 PDT

Structural pipe fittings look great, thanks! Seems like that does it.

Howdy kyrie1618-ga,

Appreciate you accepting this as the answer to your question.

Instead of drilling, one should use structural pipe fittings, such as the
following.

"Easyfit Structural Pipe Fittings Catalog"
http://www.easyfit.com/maincatalog.html

"Kee Klamp Online Catalog"
http://www.hooverfence.com/pipe-fittings/kee-klamp/catalog.htm

"Kee Lite Online Catalog"
http://www.hooverfence.com/pipe-fittings/kee-lite/catalog.htm

"Hollaender Slip-On Pipe Fittings"
http://www.hollaender.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewpage&page_id=EC24FDAE-CC9C-BA86-D8D542E83A8C403F

If you need any clarification, please feel free to ask.


Search strategy:

Google search on: structural pipe fittings
://www.google.com/search?q=structural+pipe+fittings

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

I do not understand... What kind of commment?

start the hole off with a hot soldering iron, it will make a small
crater in which the drill bit can be inserted. be carefull to not
breathe in the fumes if you are drilling PVC pipe. i know this is not
what you were thinking, however it could work.

For a metal conduit, start the hole by making an impression with a
punch. A vicegrip is good for holding the conduit while you drill it.
Don't worry if you break a drill bit or two.
Is it possible that a conduit clamp can be used instead of drilling the conduit?

I am building a small truss and cannot see how to join the pipe using
just a conduit clamp... The pipe I am joining not to a wall but to
another pipe.

I would file a v-notch across the pipe (if galvanized, it is probably
iron, not steel) and then clamp it deep in a workbench vise, so that
you can also clamp a piece of wood on top of it.  First drill a hole
through the piece of wood, so that you can aline the hole over the
notch, and then use the hole as a guide for the bit.  This should keep
it on spot until it starts to cut.

If you don't have access to a workbench vice, it may be possible to
clamp the pipe and the wood with the hole between two pieces of wood
(or in a miterbox) and then drill.

Either way, you would want to experiment first.

Or, you could use a center punch.

There are all sorts of problems with the "drilling holes and using
bolts" approach, including the creation of a structurally weak truss. 
Depending on how many holes are drilled, there is the cost of drill
bits, and to be safe, a proper drill press and jig should be used.

Going with fittings eliminates all of that.

So what do I do now? How to pay?

Howdy kyrie1618-ga,

The fee that you offered was processed when I posted the answer.  Thanks!

At this point, you can rate the answer if you desire, and within that process
you can add a ratings comment as well, and a tip, again, if you desire.

Although Google Answer Researchers appreciate all of the above, there is no
need nor requirement, etc. for you to do anything else at this point.

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

Much thanks for the 5 star rating, kyrie1618-ga.

For future reference, the ratings comment can be anything at all, or nothing.

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher