What size hole is best for DSD saddles?

[Bruce L]

Recently purchased 200 saddles to replace current leaky ones,as well as use on all future installs. Current saddles I drilled a 31/64” hole in mainline,now with DSD saddles I can go all the way down to 5/16”. Tried both on a scrap of mainline in the house, thinking smaller hole might be better? All lines have a maximum of 5 taps on them,5/16” tubing on high vacuum. Thanks

[Bricklayer]

The DSD saddles work great. I installed a ton of them last year and used 5/16 holes. But the DSD saddles come with a little white washer that can be flipped around and used on a bigger hole. Only reason I used the 5/16 hole is because the mainline drill that I bought came with the 5/16 bit. Just gotta watch when you tighten the clamp. If you tighten them too much it starts to oval the mainline. I found that snugging it up so that the black barbed fitting dosnt wiggle. Then turning the fitting to where I want it facing for lateral connection then snug it up some more. Just enough not to oval the mainline.

[jetdoc]

I got 25 of them to try out this year. I am real curious on how well they work out for me.

[Bricklayer]

19168They work great. Just make sure the white washer didn’t end up in the snow and that you open up the clamp and go under the mainline

[maple flats]

I first tried them 4 seasons ago and have used no others since. I've only ever used saddles needing a 5/16 hole, but the DSD saddle wants the white washer flat side down for 5/16 and the other side down for bigger holes. On all new holes the 5/16 works great. DSD also makes a 5/16 mainline drill bit, short enough that it can not drill thru the back side, what a huge improvement. That bit is made for plastic and does not walk when you start to drill. That and a cordless drill are your best way to put a hold for new saddles. As others have said, don't over tighten the clamp. You also want to use size specific saddles, while a 1" will tighten down to a 3/4" mainline, the pressure for the seal is not direct on the gasket and it does not work as well as a 3/4" on 3/4", a 1" on 1" and so forth.

[spud]

I have been thinking of trying these saddles. Do you ever have to retighten them? How much do they cost?

Spud

[Bruce L]

Dave,did you go 5/16” because that was the main line punch size you had? I have a jig made up with a 31/64” brad point drill bit,only practiced on a scrap of mainline so far,but finding the larger hole doesn’t seem to oblong the pipe since the washer “ nipple” is down in the hole.

[Bricklayer]

This will be our 2nd year with them. Didn’t have to retighten any last year. But I keep a ratchet in my pail of goodies when I’m walking the lines just in case. You can check them by trying to move the barbed fitting. If it moves in the saddle it’s not tight enough.
They come in 90 degree and straight.
I like the 90 degree ones because it gives a backing to use the 1 hand tool.

[Bruce L]

Hi Spud,this will be my first year with them. Ordered 200 of them at the Open House last April,got them for $2.30 each (Canadian) after some light negotiations