To buy a mainline drill or not to buy a main line drill...

[longlivenintendo]

Hey guys, I understand the need for the lateral line tools to install connectors and drop lines that I totally see as needed. however, have people successsfully drilled into their mainlines using 12 volt drills drills and not using the "specially designed" hand main line drills? Just trying to save a buck or two here. I'm not a huge operation.

[unc23win]

I used a bit with electrical tape on it for a stop before I bought a tool it worked. The key is to go slow and make sure the mainline does not turn when your drilling. Quite a few people have made mainline drills as well I know there is at least one thread with very good pictures.

[mellondome]

Problem with using a powered drill is making sure you dont hit the bottom of the line when the bit goes through. Also keeping it from egging out the hole when you quick stop pushing so you dont drill straight through. This will cause saddles to leak.

There isnt much to a mainline tap, you can buy the bit with the milled collar. Then just find a nut that threads on it and weld up a pair of vicegrips. Just make sure uou buy the corrext size for the saddle you are going to use. They are not all the same .

[GeneralStark]

If you use a pilot point bit with a drill stop (get a set and use one for your tapping bit as well) you will not go through the pipe. Once you get the pilot slowly started then finish off quick. It works if you hold the line well and are careful.

That said...I have since purchased a mainline drill. Way easier.

[blissville maples]

shouldn't have to push so hard that you hit the bottom of pipe, especially when you know your near end. ive never hit bottom. seems pretty simple with a drill for me no issues and makes a nice tight fit that i force the fitting into so no chance of vac leak, then the rubber gasket.

[WESTMAPLES]

There isnt much to a mainline tap, you can buy the bit with the milled collar. Then just find a nut that threads on it and weld up a pair of vicegrips. Just make sure uou buy the corrext size for the saddle you are going to use. They are not all the same .

i bought a 500 ft of 1 season used 3/4 leader p30 with saddle holes and a bag full on new saddles and used hand drill bit part like you see in the suging books. a pair vice grips, nut and a few small pieces of metal, my little mig and a few mins staring at it in bascom`s catalog and 42 mins later i had a saddle hand drill . if you can do make it , its more cost effective

[MISugarDaddy]

To avoid drilling too deep on a mainline, I slid a piece of tubing the same size as the drill bit I was using over the drill bit exposing only about 1/2" of the bit's tip. Since I have begun using it, I haven't screwed up a mainline hole yet.
Gary

[Russell Lampron]

Being a small producer you can definitely use a cordless drill instead of buying the hand mainline drill. I split a piece of 2x4 in half and cut a V in it so that it would sit on top of the mainline. I then drilled a hole in the center of the V to drill down through. The tip of the drill bit sticks down through the hole just far enough to drill through the top of the pipe without going through the bottom.

[gmcooper]

Several years ago I made a simple jig similar to Russell Lamprons. Used a 2x4 block with a notch cut into side (c shaped slot) to slide over main line. Then drilled hole down thru top. Holds mainline in place and cut the block length long enough so the bit only goes part way thru main line. Works well.

[sweetwater sugar shack]

I used a step bit worked fine