Drilling Holes in Pipe

I need to be able to drill relatively accurate holes through 1/2" black iron pipe for a sort of oddball shelving unit I'm building. I have 'access' to a drill press, although it would be a real pain to make that happen. However, I may have up to 100 of these holes to drill, so if that's my best bet, I can make it happen.

Is there a method or device for drilling accurate holes in pipe with a hand held drill?

I haven't seen one, but for drilling that many holes I'd say it was worth it to build a jig.

Either a piece of angle iron to lay the pipe in or some sort of clamp on system with a section of the same pipe.

I have a kind of vice with an x-y stage hard bolted to my drill press, it wouldnt be a problem with a fixture like mine.

I like the angle iron idea. That's a technique I've never employed, but had stored away in the dark recesses of my mind for future use.

The more I think about it, the more I think the drill press is worth the hassle. (It's a benchtop unit, and I'd have to move it from my dad's garage to my own. Pus side is, once it's gone, he'll probably forget he had it, and I'd get a free drill press out of the deal.)

But, keep the techniques/ideas/devices coming. For someone like me who's never encountered this problem, it's compellingly simple but confounding.

I have a "V" block that works well for drilling round stock. Something my machinist dad had left over.

100 holes == must have drill press. After that, angle iron would be a good idea, but once a drill press vice is set up for your pipe size, you shouldn't have to do anything but loosen/tighten it. I would mark them with a punch, drill all holes with 1/8" bit, then go back to whatever final size you want. For that many holes, start with a quality bit, nitride coated, etc. I'm gonna assume you don't have a Drill Doctor, so you'll probably need a couple of bits and some cutting fluid. I like Magic Tap.

I had a thing that goes on a 1/4" hand drill, bolts on behind the chuck.

An aluminum bar with holes at each end. 12" long 3/8" bars went into the holes. At the bottom of the 12" bar was a round foot with a hole in it. 5" diameter foot, 2" diameter hole. On each side of the donut shaped foot was a "V". Youlaid the pipe/bar whatever in the V, the pipes made the drill go straight and perpendicular to the V and into said pipe.

I'll look around.

Dan

Hey, here ya go!

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/3ZH18

$52 well spent for 100+ holes.

Dan

I used to have a nice centering punch that you hit with a hammer and it increased the impact through the plunger and made a very nice dimple.

A tool like that would solve the problem of wandering off center of the pipe.

However, with 100 holes you have a different issue. It will wear you out trying to lean on the hand drill with enough pressure to get that many holes drilled. Drill press is definitely the answer.

How accurate do they have to be? It would be easier with a torch, with the added benefit that you'd get lots of practice, and be pretty good at plunge cutting with a torch by the time you were through!

Nice find, Dan. That looks really handy to have around.

Doc, do you have a Drill Dr.? Does it actually work? I'm expecting to go through a few bits, that's just the name of the game.

I'm less worried about wandering off the pipe - since I habitually centerpunch when I'm drilling metal - more about making sure the hole it perpendicular on both sides. A press with a vice, or Dan's cool device, will all but eliminate that concern.

Thanks for the input, guys.

Dr. Hess wrote: 100 holes == must have drill press. After that, angle iron would be a good idea, but once a drill press vice is set up for your pipe size, you shouldn't have to do anything but loosen/tighten it. I would mark them with a punch, drill all holes with 1/8" bit, then go back to whatever final size you want. For that many holes, start with a quality bit, nitride coated, etc. I'm gonna assume you don't have a Drill Doctor, so you'll probably need a couple of bits and some cutting fluid. I like Magic Tap.

+1 on everything Dr. Hess wrote. I have a Drill Doctor, and it's worth every penny. Especially because I can't seem to find (or put out the cash) for really good drill bits. I keep my drill press speed relatively slow, and I ALWAYS clamp metal pieces to the table.