Pilot Drills

For pipeline hot tapping, a spade-tip pilot drill is the standard choice. Schallert Enterprises offers pilot drills with replaceable spade tips in three materials: HSS for general use, carbide for hard or abrasive materials, and super cobalt for high-temperature or high-strength applications. The right choice depends on the pipe material and wall thickness.

In hot tapping, the pilot drill should be sized appropriately to the cutter diameter and the wall thickness of the pipe. For thick-walled materials, twisted flute pilot drills are recommended to handle the added material. Always ensure the pilot drill length matches your tapping machine setup to maintain proper alignment and penetration depth.

Mount the pilot drill to your tapping machine using the correct style — threaded for most Mueller machines, push style for adjustable length settings, or twisted flute for thick-walled pipe. Ensure catch wires are in place before drilling. Engage the pilot drill first to center and guide the cutter, then advance through the pipe wall while maintaining controlled feed pressure.

Schallert Enterprises offers three styles: threaded pilot drills (standard for most Mueller tapping machines), push style pilot drills with multiple length settings for flexible setups, and twisted flute pilot drills engineered specifically for tapping through thick-walled materials. Custom manufacturing is also available to fit exact machine and application requirements.

Spade tips are available in three interchangeable materials: High Speed Steel (HSS) for standard pipeline tapping, carbide for abrasive or harder pipe materials, and super cobalt for demanding applications involving high-strength or high-temperature conditions. The replaceable tip design allows you to switch materials without replacing the entire drill body.

Yes. Schallert Enterprises offers custom manufacturing for pilot drills to fit exact customer specifications. Whether you need a non-standard diameter, unique length, or compatibility with a specific tapping machine other than Mueller equipment, their team can engineer a solution. Contact their sales team to discuss your requirements and receive a custom quote.