Drilling a 40mm hole in a cast iron downpipe?

[Jasknya]

Hello all! I've just purchased 'Downpipe rainwater diversion set' from Lidl.

Downpipe rainwater diversion set

• Jasknya
• 4 Aug 2012
• 1

It includes everything in the pack needed to fit it, inc., the drill. The drill is what I understand to be a hole saw/core drill bit/crown drill (I understand they are different names for the same thing?). The drill bit in the centre of the hole saw is about 6mm and the outer saw is about 40mm. I was wondering if this would be suitable for drilling into a 100yr old cast iron down pipe out of the box. I have no idea what material the hole saw is made of? I have never attempted this kind of drilling before and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thx in advance

 

[wingcoax]

What do the instructions say? Very probably the saw will only be suitable for plastic.

 

[joe-90]

Best bet is to drill a ring of small holes and clean up with file after.

 

[Jasknya]

What do the instructions say? Very probably the saw will only be suitable for plastic.

Thanks for the replies! The instructions say that it is suitable for metal drain pipes, but I would imagine it's referring to modern sheet metal drain pipes. In fact if you look at the picture closely the drainpipe is metal. I've looked elsewhere on the website for drilling in cast iron and a hole saw was recommended, except I don't know what type of hole saw is meant, ie, what material?

 

[joe-90]

Cast iron pipes are very soft, very low grade. Just give it a whirl (literally).

 

[HH1]

A good quality hole saw will go through a cast iron drain pipe.
Don't push to hard and it will do the job.
Used a Starrett hole saw with no problems.

 

[wotan]

I can vouch for Starret hole saw's too, you cant do better.

Wotan

 

[rjm2k]

dont most things from lidl etc come with a helpline number?

 

[catlad]

My money is on the cast iron down pipe.

 

[Mark Br]

Providing the hole saw is of half decent quality, it will go through the cast stack

 

[Jasknya]

Thanks for the replies. Had I gone ahead I think I would have been fairly confident. However, we've been rationalising our plants and my wife now doesn't think it's worth putting a waterbutt in the front garden, but I might still keep the kit in case she changes her mind again (she has been known to ).

 

[Brigadier]

Providing the hole saw is of half decent quality, it will go through the cast stack

I hope it is not the soil stack

 

[peterperfection]

Hello all! I've just purchased 'Downpipe rainwater diversion set' from Lidl.

Downpipe rainwater diversion set

• Jasknya
• 4 Aug 2012
• 1

It includes everything in the pack needed to fit it, inc., the drill. The drill is what I understand to be a hole saw/core drill bit/crown drill (I understand they are different names for the same thing?). The drill bit in the centre of the hole saw is about 6mm and the outer saw is about 40mm. I was wondering if this would be suitable for drilling into a 100yr old cast iron down pipe out of the box. I have no idea what material the hole saw is made of? I have never attempted this kind of drilling before and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thx in advance

 

[peterperfection]

dont most things from lidl etc come with a helpline number?

Yes-- number is 999