Pipe drill guide

Introduction

Have you ever struggled to drill straight, centered holes in PVC pipes? I know I have! While working on a project that required precision drilling, I quickly realized how challenging it was to drill into smooth, curved surfaces. The drill bit would slip and scratch the pipe, and trying to find and maintain the center was an exercise in frustration.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have access to a drill press that could handle pipes, so I took matters into my own hands. I designed a simple, quick, and highly effective 3D-printed drill guide to solve this problem. This tool makes drilling into pipes not just easier, but faster, more accurate, and more reliable.

 

Model Description

This drill guide is a game-changer for anyone working with pipes. Whether you're tackling DIY projects or professional plumbing tasks, it ensures smooth, perfectly centered cuts with minimal effort.

 

Why You'll Love It:

• Precision: Drills perfectly centered holes every time.
• Ease of Use: No slipping, no scratching—just clean, professional results.
• Quick: Speeds up your workflow by simplifying the drilling process.
• Versatility: Works for a wide range of pipe diameters.

Two Sizes Available

• Small: Fits pipes around 15 mm (≈3/5 in) comfortably. It can also accommodate larger pipes too!

mm	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
in	1/32	5/64	3/32	5/32	3/16	7/32	1/4	5/16	11/32	3/8

• Large: Ideal for pipes around 27 mm (≈1.1 in). While it works best with larger pipes, it may be less effective and ergonomic for pipes smaller than 27 mm.

mm	6	8	10	12	14	16	20
in	13/16	5/8	1/2	15/32	3/8	15/16	7/32

Dual Metric and Imperial Compatibility: The design supports both measurement systems, so you can work with the sizes you're most comfortable with.

 

 

 

check out some of my other models! (you can click the image to go to the model)

Boost Me

Which Size Should You Print?

If you’re unsure which size to choose, think about the drill bit sizes and pipe diameters you’ll be working with. The smaller guide is more versatile and fits a wider range of pipe sizes, while the larger guide provides better stability but works best with only large pipes. If you still can’t decide, why not print both? These guides are compact and use very little filament, so having both options is an easy and cost-effective choice!

3D Printing Instructions

To get the best results when printing:

• Orientation: The model orientation doesn’t really matter
  • printing on its side (shown in picture) will make it stronger (because of layer lines)
  • printing it on its top will give a more clean print but reduce strength (layer lines)
• Overhangs: The design includes multiple 45° overhangs and a few small bridges that most printers handle easily.
• Settings: Use 3 walls/perimeters and 20% infill for strength and durability.

Feedback and Ideas

This drill guide was originally created for a small project of mine, and it worked incredibly well. If you have any suggestions for improvements or ideas for a Version 2, I’d love to hear them!

Also, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out—I’m happy to help!