I'm installing an under-sink water filter. For the saddle valve, how do I drill the 1/8 hole through the iron pipe? What is the easy way to do this? Seems like I will be slipping around a bit. Any tips on this step?
1) most saddle valves are installed using a turn screw piercer that comes with the valve for copper and are not designed for steel. steel is not soft enough to form a good seal to the saddle valve. 2) saddle valves are much more prone to leakage than other joints, so please consider adding a T connection in to the pipe in between the supply pipe and the faucet with the bottom of the T capable of connecting to the filter tubing with a compression fitting. 3) if you still feel you need to drill the hole, you could make a jig from 2 pieces of wood, both wider than the pipe, one piece with a 1/8 inch hole pointed right at where you want the hole, the other would be screwed to the first piece of wood on the other side of the pipe to hold the first in place. A V shaped cut in both pieces would steady the wood around the pipe. The v cuts should not be so large that the cuts allow play in the wood around the pipe.
This requires a water hook up kit. They're rather cheap - 20 to 30 dollars. For a distance such as yours, it's best to run the flex line from behind the fridge, down through a small drilled hole in the floor next to the wall, and under the floor. And along the basement ceiling, securing it to the floor joists in the basement ceiling, or drilling holes in the joists - as with running electrical wire. If the joists are laid in the same direction the hose needs to go, then it is simply secured in place with plastic loops against the side of one joist. When the hose reaches the area in the basement, just under the sink, a cold water pipe (probably half inch) will be easily accessible. The kit comes with a self tapping valve that will allow the hose to hook up without any tools. It simply clamps on to the cold water pipe and presses a hole in it for the fridge water. They're okay, but I never trusted 'em to remain truly leak proof. So I always just make a trip to the hardware store and get the fittings necessary to install a regular valve for this. The water line kits are sold at Home Depot, Lowes, Manard's, and the like. The instructions are easy to follow. And for the distance you are dealing with, you may need to buy the needed length of flex hose separately, and discard the too short section in the kit.
Your best bet would be to support the pipe from the opposite side somehow and then use a small center-punch where you want to drill. Good-luck.
My under sink filter hooked up the the cold water supply valve with compression nuts. There was no need to use a saddle valve. You could consider getting another type filter or follow mrrosema's instructions.
