Tips
Choosing the Right Piercing Tool Diameter for Your Bore
·6 min read
Selecting piercing tool diameter isn't just about matching the conduit OD — soil composition, bore length, and desired steering tolerance all factor in.
As a starting rule, oversize the tool 15-20% over the finished conduit OD in compactable soils, and closer to 10% in denser mixed soils where over-displacement increases drift risk.
Always cross-check your compressor CFM rating against the tool's air consumption spec before mobilizing — an undersized compressor is the second most common cause of poor tracking performance.