T-Drill FAQ

A T-Drill collar is a branch outlet formed by pulling (extruding) metal out of the wall of a tube to create an integral collar. A pilot hole is drilled, then a forming tool draws the collar outward. The collar becomes part of the run tube, so the branch needs only one weld where it meets the branch tube instead of the three welds a fabricated tee needs.

Yes. T-Drill collars, T-Drilling, collaring, pulled outlets and extruded outlets all describe the same thing: an integral branch collar formed out of the run tube wall.

A welded tee puts three circumferential welds at every branch. A T-Drill collar puts one, at the branch. For stainless liquid cooling lines that means fewer welds to make and inspect, fewer potential leak paths, a smoother flow path with no internal weld bead at the tee, and less material and fitting inventory.

A weldolet or saddle is a separate fitting welded onto a hole in the run tube. A T-Drill collar has no separate fitting: the collar is formed from the tube itself and faced square, so your branch tube or fitting butts straight up to it for an orbital butt weld.

Yes. After each collar is pulled, its end is faced square so the branch tube or fitting butts up clean for an orbital butt weld. Parts ship ready to weld on your line.

We pull 5/8" to 2" branch collars on 2" to 4" OD stainless steel tube and pipe. Send your run tube OD, wall thickness and branch size and we'll confirm the combination in your quote.

304, 304L, 316 and 316L stainless steel tube and pipe. 316L is the most common choice for data center liquid cooling loops. You can supply your own tube or have us quote the tube too.

It's a manual process. Each collar is laid out from your drawing, pulled, faced and checked by hand. We are not a high-volume, high-production shop. The work suits prototypes, one-off parts, specialized port locations and low-to-medium production runs.

Yes. Custom spacing, mixed branch sizes on one run, different clock orientations and one-of-a-kind sensor port locations are all laid out individually from your drawing. If a location is too close to a tube end or another collar, we'll tell you in the quote and suggest the nearest workable position.

Yes. We regularly build single prototype pieces and small batches so you can prove out a design, then make the same part at production quantity once it's approved.

Liquid cooling headers, manifolds and coolant distribution lines need many branches and sensor ports, and every weld is a potential leak point near expensive IT equipment. T-Drill collars cut the weld count per branch from three to one, keep a smooth flow path, and give consistent, repeatable joints for orbital welding.

Engineers, fabricators and OEMs building data center thermal management and liquid cooling equipment, plus anyone who needs stainless T-Drill prototypes or short runs with specialized port locations.

Run tube OD and wall thickness, stainless grade, collar size, collar locations and orientations, collars per tube, tube quantity and when you need it. A drawing (PDF, STEP, DXF or DWG) gives the fastest, most accurate quote.

You'll get a price and lead time within one business day of sending your specs. Prototypes and small runs are typically turned around fast. The exact lead time depends on quantity, tube supply and current shop load and is stated in your quote.

Brody's Fab Shop LLC is at 2202 Hwy 6, Suite 44, Coal Valley, Illinois 61240, in the Quad Cities area. We ship finished parts to customers across the United States.