![]() |
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Dahlonega , Georgia
Posts: 14,580
|
hammer drills- any tricks to know ?
I have two holes I need to drill in a concrete driveway about 5/8-3/4 in diameter. I have a HD 1/2 " drill with a 5/8 carbide masonary bit and the concrete just laughs at it ! So I'm thinking I need to get/rent a hammer drill. Do hammer drills use conventional masonary bits or something more exoctic ? Any tricks to using these ? I want to drill the holes maybe 3 " deep if that matters.
__________________
2002 Boxster S . Arctic silver + black top/int. Jake Raby 3.6 SS engine " the beast ". GT3 front bumper, GT3 side skirts and GT3 TEK rear diffuser. 1999 996 C4 coupe black/grey with FSI 3.8 engine . Rear diffuser , front spoiler lip with ducktail spoiler . |
||
![]() |
|
Get off my lawn!
|
I used a small hammer drill to drill one hole in a concrete stem wall. It took forever. I went to the rent all place and rented a real deal hammer drill. It took longer to drive to the store than that thing took to drill the hole. It rented for cheap. They had the drill bits at the rental place.
__________________
Glen 49 Year member of the Porsche Club of America 1985 911 Carrera; 2017 Macan 1986 El Camino with Fuel Injected 350 Crate Engine My Motto: I will never be too old to have a happy childhood! |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
You need a big hammer drill for the holes you describe. Yes they take special bits.
Home Depot will have what you need.
__________________
Randy '87 911 Targa '17 Macan GTS |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
Quote:
__________________
. |
||
![]() |
|
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Jacksonville FL
Posts: 50,449
|
The bits will come with the drill. Don't go too fast, a hammer drill and a good bit will fly through the material sometimes. Hold on to the drill and don't let it get away from you.
|
||
![]() |
|
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,930
|
yeah man. You are going to want a real hammer drill for that. Just go rent one.
|
||
![]() |
|
![]() |
non-whiner
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Slightly right of center
Posts: 5,235
|
Rent the right one and it will be like cutting soft butter. Just don't hit any rebar...
__________________
"Too much is just enough." |
||
![]() |
|
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: cutler bay
Posts: 15,141
|
Hilti
|
||
![]() |
|
Monkey+Football
|
Rent it - ask for a rotary hammer, not a hammer drill. Big difference. Hammer drills are good if you're drilling small holes for nylon anchors or tapcon screws. Rotary hammers are best for stuff that size.
Are you drilling straight down or into the side? If down, be patient and let the weight of the drill push in. Don't kill your shoulder by pushing down on it. Sharpness of the bit is irrelevant, you need one with good carbide.
__________________
<Insert witty comment> 85 Targa Wong Chip Fabspeed M&K Bilsteins and a bunch of other stuff. |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 7,284
|
I have a normal small battery operated hammer drill. Using from smaller to bigger masonary bits usually fine, but sometimes it just won't go after a certain deep. I think it got to a rock or a metal rebar. When that happen, nothing I can do beside burning the bit's tip.
__________________
Fat butt 911, 1987 |
||
![]() |
|
závodník 'X'
|
One of the few things I've ever bothered with from Harbor Fright is the $50 rotary hammer drill that accepts the Bosch SDS concrete bits. Ridiculous bargain thats been used often, loaned out and always works like it should. It came with spare motor brushes, various chisel ends, small bits but I added a set of SDS larger bore bits for approx. $20. The only thing too el-cheapo was the side handle made of plastic. That went to the garbage so I turned on the lathe a knurled aluminum handle. I also wrapped in duct tape the entire plastic motor housing to protect it from the usual banging around on job sites. Figured it was a disposable tool but has been holding up for at least 7 years!
Just looked at the HF site and I see they raised the price substantially. Mine is the older orange colored but the same unit. A steal. http://www.harborfreight.com/3-in-1-1-inch-sds-rotary-hammer-97743.html
__________________
“When these fine people came to me with an offer to make four movies for them, I immediately said ‘yes’ for one reason and one reason only… Netflix rhymes with ‘wet chicks,'” Sandler said in a prepared statement. “Let the streaming begin!” - Adam Sandler Last edited by intakexhaust; 10-29-2012 at 01:23 PM.. |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Kenbridge VA
Posts: 4,269
|
Use a smaller bit first and then use the 5/8.
__________________
Peppy 2011 BMW 335d 1988 Targa 3.4 ![]() 2001 Jetta TDI dead 1982 Chevette Diesel SOLD ![]() |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 17,338
|
What Peppy said. Use a 1/4" drill. Get a Bosch or Milwaukee or some industrial drill bit. If not, you are wasting your time, Chuck it up to a hammer drill and have a go at it. Once the 1/4" hole is drilled and go after it with the correct size drill bit. If you are going to rent, get a roto hammer.
|
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Roeland Park KS
Posts: 1,838
|
You wont need to drill smaller holes just go rent a rotary hammer drill. It will take longer to plug it in, then to drill the holes. 3/4" is not a very big hole for most rotary hammer drills.
__________________
"Inside every old person is a young person saying WTF happened" If guns cause crime, all mine are defective. Ted Nugent 1983 911 SC 1978 Land Cruiser FJ40 2001 Tundra 1971 Datsun Fairlady Z RHD (240z) |
||
![]() |
|
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Clayton, NC
Posts: 87
|
Make sure whatever you get has a side handle for better control. When I was a carpenter I had to drill holes in morter and concrete often. I found out first hand that if the drill bit stops the drill will asume the duty of the bit and get a few good licks in before you can let go.
|
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Dahlonega , Georgia
Posts: 14,580
|
Thanks guys for the feedback I love this forum. Yes the holes are being drilled straight down.
__________________
2002 Boxster S . Arctic silver + black top/int. Jake Raby 3.6 SS engine " the beast ". GT3 front bumper, GT3 side skirts and GT3 TEK rear diffuser. 1999 996 C4 coupe black/grey with FSI 3.8 engine . Rear diffuser , front spoiler lip with ducktail spoiler . |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 8,910
|
Quote:
|
||
![]() |
|