Drilling holes in concrete
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Printed Date: 01 Apr 2026 at 1:56pm
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Topic: Drilling holes in concrete
Posted By: ACinSC
Subject: Drilling holes in concrete
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2025 at 2:43pm
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Drilled 4 today. Brand new concrete bit. Went well for about an inch. Then it was tough. Does a hammer drill make much difference? I have more to do, Thanks
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Replies:
Posted By: Coke-in-MN
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2025 at 2:56pm
Big Difference with a hammer drill -bigger the unit the better and faster the drill works .
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Life lesson: If you’re being chased by a lion, you’re on a horse, to the left of you is a giraffe and on the right is a unicorn, what do you do? You stop drinking and get off the carousel.
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Posted By: Trawler II
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2025 at 3:27pm
A rotary hammer drill and SDS bit will be a night and day difference. If you have a lot of holes to drill renting a rotary hammer drill and purchasing a bit is the way to go. SDS bits are a bit expensive compared to standard carbide, with a lot of holes to drill they are a bargain.
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"Most people find it easier to believe a simple lie, than the complex truth"
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Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2025 at 4:39pm
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If has Creek rock in the mix is like drilling granite.
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Posted By: ACinSC
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2025 at 6:02pm
Posted By: DougG
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2025 at 6:08pm
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Creek rock and rebar get in the way- take a punch when it stops and try to break the rock- we use Makita battery powered drills and sds bits , they hold up well - and get used hard at work
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Posted By: Pat the Plumber CIL
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2025 at 7:20pm
What size holes are you drilling? Hammer drill and SDS Bits are the only way to go . Like others have said bigger is better. Rentals can pay for themselves quickly.
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You only need to know 3 things to be a plumber;Crap rolls down hill,Hot is on the left and Don't bite your fingernails
1964 D-17 SIV 3 Pt.WF,1964 D-15 Ser II 3pt.WF ,1960 D-17 SI NF,1956 WD 45 WF.
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Posted By: omahagreg
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2025 at 9:20pm
Years ago I had almost 60 holes to drill in 2 commercial bathrooms-tile and cement. I started getting 12 holes drilled but wasted 4 bits-masonry in a hammer drill. I said screw it and went straight to Hilti-bought a new SDS drill and their bits! They have a 2 carbide tip where most others are a one carbide tip. Just used one bit on all the rest!
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Greg Kroeker
1950 WD with wide front and Freeman trip loader
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Posted By: ACinSC
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2025 at 6:36am
Plan B . Back out this morning for wedge anchors. One tapcon wouldn't hold. Feel sure I messed up the hole putting too much 'fat boy' on the drill
Drilling 1/4" holes. Thanks
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Posted By: Hubert (Ga)engine7
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2025 at 7:03am
Not too much fat boy on the drill but when trying to get through a piece of rock with a regular drill will cause the bit to wander. Hammer drill eliminates a lot of the wandering.
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Just an old country boy saved by the grace of God.
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Posted By: Gary (sw Wis.)
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2025 at 7:47am
Rotary hammer drill is the key. Not a hammer drill. And then let it do the work, don't push to hard you will be surprised.
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190XT - D17 - D14 - WD45 w/loader - WD - (2)B110 - 616H - 610 - B-208 - WD with 190 Mounted Corn Picker - All Crop 60
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Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2025 at 7:51am
i have epoxied a few studs into concrete holes... set for 24 hours and then tighten the nuts... had good luck..
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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Posted By: ACinSC
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2025 at 8:27am
Plan B didn't work
Guess I need an anchor for a 5/16 hole or maybe Steve's suggestion? Thanks
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Posted By: ACinSC
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2025 at 3:39pm
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Finally got the last fastener to hold. Thinned jbweld with acetone so I could get it in the oversized hole. Then put a 3" stud in. Thanks for the idea Steve. Before I try anymore concrete drilling I'll get the right drill. Thanks guys
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Posted By: DaveKamp
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2025 at 11:32pm
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The proper drill for the fastener is a must, and having a straight (not tapered) hole.
I frequently run down 3/4x7" wedge anchors using an SDS-MAX drill and 4-point drills. Frequently performance will wane if one places pressure on the drill. Don't try to force the bit, it won't fully clean and reset during hammer strikes.
Yes, rebar and river rock are impediments to drilling. An annular big will certainly help, particularly if you have to go through rebar- it'll cut out the offending rebar easily.
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Ten Amendments, Ten Commandments, and one Golden Rule solve most every problem. Citrus hand-cleaner with Pumice does the rest.
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Posted By: ACinSC
Date Posted: 26 Nov 2025 at 4:27am
Posted By: Riprock
Date Posted: 27 Nov 2025 at 10:14am
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Several years ago I needed to drill about 50 5/8" holes so I go to rent a hammer drill thinking they would have a hilti. All they had was a Dewalt 1/2" , I said i"m not sure that's big enough I don't want to kill that drill. They said oh, Take it and use it. You won't hurt it. So, I did, glad it was in the case when I took it back to hold the grease that was running out of it. It was a good drill, but it just wasn't the right tool for the job.
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Posted By: Wispitfiremike
Date Posted: 27 Nov 2025 at 11:58pm
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Best rotary hammer drill I used was a Bosch bulldog, always sds bits and if hole gets too big Fisher plugs are an option depending on what you are fastening.
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Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 28 Nov 2025 at 10:51am
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ACinSC, This wont help much but as mentioned by others the right tool should help a lot. I had to drill 14 3/4 holes about 8 inches deep for truck lift base supports. I went to local rental. Heavy duty drill and bit. Std concrete no rocks. Holes were drilled in less than a half hour with no problem. I was impressed. Regards, Chris and Cheryl
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D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet, 66 F100.
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Posted By: ACinSC
Date Posted: 28 Nov 2025 at 4:14pm
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Thanks Chris and guys. I fixed the porch post that was broken. I'll get a better drill before I tackle the other side. It's not broken, just a little loose. Thanks again everyone
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