Hello. I’m new to the forum and have a simple question. On the name – it’s love lacrosse, another passion along with woodworking.
I am installing a door threshold from my garage to the outside and need to drill 3 relatively small holes in the concrete to anchor the threshold down. I do not own a hammer drill, which virtually everyone and the anchor instructions recommend using.
Can I drill these holes with my regular hand drill or drill/driver? I also have an impact driver. I’ve thought of purchasing a 1/2″ drill for some time. Would this fit my needs? I hate to buy a hammer drill if I do not see applications down the road. (Well, actually, I’m a sucker for any tool, but I’m working on my weakness. 🙂 Thanks.
Edited 12/19/2005 11:36 am ET by luvlax
Replies
a regular drill will make holes in concrete. (With a masonry bit in it) But it's an agonizingly slow process.
You can get a cheap hammer drill for $50 or less that will get you by for a short time with SMALL bits. But you won't be happy with it for long.
If you're thinking about gettign a half inch drill anyway, why not get a decent hammer drill? You can always turn of the hammering and use it in "drill only" mode for drilling in wood.
Thanks to both of you for your responses. It's old concrete. I'll check out the hammer drills. Good point.
Like BH said a 1/2" drill with a selective hammer drill option will be of greater use to you in the drill/drive mode when using it for woodworking.
For the size holes you are drilling another option is one of the multiple function cordless models. We use them all the time in concrete that is 30+ years old. Even up to 1/2" holse are possible if you purchase good masonary bits and recognize when it is time to sharpen or replace them. All to many times the hardness of the concrete and weakness of the tool are sited as reason the holes are so difficult to drill. Most of the time with masonary bits, just replacing the old bit with a new one is enough to make the drill preform better.
Dave
If the concrete is not that old (a year or two) you can use a standard drill and a masonary bit and get the job done. I am drilling 1/4" holes in concrete that I poured a year ago with no problem, I have a hammerdrill but am using it for the 3/4" holes at the same time.
If you enter your location in your profile you may find out another breaktimer lives right around the corner. (trade three holes with a hammer drill for a cold beer or warm coffee!)
Have a good day
Cliffy
Though it was underpowered for the size holes I needed to drill in concrete (5/8" x 8"), the Ridgid Hammer drill was pretty nice and not too expensive.
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Up to 1/2" with a masonry bit in an ordinary drillmotor, you'll be fine. Just take your time, and blow the dust out of the hole often. The dust holds in the heat, very bad for the bit, and it takes energy to keep it spinning around. Blow it out with a soda straw.
-- J.S.
Or blow it out with a bulb syringe, like is used for infant's ears.No risk of inhaling the dust that way...
Yep, you can do it with a standard drill (with masonary bit), or you can rent a hammer drill for a few hours.
The place where you run into trouble with the standard drill is if you hit a particularly hard piece of rock in the concrete -- this can stop you dead. If it happens, though, remove the bit from the drill and then use the bit as a punch, giving it a few medium force whacks with a hammer to crack the rock.
Clear the hole of dust frequently. Sometimes a bit of water helps with the drilling.
happy?
I wouldn't use the bit as a punch, not good for it if it's not rated for hammer drill use. Instead, I'd just use an old VW exhaust valve or some such expendable piece of junk. No prob if you hurt it, and no need to bother with taking the bit out of the chuck and putting it back.
-- J.S.
I used to drill holes in concrete with a regular drill. Sometimes a rock will stop your progress, and I found that some hard hits with a chisel or masonary nail will break them so you can go on.
Nobody has mentioned a 2lb hammer and a star drill, I guess it's the electric age, so much for grandpa's tools : )
Do they still sell little star drills?
They're hard to find anymore, but you can get them down to around 1/4".
If ignorance is bliss why aren't more people
happy?
Don't know. I have grandpa's from 1/4" up to about 1 1/2", still find a use every now and then.
What are you using to anchor the threshold down?
'Nemo me impune lacesset'
No one will provoke me with impunity
That was my thought, just get some PL and glue that sucker down.
Where would this world be without PL and DAP ????
Thanks for all the thoughts...
I am using a Red Head Threshold Sleeve Anchor Kit. Requires 1/4" hole about 1 1/8 " deep.
Just use a new masonry bit in a drill and you should be good to go.
Cheers
'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity