I have just started the remodel of my home. I think that I want to get a rotary hammer to do a few jobs instead of renting one each time. The first job is to break up enough concrete in the basement floor so that I can dig a new footer. The building department says that it should be 36″ square. Will it do this or can this only be efficiently done with a jackhammer?
The second job I need to do is to chip an existing beam pocket in the foundation. There is built-up 2×8 beam going down the middle of the house and it is supported by 2 lolly columns that are really in the way in the basement. I am replacing a section of the existing beam with a new steel beam from Metwood, but the new one is deeper than the existing one. So, after removing the old beam I will need to deepen the foundation beam pocket by 2-3 inches. I am pretty sure a rotary hammer will do this, but I am not sure what type of chisel to get. Can someone suggest what I should buy to do that job?
Finally, once this basement work is finished, I will move onto the new foundation for the addition. I can use the rotary hammer to put rebar into the foundation to connect the new to the old.
Does anyone have any favorite all around tools that can do these jobs? BTW, I saw the recent article on them in Tools of the Trade, but I still don’t know what I need to look for when purchasing one.
Thanks
-Kevin
Replies
something in a SDS plus or SDS Max rotary hammer drill will be the ticket here....
http://bosch.cpotools.com/hammers_and_hammer_drills/rotary_and_combination_hammers/all_rotary_and_combination_hammers/
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about a 1-9/16" should cover all the bases....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Wow - you guys are fast. Thanks
Get one that will do both rotary hammering and just hammering (maybe they all do anyway).
Also if you're cutting into your beam pockets, or slab, it's easiest and will make the cleanest cut if you lay out the shape with a diamond blade on a circular saw or angle grinder, then blast away with the SDS max.
I like my Hilti more then the Bosch's I've used but it's also more expensive. Nothing wrong with Bosch. Check the rental yards and see if any of them have a used unit for sale.
The only thing i would question is the whole in the slab, would be a piece of cake with a small jack hammer, a rotary hammer is going to take a bunch more time. Depends what you value your time at. I can rent an electric jack hammer for about 60 bucks a day, no way would I try to do it with the roto hammer.
Ahh - I just purchased the hammer. Well, I will see how it goes. If it doesn't work, I will have to rent the jack hammer.
which one did you get???
combinnation I hope...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I bought a reconditioned 1 -9/16 SDS Max combo unit from CPO Bosch. Model 11248EVS.
that'll work...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
It might be worth your while to cut an outline with a concrete blade before you start hammering.
Thanks - I did that Saturday. I used a diamond blade in my grinder.- Kevin
Drill holea around the perimiter as tight as you can then switch to the hammer mode.
If you have a circular saw you can cut 2.5" deep slot first then drill all your holes thru the slot .
It is still way faster to use jack hammer.
ANDYSZ2WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
The rotary hammer will do all that you need, but agree with CAG, I would rent a J-hammer for the slab. It would make quick work of it, giving you more time to do whatever other sort of punishment you have in mind.
"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." Invictus, by Henley.
I have the Bosch 2" SDS Max, 11245. It would certainly do what you need, but I'd probably for the sake of appearance cut the 36" square outline all the way through with a wet diamond saw first. Having done that, I'd cut the concrete to be removed into quarters, then slice 1 1/2" - 2" off the inboard side of one of those quarters. That little strip I'd bust up and pull out the chunks, probably with a 5 pound hand sledge and big chisel, not enough work to bother hauling out the Bosch. With that done, the remaining pieces can be levered around with a flat bar, you can get hooks under two edges, and lift the first one out. The rest is easy, and you might even be able to use the pieces as stepping stones somewhere.
Have a look at the Partner K-3000, it's a 14" electric wet diamond saw, ideal for this job.
-- J.S.
What is the maximum cut with your 14"?
I just cut a 4.5" driveway last week with my WACKER 14" and it bearly got thru.
My concrete guy had a STIL on a cart and I had to come back behind him.
I did like his setup as it had a water feed bottle and it pulled it self thru the cut (much easier than freehand cutting).
ANDYSZ2WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
> What is the maximum cut with your 14"?
It's supposed to make 5" if you hold your mouth just right. So far the times I've had to cut something thicker, it was OK for appearance and not too difficult to bust out the rest. The blades are like $300, so I just have one. You lose a little depth as the blade wears.
-- J.S.
Yeah my concrete guys STIL on a cart only cut 4" and when he broke out the old it started a new crack that we had to cut further back to remove so we used my saw to get thru the last bit.
You can get the blades for a lot less on the internet.
ANDYSZ2WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
Yes, there are a lot of blade choices. They're designed for soft, medium, or hard materials -- like red brick, concrete, or granite. And there are a range of quality levels, depending on how much diamond is actually in them, and how long they'll last.
-- J.S.
I have the Bosch bulldog 1" or 7/8" Can't remember which. It will do what you are talking about. for the demo of the slab I'd saw cut it with a diamond blade in a circular saw first. And them use a sladge hammer. You don't need a jack hammer for that.
Mine came with a chisel plus a few bits.
Edited 4/21/2008 11:47 pm ET by popawheelie