Core drilling technique

May 23, 2013 11 Replies

I've got to drill a 125mm hole through both leaves of a standard cavity wall. Looking at TCT core drills they seem to be between 45 and 60 mm deep. So I'm puzzled at how to get though the first skin. I'll have to stop after the core depth has been reach and then chisel out the first core. Clearly once I'm through the first leaf, I can work from both sides on the second one.



Is there a technique that I'm missing somewhere?



TIA


Bob


you can usually tap the core out of the drill centre once it's full. Otherwise a lever, a screwdrivr for instance, can be inserted through a hole in the side of the core drill cylinder to help the core out. Then carry on drilling.

I've never had a problem.

I'd go for diamond tipped if possible. So much easier

OK, so are you saying that the core breaks up in the course of drilling? I'd have expected it to stay in one piece. My inner skin is breeze block so that might crumble fairly easily.

Cheers

Bob

But don't you get the same issue?

I'm only doing one hole although I could sell it on the 'bay afterwards I guess.

SDS chisel will normally split out the core quite easily...

Buy a cheap diamond core instead - they are about 6" deep and it saves the hassle ;-)

It's always come away for me; both in bricks and heavy concrete blocks

No, that's the way you do it. A diamond drill is a bit better. You leave the hammer on the drill off and you get a cleaner breakthrough and less chance of vibration damage to the wall.

Very important. Make sure your drill has a functioning clutch. Drills this size can break your wrist if they jam.

even if it does not it is fairly easy to break it out of the wall.

The odd time, yes. It's no problem to remove it from the cutter.

There's an unusual use of the term "no problem". No problem if you have some rod and bar of appropriate dimensions so that you can tap the core out using the screw hole and slots for purchase. A big problem if drilling in rubble walls since bits of stone will wedge against the pilot drill and the wall of the core drill and will demand many fuckits before they will move.

Don't get me started on fecking rubble walls. Too many of them around, for my liking. I was really referring to the relative ease of use of the core drill on something decent and modern.

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