New toy, big drill

[fossyant]

Built a disabled access ramp this weekend for my MIL at her caravan. Took all my tools down, bought all the timber from the local merchant, measured up, started cutting. Oh bugger where is my drill.... 70 miles away.

Off to B&Q for a mains drill (cant stand battery ones), not much choice, but stumbled across a SDS Rotory hammer drill. This will do, looks OK.

Feck me its a beast. I was only drilling 3mm to 5mm holes, but it aint half powerful when a screw bit attaches, shot the bigger screws straight into the joists. The torque was amazing. The battery screwdriver packed in pronto as it couldn't handle the amount of work. Got the job done in double quick time.

This is having used a standard drill for years.

Can't wait to have a go drilling concrete as I believe these are awesome. Down side, is you need SDS masonary bits, but that's where the drill gets its extra power. It will take standard bits for wood and metal.

Power tools.. Hmmmm bzzzzzz bzzzzzzz

 

[dan_bo]

My mate lent me his makita when I was doing the kitchen last year- it was like being behind a freaking browning! Ace!

 

[Maz]

Hang on - you can use this drill for directly drilling in screws without need for a 'pilot hole' to guide the screw in?

 

[fossyant]

Hang on - you can use this drill for directly drilling in screws without need for a 'pilot hole' to guide the screw in?

Oh yes, but not advisable as it can split the wood. Straight in. On and it can chizzel I believe, but not telling the missus as she'll have me re-tiling the bathroom.

 

[Night Train]

I have been using my old Bosch SDS+ pneumatic drill for over 25 years and it is still going strong and my regular drilling tool. The largest hole I have drilled is 28mm diameter through 250mm of concrete floor.
I have a keyless chuck with an SDS+ adaptor and also an SDS+ screwdriver hex adaptor. Just need to be careful with driving screws as it can drive them home and then snap them off.
I also have a 24V battery version of the same vintage.

For larger holes, and concrete breaking, I have a collection of Hilti and Kango drills.

 

[Arch]

I had a go with this at the weekend:

 

[fossyant]

Advice is drill a hole the size of the screw shaft(not the thread). Some of the joists were very thick, so needed it to go in a bit further, the drill actually drove some 4 inch screws an additional half inch into the wood, despite my pilot holes only being about 2-3 inches (small bit).

Should have bought one years ago. Destroyed my dads drill putting a ground anchor into my garage floor, this bugger would have it done in minutes.

 

[Night Train]

I had a go with this at the weekend:

View attachment 8708

That's just my little Kango!
I also have one of these.

 

[Maz]

I had a go with this at the weekend:

View attachment 8708

Was that hole for a waste pipe?

 

[Maz]

That's just my little Kango!
I also have one of these.

What is that used for? Is it for breaking up concrete?

 

[slowmotion]

The real fun starts with masonry. SDS drills are wonderful. If your machine comes with a "rotary stop", you can use it as a light duty breaker. Great for chasing in masonry and breaking into screeds.

Maz, I've never seen a builder drill a pilot hole on site, SDS or not.

EDIT: cross post with Night train

 

[Night Train]

Was that hole for a waste pipe?

Yes, we were putting in a soil pipe in the new bathroom.
It rattled the bricks loose so we ended up removing bricks and rebuilding it.
This is the outside view after we were done.

The anti bird spikes are home made, umbrella spokes in Minitrunking lid.

What is that used for? Is it for breaking up concrete?

Yup, a concrete breaker, I have a couple of them and a Hilti version.

 

[Night Train]

Maz, I've never seen a builder drill a pilot hole on site, SDS or not.

Self drilling screws are available, usually for decking and frame building.

 

[Maz]

Yes, we were putting in a soil pipe in the new bathroom.
It rattled the bricks loose so we ended up removing bricks and rebuilding it.
This is the outside view after we were done.
View attachment 8709
The anti bird spikes are home made, umbrella spokes in Minitrunking lid.


Yup, a concrete breaker, I have a couple of them and a Hilti version.

That's fantastic and a great innovation. I'll be PM'ing you for DIY tips, if you don't mind.
You any good at wall tiling? That might be my job to do, if I pluck up the courage and my wife has faith in me.

 

[Night Train]

That's fantastic and a great innovation. I'll be PM'ing you for DIY tips, if you don't mind.
You any good at wall tiling? That might be my job to do, if I pluck up the courage and my wife has faith in me.

I don't mind but I am not always certain I know what I am talking about. Tiling, though, is fairly straight forward if the wall is good.