Running into concrete reinforcement bars can ruin your drill bits when using the wrong bit. Use a rotary hammer drill that will help you cut through the rebars with ease.
You may have spent time drilling into reinforced concrete and ruined the drill bit or the whole tool. The next time you get a similar project, you cannot just power through concrete while there is an easy way of using a rotary hammer drill for concrete. The next thing to do is ensure you have the right bits that can go through concrete and into the rebars.
Concrete is a mixture of three different components, which are also a mix of other materials. They are:
Either pebbles, sand, or gravel
Cement
Water
The three components are poured into structural columns to form the concrete with rebars.
Drilling into Concrete with Rebars
What you need
Rotary hammer drill
Several masonry hammer drill bits
A flashlight
Protective gear including eye goggles and gloves
You may need water (this is optional)
Determine the thickness of the wall by drilling a test hole.
Mark your drill points and drill the mark with light pressure on the hammer drill
Start drilling
If you hit the rebar accidentally or when the drill stops without warning could be a sign of hitting the rebar.
Clean the drill hole and shine the flashlight to see any sign of iron. The hammer drill is designed to cut through the reinforcement.
Reposition your drill and continue severing the rebar as long as it does not affect the building’s structural design
Ensure that you do not cut through the strong steel bars multiple times, as they interfere with the structural quality of the building
Once you finish drilling, clean up the hole to remove possible debris and fasten the mounts.
Drilling Pre-stressed Concrete
Bigger structures such as roads, bridges, ceilings, etc. have their steel reinforcement’s crisis crossing to help spread the pressure coming into it. You need to drill a hole in such structures with caution to prevent severing the supporting rebars.
Tips for Drilling into Concrete with Rebars
Ensure that you have several masonry drill bits of different sizes. The various sized bits help in making penetration into concrete quickly.
Focus on the efficiency of the hammer drill and not how much progress you are making. The idea is to keep the motor running for a long time if you are handling several concrete blocks.
Consider the age of the concrete because old concrete used to be dense to reinforce the structure. That is why the rotary hammer drill using the right masonry bits is critical for drilling concrete with rebars.
You may need some water to pour on the concrete to avoid overheating of the drill bit.
How the Masonry Rotary Drill Works
The rotary hammer drill bit has a sharp-tipped head and blades welded into its head to reduce the amount of heat coming from the friction. The drill bit construction implies that when the rotary hammer drill encounters the rebars, the drill will pass through. The design eliminates the need to use an extra drill with a cutting blade.
More about the Cutting Heads
Rotary hammer drill bits use a two-blade cutter design that comes in once there is a concrete hole. There is an option of using a four, six, or even cutter depending on the project’s complexity. The higher the number of blades attached to the drill, the more efficient the drill becomes.
Professionals working on large projects will have no time to swap from a rotary drilling bit to a cutting one when there is more work waiting. Make sure you use the right masonry drill bit to cut through concrete and move to the next assignment.
Final word
When working with concrete, ensure that your rotary drill of choice should have a way of controlling the flow of dust from a hole. Having such equipment would mean putting on a few personal protective equipment. Reinforced concrete is no match for a rotary hammer drill with a strong bit.
Therefore, it is better if you have one. Using a regular drill with the right masonry brill bits may work, but it will take more time and leave you exhausted.
In this Makita hammer drill review we will look at 4 of the best that are currently available on the market from this well known and much loved power tool manufacturer. A hammer drill is a multi purpose power tool that serves two different functions.
Because of this there are a number of factors to consider when deciding on which model to go for. These will be discussed in detail below so that you will be able to make your own mind up, as well as reading our thoughts on which model is the best. So lets take a look at our top picks.
Makita HR2630 3 Mode SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Drill
This model has been particularly designed to handle masonry tasks, but is actually a great all rounder. This is because it comes with 3 different rotational modes, including one for standard drilling. There is also when that includes hammering for when you are working with harder materials.
The maximum chuck capacity is 26mm and the power tool is powered by a strong 800 Watt motor. With this amount of power the HR2630 is able to comfortably handle the most heavy duty of tasks. It comes with a depth stop feature that allows you to pick the depth you want the hammer drill to go to.
This is highly useful and has lots of applications. Along with the sensitive speed trigger, you are able to work on different materials quite comfortably. This is dependent on having the correct drill bits, however. The hammer drill is able to generate as much as 1,200 RPM and 4,600 IPM.
The HR2630 has the usual forward and reverse functions that are standard on most hammer drills. To make working in tight spaces that bit easier, the handles can be removed. When not in use, the hammer drill can be stored in a robust carry box. This makes transporting it and all its parts from job to job that much easier.
Changing the drill bit on this model is rather easy and straight forward thanks to its mechanism that works by sliding a sleeve. There are 40 different positions in which the drill bit can be on this hammer drill. This provides you with a huge range, and you will certainly find one that is suitable no matter what type of job you are working on.
Makita DHR202Z Cordless Li-ion SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Drill
The DHR202Z is a cordless hammer drill that is powered by a strong 18 volt battery that is lithium ion. The battery is available in both 4 Ah and 5 Ah depending on the length of run time that you require. Lithium ion batteries utilize the latest technology to deliver a high level of efficiency whilst also being compact.
It has 3 different modes, including hammering, drilling, and chiseling. This means it can be used for a variety of different applications and works on a range of materials, including concrete, brick, wood and plastic. Additional to the range of modes, it also has range of torque and speed settings.
A torque limiter ensures that you never damage the surface that you are working on. The DHR202Z comes with a built in LED to help making in dimly lit or dark work spaces that bit easier. Its handle has been designed in an ergonomic way so that it is much more comfortable to grip, even when you are wearing thick protective gloves.
The handles on this model have been designed in an ergonomic manner to ensure maximum comfort and a strong grip, even when thick protective gloves are being worn. The feel of the drill in your hand is an important consideration; especially it is going to be used often.
Makita DHR242Z 18 V 24 mm Cordless Li-ion SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Drill
Despite this being a cordless hammer drill, the DHR242Z is still able to deliver lots of power. It runs on 24 volts, so is able to handle any heavy duty tasks you may have. The hammer drill has the capacity to drill holes into materials as wide as 24 mm and is capable of generating as much as 4,700 BPM.
The handles on this model have been specially designed so that you have a strong grip on them at all times, even when it is being used in an upright position. It features a depth control mechanism, which is handy on those jobs that require a shallower hole.
The brushless motor on this model helps to provide a more efficient experience and also works to extend the life span of the power tool. It is only compatible with drill bits that are SDS plus, meaning standard drill bits are useless without the use of a converter. The chuck mechanism on the DHR242Z is pretty easy to use and works by simply sliding the sleeve.
This model is relatively light weight and features a bit attachment mechanism that is keyless. This makes changing the drill bit super easy and just requires a simple sliding of the chuck. It is capable of generating just 950 RPM of speed, which is relatively low compared with other similar models.
It has a drilling capacity of 27 mm in softer materials such as wood, 24 mm into concrete, and 13 mm into the strongest steel. This means it will comfortably be able to handle most applications around the home. Like most other similar models the hammer drill has a forward and reverse setting.
The HP347DWE is a multi purpose hammer drill that is cordless and more suited to less heavy duty tasks. This makes it ideal for home DIYers that are only doing jobs around the house. The 2 G series batteries that come with it are lithium ion but are not compatible with any other model in this list.
However, it does come with a charger and a robust case to carry it all in. Its high level of robustness is a result of the strong plastic that has been used in its production. The carry case has an ergonomic handle for added comfort and ease of use.
The hammer drill has two mechanical gears that can be easily switched between. On the lower setting is produces 6,00 IPM and on the higher setting it produces as much as 21,000 IPM. It has the capacity to drill as deep as 25 mm into softer materials such as wood, and to a depth of 10 mm in harder materials such as concrete or steel.
With 16 different torque settings to choose from, the HP347DWE can be used for a variety of different applications. The level of torque is adjustable so that you never deliver too much and end up driving the screw deep than was required. It has a chuck mechanism that is keyless, which makes changing drills bits that much easier.
As we can see from this review, a hammer drill is a great power tool, and Makita manufacturer some of the best models currently available on the market. Although all of the models we looked at would do a fine job, it is the Makita HR2630 3 Mode SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Drill that is our favorite.
This is because it has lots of power and so has the ability to handle the more heavy duty tasks, whilst still being relatively light weight. This makes it ideal for both novice home DIYers and experienced professional tradesmen.
