Core Drill

[diy_darren]

I have a decent 1000w SDS drill and I need a 110mm core drill to make some ventilation holes in a dual skin brick wall (built in 1900s).

I looked in various building merchants and they are £80 and up, for what I assume is a good quality product.

On ebay you can pick up 50mm and 110mm drills with extensions for about £20 and up (picture below). I realise these aren't very deep and need clearing every inch or so, but has anyone tried the cheap stuff? If I'm going to be sacrificing cut speed and a bit of precision I can probably live with that.

Otherwise, any suggestions on core drill bargains or middle of the road quality kit?

http://usera.imagecave.com/sophiexxx/sash-aug/sds.jpg

 

[Paul Barker]

What you put a picture off is tct it's absolute rubbish nopt worth it's weight in scrap metal. Wouldn't even use it for one job, would throw it away after first 4 hrs during which time it would have got about 10mm into the wall. Unless you're just drilling lightweight blocks or plasterboard.

Get a diamond core drill, don't use hammer. Your clutch is probably not designed for such a large diameter drill though, so expect it to slip most of the time. If you don't have a clutch don't even think about it.

Mysuggestion is hire the correct kit, or stitch drill a nice circle of holes and bash out the middle with a lump hammer, it's actually quicker, and quit neat.

With regard to the tct stuff, you would be quicker to hold a butter knife against the wall and hit it with the old cork out of a wine bottle.

 

[JohnD]

yes, hire it. If like me you are a DIY householder, you will find you can drill a lifetime's supply of holes in a single day's hire.

I did shower, bathroom, utility room and workroom in less than a day. it is a bit tedious, noisy and dusty though.

The one I hired had big TCT teeth (rotary only, no hammer). I'm told, for safety, you need a machine with a torque limiting clutch, otherwise if it gets stuck it might whirl you round. which is always undesirable, especially so if you're up a ladder.

Next time I will try the butter knife, it sounds an economical method

 

[diy_darren]

yes, hire it. If like me you are a DIY householder, you will find you can drill a lifetime's supply of holes in a single day's hire

I have a series of holes to drill over the next 3 - 6 months, but not all at the same time or location. Depending on the feedback to the next price bracket up, I may still hire one though

It seems you can get a set of diamond cutters delivered for around £75. Branded with different names, but all seem to be the same product.

Anyone tried any of these kits?

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s89/SBatMegabrokers/w2/M9A.jpg
http://i1.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/cb/ee/3a07_1.JPG
http://www.zenadsl5611.zen.co.uk/auctions/coreth.jpg