Concrete structures are highly durable, so drilling them yourself is quite difficult.
This is due to the fact that crushed stone is used to create concrete products, and when you come across it while drilling, the process becomes very difficult.
The need to drill a concrete wall arises quite often; this is necessary for installing shelves, cabinets, air conditioning, gluing wallpaper, attaching a lamp, when attaching insulation, or when plastering walls to attach beacons.
There are several ways to solve this problem:
- using a hammer drill or a powerful impact drill;
- an ordinary electric drill or screwdriver ;
- diamond drilling.
It should be remembered that for walls made of relatively soft materials, it is impossible to use pobedit drills, since the holes will be uneven and the wall will collapse. It is also impossible to work with metal with such a tool.
To create large-diameter holes or cut through a doorway, diamond-coated annular drills are used. To use such a tool, it is necessary to use special installations; they allow you to make holes with a diameter of up to 250 mm.
Since the cost of such equipment is high, it is easier to hire specialists or you can rent it.
Is it possible to drill concrete with a screwdriver?
To answer this question, you should know in what material you need to drill holes, what depth and diameter. Holes with a diameter of 10 mm or more are problematic to make using a screwdriver. But if the drill is thin (3-5 mm), then you can drill with such elements using a screwdriver. The rotation speed of the drill affects the ability to drill in hard materials. For screwing, a rate of 500 rpm is suitable, and you can drill concrete using equipment with a head torsion speed of 1300-1500 rpm. The torque is also more important, and specifically, what force is applied to tighten the screws or the drilling process. For concrete, choose a screwdriver with a power of 140 N/m, using it in the last working position of the coupling at the highest power.
Tips for drilling concrete
Users are often interested in how to drill concrete with a screwdriver and whether it is possible. Concrete is a fairly strong material, so you need to take into account the diameter of the hole and its depth. If a hole with a diameter of more than 10 mm is provided, then drilling one will be difficult.
When drilling concrete, use drills with a diameter of 3-5 mm . Particular attention should be paid to the speed. If you screw in simple fasteners, 500 rpm will be enough. But for drilling you will need 1300-1500 rpm.
Another criterion for concrete work is torque . For such purposes, select a screwdriver with a rating from 90 to 140 Nm. It turns out that you can drill through a concrete wall with a screwdriver. The tool will also be useful for drilling brick walls.
Some craftsmen use a screwdriver to drill holes while fishing . A lot of torque is needed here. Separate Makita models and Metabo tools can handle this.
A screwdriver can easily drill concrete up to 10 mm
How to save on a hammer drill and drill a concrete wall with a regular drill?
Many people live in houses with concrete walls, and when it comes to making a hole in them, they face severe difficulties.
Don’t despair and be upset if you didn’t manage to hang a shelf, lighting fixture or cabinet right away, read our tips and everything will work out.
There are several options with which you can drill through a concrete wall without the help of others.
Useful
How to drill concrete and brick with a screwdriver
DeWALT DCD985M2
The difference between this screwdriver is:
- the most powerful impact mechanism (drilling 13/60 mm holes in concrete, 16 mm in stone);
- 3-speed gearbox, the speed of which is regulated by the consumer;
- for the rotating mode, you can select 1 suitable combination out of 22;
- a speed block integrated into the tool gives additional control over the process;
- LED lighting;
- a specially designed chuck for drilling various materials;
- functionality (tightly intertwined with technical characteristics);
- compatibility with fasteners for drilling metal/wood/stone/concrete.
Hammer
When using a hammer drill or impact drill, they need to be switched to impact mode, a working tool with a pobedite tip is inserted and it must be oriented perpendicular to the wall surface.
If drilling holes is carried out for a long time, then from time to time you need to wet the drill so that it does not overheat too much.
After you have drilled to the desired depth, you need to stretch the working tool back without turning off the hammer drill. To clean the finished hole from dust, you need to deepen and remove the drill a couple of times.
Is it possible to drill through metal with a screwdriver?
If you don’t have a drill press or drill, you can drill metal products with a screwdriver. The main thing is to choose the right equipment. Hardware for concrete, wood or ceramic tiles is shaped and sharpened differently. For metal, equipment is designated by the letters HSS .
To increase strength and wear resistance, the working surface of the equipment is coated with titanium nitride . For hard structure steels, equipment marked R18 . If cobalt is added to the coating composition, the strength of the equipment increases significantly. Now you don’t have to think about how to drill out the lock cylinder of the front door with a screwdriver.
You can even drill alloy steel if the drill tip is carbide. But this is already in the realm of experimentation, since it will not be cheap. If the metal is thin-sheet, cone-shaped drills are used for drilling.
The equipment of the screwdriver for metal is designated HSS
Manufacturers of hand tools: TOP 4 popular devices
DeWALT DCD985M2
The type of device is a drill-driver with impact mode, made in the shape of a pistol, equipped with a quick-release chuck, backlight and motor brake. Properties of the presented model:
- Silent 3 high speed iron gearbox.
- Battery - Li-Ion 18 V.
- Torque - 80 Nm.
- Beats per minute - 34,000 beats/min.
- Weight - 2.4 kg.
- Rotation speed - 2000 rpm.
- The largest drilling Ø for concrete is 16 mm.
Is it possible to drill concrete with a screwdriver - 4 popular tool models
To perform minor repairs at home, you need to have a suitable tool - a drill-driver. The name itself speaks about the direct purpose of the device - for screwing and unscrewing with special equipment - a “bat”. It is also suitable for drilling holes in materials, for example, if the power tool is equipped with a hammer function, then you can drill into concrete, stone or a brick wall.
- Is it possible to drill concrete with a screwdriver?
- Design features and characteristics
- Advantages of impact drilling machines for concrete
- Manufacturers of hand tools: TOP 4 popular devices
- DeWalt DCD985M2
- Makita BHP 452 RFE
- BOSCH Uneo
- Metabo PowerMaxx SB
- How to use the tool?
Design and characteristics
From the outside, as well as from the mechanical action, the screwdriver resembles a drill. The difference is the low rotation speed/high scrolling torque. In addition, screwdrivers have fixed speed characteristics (on drills they are adjusted independently). Control over speed is necessary for safe and high-quality operation of the tool. The cartridge stops moving at the moment when the self-tapping screw is completely tightened. Despite the cartridge stopping, the engine is still in action.
A specific speed/mode of operation is designed for a particular type of work. There is a function for reverse, tightening, unscrewing screws (also nuts, screws, screws, soft materials). Craftsmen use screwdrivers all the time. In some cases (working with drywall, assembling an interior, creating a partition), the tool increases the speed and productivity of work several times.
Diagram of a cordless screwdriver.
Screwdrivers are designed on the same principle. Design basis:
- pistol-shaped handle (for working with the leading hand);
- little weight;
- a start key that starts/controls rotations;
- power source - mains or battery (note that the battery is more massive and more expensive than the tool itself);
- capacity is limited by the total weight of the tool;
- continuous operation time - about 3 hours;
- Spare battery available (depending on model).
DeWALT DCD985M2
The difference between this screwdriver is:
- powerful impact mechanism (drilling 13/60 mm holes in concrete, 16 mm in stone);
- 3-speed gearbox, the speed of which is regulated by the consumer;
- for the torque mode, you can select 1 desired combination out of 22;
- the rotation speed block built into the tool gives additional control over the process;
- LED lighting;
- specially designed chuck for drilling a variety of materials;
- functionality (closely related to technical characteristics);
- Compatible with fasteners for drilling metal/wood/stone/ concrete .
Preparation for drilling
Before drilling, you need to fix the screwdriver in drilling mode. The tool has an arrow pointing to a drill icon. The screwdriver must be held slightly perpendicular to the drilling axis. In order for the drill to go deeper into the material, you must press down on the tool. But not too much, otherwise you might break the drill and hurt your hands. During operation, the pressure should be loosened and the drill should be removed from the hole to remove metal chips and dust. This information will be useful to know how to drill a wall with a screwdriver.
The drill icon may look different depending on the tool model. Impact screwdrivers will have a picture of a drill with a hammer.
Is it possible to drill?
You can use a tool instead of a drill only if such a possibility is indicated in the technical data sheet of the device.
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However, soft materials such as drywall can be drilled even with a low-power screwdriver .
To do this, instead of a bit, you need to insert a drill into the chuck for working with plasterboard.
To remove the drill or other attachments, you need to unscrew the chuck by hand or with a key. You also need to move the coupling to the appropriate position; usually this mode shows a drill icon. The nozzle is placed at a right angle to the marked surface. It is not recommended to deviate - this will complicate the movement of the drill and increase the diameter of the hole being made.
To drill a concrete or brick wall or tile, you will need a tool with a high rotation speed (from 1200 rpm) and high torque. Impact screwdrivers do the job more efficiently and quickly.
Important! A screwdriver is different from a drill and hammer drill, and should not be used for drilling a large number of holes. You need to take breaks during work so that the tool does not fail due to overheating.
A screwdriver that can drill concrete: myth or reality
Origin of screwdrivers
Each tool is created to solve a specific range of problems.
Therefore, it is worth starting to consider this issue with a brief excursion into history. It begins with the appearance in Ancient Rome of hand drills, which were driven by rotating the handle. Much later, only in the 19th century, electric drills were created, which increased the drilling speed tens of times due to the higher rotation speed of the electric motor compared to manual rotation of the rotor or crank. Further evolution developed by “crossing” electric drills with other types of tools. We “cross” a drill with a jackhammer by including an impact mechanism in its design - we get a hammer drill. We change the gear ratio in order to reduce the speed and not tear off the heads or spoil the slots of screws and self-tapping screws - we get a screwdriver.
The evolution of the tool from the hand drill to the modern variety of devices. |
Why is a screwdriver bad at drilling concrete?
An ordinary electric screwdriver, although it is a type of drill, is structurally “tailored” for other tasks. The key difference is the reduced chuck rotation speed. The operating speed of simple single-speed screwdrivers, which are used in construction and manufacturing, usually does not exceed 750 rpm (compare this figure with the characteristics of electric drills, which have a chuck rotation speed of at least 2500 rpm). This speed is only sufficient for drilling brick (ceramic brick is usually drilled in modes from 400 - 600 rpm), but not enough for drilling concrete (the optimal rotation speed of inexpensive drills for concrete with a diameter of 10 - 13 mm lies in the range from 900 rpm to 1100 rpm).
But more importantly, a conventional single-speed screwdriver does not have an impact mechanism. Therefore, it cannot effectively crumble concrete or brick at the point of contact of the drill with the material. In addition, the design of the gearbox, bearing assembly and limit coupling does not imply significant axial loads. Therefore, using a conventional screwdriver, it is possible to drill concrete only theoretically, but in practice, attempts to drill dense structural materials usually end in lengthy and fruitless picking, as well as accelerated wear of the tool.
Popular drill-drivers with impact mode Interskol DAU-13/18V 574.2.2.70 from 6,570 rub. Interskol DAU-13/18V 574.4.1.70 from 6,830 rub. DeWALT DCD778D2T from RUR 15,071 DeWALT DCD999NT from RUR 18,890 Bosch GSB 18V-50 Professional 06019H5120 from RUR 12,023 DeWALT DCD996P2 from 36,400 rub. DeWALT DCD706D2 from RUR 13,174. Bosch GSB 120-LI Professional 06019G8100 from RUR 5,910 Elitech DA 18 UBL2 191608 from 6,450 rub. Bosch GSB 180-LI Professional 06019F8323 from RUR 9,220 Makita HP0300 from 4,350 rub. Bosch GSB 12V-30 Professional 06019G9120 from RUR 7,508 Interskol DAU-13/18VK 573.2.2.70 from 5,420 rub. DeWALT DCD996NT from 16,000 rub. DeWALT DCD796D2 from 23,000 rub. Bosch GSB 18V-50 Professional 06019H5102 from RUR 7,490 Interskol DAU-13/18VK 573.1.2.70 from 4,980 rub. AEG BSB 18CBL LI-402C from RUR 22,238 Interskol DAU-13/18VK 573.0.0.70 from 2,910 rub. Makita DHP482Z from RUR 5,790
Drills/drivers and concrete drilling
Fortunately, the “evolution tree” of hand-held power tools has a “side branch” in the form of drills and screwdrivers, which are represented by a large assortment of corded and cordless models. They are the ones who can (with some reservations and stretches) drill concrete.
To confidently and quickly drill concrete using a drill-driver, you need:
- sufficient power - to drill durable structural materials you need a tool with a power of 750 W or more;
- impact mode - the function of axial impact, combined with rotation of the cartridge, allows you to effectively destroy concrete at the point of contact;
- powerful battery - a cordless tool must be equipped with a battery with high current output in order to confidently rotate the drill in thick concrete;
- correct equipment - for drilling concrete walls and ceilings, you need special concrete drills with carbide tips or diamond coating.
Special drills for concrete: DeWALT, Bosch and Hilti. |
The difference between the impact mechanisms of a screwdriver and a hammer drill
It’s worth dwelling separately on the shock mode. The design of the impact mechanism of a drill-driver is fundamentally different from the design of a similar hammer drill unit. There is no crank mechanism or “drunk” bearing inside the screwdriver, which would allow developing the high impact energy necessary for chiseling concrete. This function is implemented differently: the axial movement of the cartridge is created using two wavy washers (ratchets). When the engine rotates, the cartridge washer “jumps” along the protrusions of the stationary washer. A drill moves behind it, making reciprocating movements and crumbling the concrete a little at a time.
Wavy washers in the impact mechanism of a DeWALT drill. |
The amplitude of movement of the drill tip is a fraction of a millimeter, and the impact force depends entirely on the force with which the operator presses on the tool. Therefore, the characteristics of drill-drivers do not indicate the maximum impact energy, and they are outright inferior to full-fledged hammer drills in terms of concrete drilling efficiency.
Inexpensive hammer drills
Military RH500/2 from 1,800 rub. Kolner KRH 520H from RUR 2,619 Kolner KRH 680H from RUR 3,150 RedVerg Basic RH2-22 from RUR 2,663 Kalibr Master EP-120M from RUR 2,200 Parma PE-01-20/600E from RUR 2,247 Doffler RH-0874 from RUR 2,443 Pobeda P-20-620 from 2,550 rub. CMI C-BH-800 B from RUR 2,576 Patriot RH 231 140301231 from RUR 2,755 DEKO DKH650W 063-4110 from RUR 2,890 Patriot RH 160 Professional 140301160 from RUR 2,755 Hammer Flex PRT 650D from RUR 2,860 Spec BPE-620 from RUR 2,939 DEKO DKH850W 063-4111 from RUR 3,121 Souz PES-2550 from 3,950 rub. DORKEL DRR-620 from RUR 3,029 Doffler RH-0521 from RUR 2,990 Oasis PR-65 from RUR 3,590 Energoprom Home Master P-26/1000K from 3,030 rub.
Limited tool capabilities
The possibilities of a screwdriver are far from limitless. Due to its technical characteristics, “tailored” for much simpler tasks, it will drill concrete five to ten times slower than drills and hammer drills that are more appropriate for this work. The diameter and depth of the holes that can be drilled with a screwdriver also leave much to be desired (the maximum size of the drill that can be clamped in the chuck allows you to drill holes for plastic dowels, but not for powerful anchors).
Therefore, a screwdriver is only suitable for occasionally making a hole in the wall. But it is simply not structurally designed for serial drilling of concrete. In order not to accidentally “kill” the tool when drilling a couple of holes for shelves or cornices, you need to have a little patience and beware of excessive loads on the engine and gearbox. Also, while working, you should monitor the temperature of the drill (if it gets too hot, the carbide tips may fall off) and allow it to cool in a timely manner.
Concrete is different from concrete
The concept of “concrete” covers a large number of materials. This includes lightweight cellular concrete (such as foam and aerated concrete blocks, which are used for laying external walls and internal partitions), and dense heavy concrete (used for pouring load-bearing frames of monolithic buildings and structures). There is a huge difference between them in density and strength. For example, the characteristics of typical aerated concrete blocks, from which the walls in your apartment or private house can be made, usually correspond to a strength class from B2.0 to B2.5. The strength of such a material does not exceed 25 - 35 kgf/cm2, which is significantly less than that of the cheapest M50 concrete. The strength of concrete grade M200, which is used for the construction of low-rise buildings, is much greater - up to 200 kgf/cm2. And in high-rise construction, concrete with a high cement content is used, the strength of which reaches 300 - 400 kgf/cm2. Therefore, even relatively inexpensive corded and cordless drills and screwdrivers with a power of up to 750 W can cope with drilling aerated concrete. But drilling dense reinforced concrete with granite filler is beyond the capabilities of even the most “advanced” models; this will require a powerful hammer drill with high impact energy.
Internal structure of reinforced concrete. |
conclusions
There are screwdrivers that can drill into some types of graded concrete and concrete blocks. If you do not demand too much from them, then from time to time, using a drill-driver equipped with an impact mechanism, you can drill a couple of holes in a concrete wall. But this opportunity should be considered as a pleasant “bonus” to the main functions of this type of tool: tightening fasteners and drilling wood, plastic and metal.
And if we take into account the cost of the tool, then it is more profitable for an ordinary user to take a simple drill-driver with a two-speed gearbox and, in addition to it, a budget hammer drill than to buy an expensive professional screwdriver “for all occasions.”
How to drill a concrete wall - a possible way out of the situation
Sooner or later, most people living in houses with concrete walls need to hang a cabinet, lamp, shelf or picture. At this point, the pressing question arises of how to drill through a concrete wall. It's no secret that every home master has encountered this problem at least once in his life, but not everyone knows how to solve it. Many bravely torture the drill and their own strength, but, not achieving the desired result, they give up everything until the next attempt to make a hole in the wall. But the drill eventually breaks, and the shelves remain standing somewhere in the corner of the room or collecting dust in the pantry. But there are still options - you just need to know them and be able to use them.
How to choose a tool?
For a larger volume of work, you need a hammer drill or drill with an impact function and drills with pobedite tips. An impact drill combines rotational and reciprocating motion, which helps it cope well with lightweight concrete, and to the question of how to drill through a concrete wall, which is a load-bearing one, there is a simple answer - the best assistant will be a hammer drill, the main purpose of which is to punch through concrete fences. There is one more difference:
- an impact drill is designed to drill holes no more than 12 mm in diameter;
- The hammer drill is capable of drilling large holes.
Reinforcement found in the body of a concrete wall should be drilled using metal drills.
Drilling
The process of drilling concrete is not particularly complicated and consists only of the ability to work with the tool. When working with drills, you should combine the hammer mode with drilling.
Before drilling reinforcement in concrete, you need to change the tip for working with concrete to a regular metal drill and drill through the obstacle. It is important to remember to turn off the bumper mode before drilling into the concrete.
In addition to the above, there are also a number of useful tips that will help you achieve quality results.
What do the professionals advise?
Concrete structures are quite strong and difficult to drill. In addition, quite often drills come across crushed stone, which is part of the concrete mixture from which wall and ceiling slabs are formed.
Holes in concrete have to be made quite often, especially during the process:
- finishing works;
- furniture installation;
- air conditioner suspensions;
- additional electrical wiring device;
- installation of plumbing.
There are two ways to solve the problem of holes in a concrete wall:
- an impact drill, or better yet a hammer drill, with a Pobedit drill bit;
- diamond drilling.
It is worth noting that it will not be possible to make a hole in a concrete wall with ordinary drills, so before starting work you need to purchase drills with specially soldered plates made of high-strength pobedit alloy, which do an excellent job with concrete and brick. But it is not recommended to use them for soft materials, since pobedit drills do not cut them, but crumble them.
Tools
To drill a reinforced concrete surface, you need to use specialized tools - in our version, you won’t be able to get by with a homemade tool.
Based on your preference for the diameter of the hole, you can use a hammer drill, also called a small-sized electric hammer drill. What is the best way to drill a concrete wall in an apartment or panel house: a regular screwdriver with a drill, is it possible to make a hole in a concrete wall with a dust-free hammer drill, and how. Is it possible to drill with a screwdriver? “Is it possible. The first option has less power, but has less weight and an inconvenient design. The hammer drill, accordingly, has greater potential, weight and dimensions.
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Be careful! Since the use of construction equipment is often one-time in nature, it is more rational to rent them. Considering that their price is quite high, this way you will save a considerable amount of money.
In addition to the existing tools, it is necessary to purchase special drill bits that allow you to work with a concrete surface. For a hammer drill, drills with a Pobedit tip are selected.
A hammer drill has its own weight characteristics and a set of impact attachments, which, in most cases, are quite enough . Drills with a tip are also used as additional components for the hammer drill.
To form holes with a diameter of thirty-five to one hundred and twenty mm, crown bits are used, which have pobedite teeth - using them, grooves for sockets, switches, etc. are drilled. If you are deciding on the question of how to drill concrete with a screwdriver, then there are also tungsten carbide-coated crowns for this. However, please note that they are only suitable for units with a power of two or more than 1kW.
What will help the home handyman?
At home, when you need to make 2-3 holes in concrete, you can get by with a regular drill, without the impact function. the concrete from time to time with a strong metal pin (punch) matching in size to the diameter of the hole. It is used when the drill begins to “stick” in the wall. At this moment, a steel punch is inserted into the hole and they begin to hit it with a hammer or sledgehammer, trying to crush areas that are too dense and punch the hole deeper. In this case, the pin is turned a little. Then the hammerless drill can start working again.
All the above steps are repeated one after another until the hole increases to the required depth. This method is quite labor-intensive and tedious, but for a couple of holes it is quite acceptable.
Alternatively, when drilling a hole in concrete, you can use universal diamond-coated drills. They are highly effective when working with metal, crushed stone and concrete. They can only be installed on a conventional electric drill, or on a tool with the vibration function disabled.
You need to work with the drill extremely carefully, otherwise it will fail too quickly. The advice that professionals give is that to avoid overheating of the drill, it should be moistened with cold water from time to time.
Mixer - mixing construction mixtures
This mixer is definitely not for pancakes. Although, if you knead the dough in buckets, then a drill will do. But in general, a mixer attachment is needed for uniform mixing of building mixtures. They are suitable for dense, liquid or fluid masses.
It is better not to use screwdrivers at all for mixing dense masses, and drills - only for small volumes, being careful not to overload the engine. Different models of mixers differ from each other:
- load capacity - from 10 to 65 kg;
- length - from 400 to 600 mm;
- shank type - hexagonal, threaded and SDS.
When choosing, it is advisable to take into account the degree of corrosion protection, since you will be working with mixtures containing water.
What do you use to drill large holes?
Professionals who are constantly faced with the problem of drilling holes in concrete use special equipment, which includes:
- powerful electric motor;
- drilling drive;
- diamond core drills of different diameters;
- a guide post fixed to the base.
Diamond drilling allows you to make holes of large diameter - up to 40 cm. The process occurs quite quickly, efficiently, without unnecessary dust and noise. Water is automatically supplied to the drilling site, which simultaneously cools the diamond bit and washes away dust.
When diamond drilling, the holes are precise in shape and clear in outline, with a polished inner surface. They can be made in various enclosing structures at any angle to the horizon, and the possibility of cracks or chips in the concrete is completely excluded. Destruction occurs only at the location of the future hole.
READ Is it possible to drill through a concrete wall with a regular drill?
Diamond drilling is carried out by specialized companies, so if necessary, you can invite specialists with their own equipment to drill And you don’t have to buy a diamond drilling machine specifically for this.
Operating rules
The rules for working with concrete tools are not complicated and do not establish clear boundaries. Remember safety precautions, do not expose yourself and your structure to danger.
Basic Rules:
- pre-charge the tool (be sure to follow the charging time frame specified in the purchase instructions. If you do not follow such rules, the tool may quickly become unusable);
- install the desired attachment into the tool;
- press it, setting the cartridge in motion;
- use reverse to change the chuck or drill;
- try not to subject the weapon to shock or strong mechanical stress, this may spoil its quality characteristics;
- After use, wipe, clean and place in a dry place out of reach of children.
Return to contents
Choosing a power tool
To create small-diameter holes in small quantities, an impact drill or hammer drill with a power of up to 350 W is sufficient. Professionals involved in wiring communications in panel houses, brick cottages on a concrete foundation, use professional hammer drills or diamond machines.
hole cannot be obtained using a standard three-jaw chuck with a key collet clamp.
When passing through reinforcement, granite crushed stone, the clamping force will not be enough, the tool is guaranteed to begin to rotate in the chuck, wearing out the shank and cams.
Therefore, for large holes, an SDS chuck with a diameter of 10-18 mm is required. Slotting when creating holes with a crown is completely eliminated; the hammer drill must have such a function.
HOW TO DRILL A HOLE IN CONCRETE?
Holes in concrete are necessary for conducting and installing communications. The work is characterized by an abundance of dust, noise, high labor costs, and requires high-quality power tools. To drill a hole in this material, Honor follows that every hole in the building’s load-bearing frame reduces its strength, is fraught with damage to the engineering systems located inside (mainly electrical wiring, ventilation ducts), and is dangerous.
Through holes with low quality tools cause adjacent sections of walls to crumble at the exit of the drill/bit from their reverse side. Additional finishing is required, the work time increases.
The most suitable way
You must decide what is best for drilling into concrete walls. Often a conventional drill is used. It is convenient if it is two-handed, which will facilitate the process, because the master will need to put in a lot of effort.
If large-scale work is planned in the apartment, then you can drill the wall using a hammer drill. To make holes of impressive diameter, it is worth taking a motor drill. Its power should start from 5 kW. There are no such household models, so such a device cannot be powered using a single-phase network.
Hammer
The efficiency of this tool is quite high due to the chiselling option, but this equipment is more expensive than an impact drill. When you are thinking about how to drill a concrete wall, it is recommended to consider a hammer drill, which uses the principle of rotation and reciprocating movements of the working part, which speeds up the task. It is better not to drill cellular concrete this way, because it is completely destroyed under such influence due to its fragility.
When the surface of regular concrete has a plaster finish, care must be taken when making holes to ensure that the finish does not crumble. In order to drill holes in concrete, in addition to the tool, you need to use special drills with a diameter of 4 to 8 cm. In order to eliminate unnecessary expenses, you need to select the drill diameter according to the corresponding dowel parameter.
Household drill VS screwdriver
When thinking about the question of how to drill a concrete wall in an apartment, you can choose a drill. The result and safety of the equipment depend on how correctly the drill is chosen. Consumables with triangular tips are recommended. It is better if they are made of carbide metal. The drill may get stuck and no longer advance. In this case, you need to temporarily work with a punch.
When thinking about how to drill concrete with a screwdriver, you should take care not to damage the tool. The solution may be more powerful technology. But when suitable equipment is not available, you can try to carry out the work with the tool that is at hand. Additionally, a hammer and a punch are used.
The drill must be designed for working on metal. But you should be prepared for the fact that after such manipulations it will no longer be suitable. When you have to drill concrete without a hammer drill and only using a screwdriver, it is good if the equipment has an impact function. In addition to the model, you need to use equipment with a carbide working part for bricks.
Diamond drilling
The most effective way to drill holes in a concrete wall is by using diamond drilling. The peculiarity of this work is that you can even move at an angle. You can immediately begin installing socket boxes or other devices. Very little dust is generated. The main disadvantage of such drilling is the sometimes prohibitive price of equipment and the impressive cost of the work itself.
Do-it-yourself technologies for making holes in concrete
In the process of construction and finishing of buildings, the need arises to produce blind or through holes of different diameters. Blind holes are created for fastening, their diameter is limited to 2-16 mm. In this case, an important factor is compliance with the declared diameter. Otherwise, in broken holes, plastic dowels for self-tapping screws and nails will become loose over time, reducing the strength of fixation of wall cabinets, curtains, pipelines, and decorative elements.
To drill blind holes of large diameter or through penetration of reinforced concrete walls to enter communications, crowns are used. They are a cylinder, one side of which is attached with a shank to the chuck of a drill or hammer drill, the second has pobedite or diamond bits welded to it. A Victory drill is installed in the middle part of the structure to provide direction.
Drilling with a drill or drill leads to the destruction of the entire volume of concrete at the point of contact of the tool with the structural material. If there is reinforcement inside the reinforced concrete structure, it is impossible to drill through it; the hole is moved to the side.
Drilling holes in concrete with a crown differs from the previous method:
- concrete is destroyed only around the perimeter of the hole;
- a concrete cylinder remains inside the crown.
Therefore, after reaching the required depth of the blind hole, the inner concrete cylinder remains connected to the wall at the rear end. To remove it from the hole, destructive methods are used: a chisel with a hammer or a hammer drill. Concrete cylinders during through drilling are removed from the tool by lightly hitting the body with a mallet
Drilling holes in concrete is done with the following tools:
- spiral impact drill - more often used for blind holes, the diameter of the carbide inserts of the tip is always larger than the spiral body of the tool, the shank is round, not intended for working in concrete with a hammer drill with SDS cartridges;
- spiral drill - instead of pobedite, a zirconium or tungsten tip (spraying) is used, the shank with grooves is suitable only for SDS chucks (Max, modifications), dust-free, low-noise drilling is ensured;
- A diamond bit is a large-diameter tool exclusively for high-speed rotary drilling.
The marking of a twist drill indicates the Caliber, not the diameter. This is the distance between the protruding edges of the solders/liners. Drilling holes with this tool is carried out in the following modes:
- 800-1200 revolutions for diameters within 4 mm;
- 300-500 revolutions for diameters 5-13 mm.
Even the presence of a red marking on the tip of this tool does not guarantee that the tip material matches the metal declared by the manufacturer. Cheap substandard equipment, upon first use, develops into an incomprehensible configuration and becomes unsuitable for work.
Zirconium and tungsten drills are suitable for the following operating modes:
- 60-100 revolutions with a diameter of 42-76 mm;
- 150-400 revolutions for diameters 4-60 mm.
The length of the drill can reach 1 m; a small amount of dust when working with this tool allows you not to remove the furniture from the room. The destroyed concrete “flows” out of the hole in a stream through spiral channels and is collected on the underlying film or paper.
Professionals make blind holes for large diameter socket boxes in a few seconds. A home craftsman who does not regularly practice working with such a tool most often runs the risk of damaging the crown at the slightest misalignment. Operating modes when using crowns are 2,000-3,000 revolutions for any diameter. The advantage of the crown is high-quality cutting of reinforcement of any diameter, granite, basalt crushed stone inside concrete at high cutting speeds.
The following modifications belong to the category of professional, highly specialized tools:
- segmented tubular drill - difficult to work with, used by specialists in areas with a high probability of the presence of thick reinforcement;
- core drill with a centralizer - a carbide modification, inside of which a drill is located in the center, making it easier to set the direction, reducing sensitivity to pressure and distortions of the working body; These options are not suitable for cutting reinforcement.
WE DRILL THE CONCRETE WITH A SCREWDRIVERS. WILL THE CERAMIC DRILL WITHSTAND IT?
The latest modifications of crowns are operated at 600-1200 rpm; upon contact with reinforcement, the teeth crumble instantly. Therefore, before drilling, the walls are carefully examined with a special tool for the presence of an armored belt.
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Safety precautions when making holes in concrete
The load-bearing frame of a building made of reinforced concrete is a strong, heterogeneous material. Inside it there is metal reinforcement, gravel or crushed stone of various fractions. Therefore, drilling a hole without observing safety regulations means exposing yourself and surrounding colleagues to the risk of injury. Experts recommend compliance with the following requirements when drilling/drilling reinforced concrete structures:
- use of protective equipment - overalls in combination with goggles/mask, petal respirator, helmet;
- installation of fences: during through drilling, when the worker does not see the opposite side of the wall, there may be a risk of pieces collapsing on passers-by or his colleagues;
- the use of reliable scaffolding: without them, work at a height of more than one and a half meters is prohibited, since the operator’s stability is not ensured; when using stepladders, it is necessary to strengthen them with stops.
To drill a hole in concrete, you need to change the speed of the drill, hammer drill, or special diamond machine smoothly, and use only a two-handed tool. The presence of plaster dramatically increases the risk of destruction of internal communications. Therefore, before drilling a hole in the supporting structure of the building, you need to make sure that they are absent.
Drilling with a hammer drill in impact mode is allowed only when using a drill or drill as a working tool. If a bit is driven into concrete, rotation without impact is applied. The tool is able to drill a hole and efficiently cut internal reinforcement and stones.
Unlike a conventional drill, which destroys inclusions of crushed stone due to impact, it is not able to drill through reinforcement. To drill through a monolithic wall, you need to study the location of the seams. It is in them that the internal wiring of power cables, gas and sewer pipes are often hidden.
Advantages of impact drilling machines for concrete
List of advantages of this class of tools:
It is very convenient that after use the device can be put back into the case with which it was sold.
- autonomy and the ability to hold a charge for a long time (for models without a mains cable);
- easy drilling of durable materials;
- drilling speed adjustment;
- energy intensity and power, represented by varieties for each specific type of work;
- safe use due to low voltage even in wet conditions and in open areas of the construction site;
- the ability to work in hard-to-reach places and remote from communications;
- storage in a special case.
The main parameter that characterizes the device when choosing is the power with which it operates and the number of drill rotations per minute. The higher the number of revolutions, the better.
Features of drilling concrete structures
When using a conventional crown, water is supplied into the hole , which reduces the temperature of the working part. Some companies produce professional drill bits that can be used for dry drilling. The hole has the correct geometry and there is no tearing out pieces of the wall from the back side. An example is Maxima crowns Ø3.2-20.2 cm, length 15-25 cm, with and without perforation.
When drilling large diameter holes (0.5-1.5 m), diamond machines and installations are used. The hole is created by plunge-cutting with a core tool. The frame is fixed on a horizontal, vertical, inclined surface, and the package includes a compressor for supplying coolant.
A straight hole is obtained by moving the working element with a top drive along the guides (analogous to a manual tile cutter). The quality of the holes is higher than with manual drilling. The drill is not used in this professional equipment, even as a guide.
Hammer
Drilling a hole in concrete is done with an impact drill or hammer drill; the tool allows you to drill channels up to 500 mm deep. The disadvantages of using the equipment are increased noise during operation and the risk of wall destruction due to vibration loads.
Tips for performing work
Before drilling a hole in concrete, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with these helpful guidelines:
- If a plastic dowel is supposed to be installed in the hole, then the length of the channel should exceed the length of the dowel by 10-15 mm. The gap is used to collect concrete chips from the walls of the hole.
- When starting drilling, it is necessary to set the minimum speed. The drill does not move along the surface, which allows you to drill holes in accordance with the markings. As the drill deepens, it is necessary to increase the speed and increase the load on the drill or hammer drill.
- If the drill bit slips in the chuck (due to wear or damage to the jaws), the clamping fixture must be replaced. Operating a drill with a damaged chuck leads to misalignment of equipment parts and a decrease in the quality of the work performed.
Video: Can You Drill a Wall with a Screwdriver?
Use Cases
Proper use of a screwdriver. is its use in accordance with instructions or established documentation. According to these documents, the main application is the direct ability to screw and unscrew various fasteners, as well as for drilling various holes.
Depending on the capabilities, one or another model can be used both in everyday life and in the professional sphere. Household screwdrivers are cheaper and have less power, while professional models have increased power, high performance and wider functionality.
But some users use a screwdriver for such unusual things as polishing a car, mixing mixtures or paints, sanding various surfaces, twisting wires, knitting fittings, and even drilling holes in ice.
Twisting wires
A screwdriver with a special tip is ideal for twisting removable wire ends. Twisting is usually done with pliers, but anyone can use a screwdriver using it for this purpose. The main thing is to perform this tricky procedure correctly.
Reinforcing knitting
You can use a screwdriver with steel wire to tie the fittings together. This is widespread during construction, when various reinforced concrete structures of buildings and foundations are erected. For knitting, use a cordless or corded crochet tool.
Features of drilling concrete
As mentioned above, a screwdriver can be used in different areas and in different ways. Using electric screwdrivers, you can drill into wood, concrete, and many other materials. Carefully read the instructions for using a particular model, because it tells you what materials it can be used for.
Very powerful drivers are used for drilling concrete. Most often, such tools operate in impact mode, but even with such a device, drilling
a concrete wall is quite problematic. Therefore, for such cases it is better to use a special drill with diamond coating.
Can it be used as a drill?
As mentioned above, a screwdriver is mainly used for such things to unscrew or tighten something. When using a screwdriver as a drill, read the instructions carefully. Is this possible in the manufacturer's instructions?
If you still have the opportunity to use a screwdriver as a drill bit to drill and make a hole, for example, in a wooden or plastic product, it is recommended to place a small and flat piece of wood under the item. This will make your hole look better and prevent cracks and chips.
If you use metal in your work, then here you must follow some simple rules. Before drilling, the hole should be tilted to prevent the drill from slipping on the metal. Select drilling mode and start. But even here we must not forget that when drilling through metal, you can drill a drill. To prevent this, it is not recommended to press the tool too hard. If the drill bit gets stuck, switch the screwdriver to twist mode and carefully unscrew the drill bit.
However, for these purposes it is recommended to purchase a drill/driver of a special model, which can also be networked or cordless.
Adviсe
Let's look at some useful tips for working with both regular screwdrivers and tools like a drill/screwdriver with which you can use your tools for a long time and effectively:
- Be sure to turn off the screwdriver if you are going to connect or remove the battery.
- During operation, do not allow the device to overheat and take breaks from work at the slightest sign;
- if you use a screwdriver at high speed, it is recommended to turn it at idle until it cools down;
- if the network is lost, it is necessary to replace the wire or cord of the charger;
- Do not use it in rain, snow or any other wet conditions.
When using a drill/driver:
- make sure all parts of the device are working;
- If you have not used the tool for a long time, it is recommended to charge the battery, since even in standby mode the battery is discharged;
- during the drilling procedure itself, make sure that the electrical cable, various pipes, etc. do not go anywhere;
- and, using a regular screwdriver, try to avoid moisture getting into the device body;
- The battery must be charged for at least 12 hours upon first use;
- For direct use, avoid slowing down the device frequently, otherwise you may damage the battery.
Don't forget about some features of screwdriver storage. During storage, disconnect the battery from the device; it is recommended to store these components separately. After removing the battery, it needs to be charged. Remember that batteries can be discharged during long periods of non-use;
The screwdriver has a gearbox that requires lubrication. The frequency of this procedure depends on which model you use and how often you use it. A warning about the need to lubricate the device will be the appearance of a characteristic unpleasant irritating sound or strong rotation of the cartridge. Silicone or Teflon lubricants, litol or manol are good for lubrication.
Surface preparation
The surface of the wall is marked, and crosses are made with a soft pencil in the place of the proposed holes. Some users use a core that is used to make holes. If drilling is carried out in a residential area, then a plastic film is laid on the floor. The collected concrete chips are disposed of together with household waste.
Errors when working with a drill
Main mistakes when operating an electric drill:
- Do not hold the equipment by the chuck when working. Protective gloves and clothing should not sag or have loose parts, as there is a risk of material wrapping around the rotating drill.
- Do not point the tool at an angle or apply excessive force as the worker may fall from the stepladder or ladder and be injured.
Diamond drilling
To cut holes in concrete reinforced with metal reinforcement, a diamond bit installed in special equipment is used. The tool supplies water to the working area, which cools the crown and washes away the resulting dust. The installation allows you to make a hole of large diameter; there is no damage or chips on the edge of the channel.
Power selection
To make holes in concrete surfaces, a tool with a power of at least 600 W is required. The rotation speed is selected depending on the diameter of the drill and the characteristics of the material being processed. The worker independently selects the speed, reducing the emission of dust into the air and reducing the likelihood of wall fragments breaking off when drilling a hole.
Regular drill or screwdriver
It is almost impossible to make a hole in a concrete wall with a hand or standard power tool. The equipment allows you to make channels of small diameter in soft material; when you try to drill into a concrete base, the drill becomes dull or breaks.
Sources:
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How to use the tool?
Basic rules when working with electrical devices:
- Charge the battery to full capacity. If this parameter is weakened, the device will not work at full capacity.
- The screwing depth of the fastening element is adjusted immediately before use. To do this, remove the cartridge, mount and coupling.
- Install the nozzle into the chuck. It is selected depending on the strength characteristics of the material in which the hole needs to be made.
For normal operation, the cartridge should be lubricated and cleaned, preventing water and various contaminants from getting inside the tool. It is also necessary to monitor the operation of the power tool and monitor the load. If the device starts to work with force, then you need to reduce the rotation speed to avoid overheating, control the temperature of the case and when it heats up, immediately let it cool down.