Drill Concrete
Choosing the Right Drills and Blades
Drilling and cutting efficiently requires the right kind of drill or blade. And, as the range of materials used on domestic and commercial environments increases, correctly matching drills and blades with materials becomes even more important. And that counts for contractors and DIY enthusiasts alike.
Drilling
Traditionally, drill bits have been made from steel. Soft, low carbon steel bits can only be used when drilling wood. High carbon steel bits are used on wood and metal, but can lose their edge if allowed to overheat.
HSS (high speed steel) bits can be used to drill a wider range of materials, including metal and hardwood, at higher speeds than carbon steel bits. For extra hardness at higher temperatures, HSS variants, cobalt steel alloys are a good choice.
Tungsten carbide (and other carbide) tips are extremely hard and can drill many challenging materials while retaining their edge. Unfortunately, they suffer from brittleness and high cost.
Coatings such as Black Oxide, Titanium nitride, Titanium aluminium nitride and Zirconium nitride applied to drill bits can extend life and provide greater heat resistance.
Diamond powder coatings are perhaps the most useful of all, providing a long-lasting, durable solution to drilling the very hardest of materials.
A diamond drill or hole cutter can generate a lot of heat, so you need to be careful not to allow it to build up or it can damage some finishes and materials. Consequently, some diamond drills are supplied with a water-cooled wet core that supplies a continuous stream of coolant for drilling materials such as flint and limestone aggregate concrete, reinforced concrete and other hard building materials.
A standard dry core diamond drill is more suited to medium and soft bricks, concrete blocks and abrasive concrete products. A tougher, superfast dry core drill will take most building materials in its stride. These include semi-engineering bricks, clay products, clay products and limestone aggregate concrete.
Cutting
There are many types of saw available, but in this article we’re going to look at circular saws.
If you’re looking for a good, reliable wood saw, you should consider a tungsten carbide tipped or HSS blade. For more demanding applications, you’ll need to consider more advanced blades or you’ll suffer tools that simply can’t cut the material, or very soon get blunt and/or overheat. Diamond tipping enables manufacturers to offer a range of blades precisely matched to the requirements of cutting some of the hardest materials.
For Ceramic and Stone tiling for walls and floors, (in homes and in commercial environments), look for tile cutting blades. These will bite into these hard surfaces and provide a clean, well-finished hole. And, for other kinds of flooring, such as concrete and asphalt, there are specialised floorsaw blades.
When it comes to cutting building products such as engineering bricks, concrete and clay products a segmented universal/hard diamond blade with cooling holes to disperse some of the heat is an excellent choice. While, if you’re cutting natural stone as well, a top-quality superfast blade would be a better choice.
Stepping down from the most difficult of materials, a standard general-purpose diamond blade can easily handle the demands of cutting bricks, slabs, concrete paviors, roof tiles and most concrete products.
Whatever kind of drilling or cutting job you’re faced with, it’s always best to ensure you’re using the best kind of blade or drill. It’ll make the job easier, give you a better a finish and also potentially save you money by lasting longer.
About the Author
Dave Symons is Technical Manager of Hilbor Diamond Tools, whose Spectrum brand is a world leader in cutting tools and diamond core drills
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HILTI 1 DD-BI 1/2″ /11″ HWC DIAMOND CORE DRILL BIT/CONCRETE BOREING BIT #30671 $0.99 |
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MAKITA CONCRETE STEEL BHP451 CORDLESS LI-ION BL1815 POWER DRILL NO RESERVE!!!!!! $0.99 |
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Misc Concrete Drill Bits – 9055 $1.00 |
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Bosch 4mm Concrete Masonry Silver Percussion Drill Bit $1.96 |
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Masonry Drill Bit 3/8″ Slow Spiral Carbide Tip Brick Stone Concrete Ceramic Tile $1.99 |
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VERMONT AMERICAN 14376 Industrial™ Concrete Screw 3/16″ Drill Bit $1.99 |
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VERMONT AMERICAN 14377 Industrial™ Concrete Screw 3/16″ Drill Bit $1.99 |
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Bosch 6mm Concrete Masonry Silver Percussion Drill Bit $2.51 |
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Irwin 5/16 masonry /concrete drill bit $2.69 |
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Masonry Drill Bit 3/16″ Carbide Tip Concrete, Brick and Tile $2.86 |
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Irwin3/8 masonry /concrete carbide drill bit $2.99 |
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MOTY-KO JRP-2 5/32″ CONCRETE DRILL BIT 162584 $3.00 |
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8 x 210mm SDS + PLUS DRILL BIT FOR CONCRETE, MASONRY AND BRICKWORK $3.32 |
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6 x 260mm SDS + PLUS DRILL BIT FOR CONCRETE, MASONRY AND BRICKWORK $3.32 |
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Bosch 7mm Concrete Masonry Silver Percussion Drill Bit $3.40 |
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8mm Tip Diameter SDS Plus Shank Hammer Drill Bit for Concrete $3.57 |
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6mm Width Tip 10mm Dia. Shank Concrete Hammer Drill Bit $3.71 |
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6mm Width Tip 10mm Dia. Shank Concrete Hammer Drill Bit $3.71 |
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3/8″ Red Head Concrete Drill And Anchor Kit $3.75 |
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85mm Length Flute Hammer Drill Bit for Concrete Stone $3.75 |
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6mm Width Tip 10mm Dia. Shank Concrete Hammer Drill Bit $3.85 |
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6mm Width Tip 160mm Long Hammer Drill Bit for Concrete $3.88 |
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SDS + PLUS DRILL BIT TUNGSTEN CARBIDE TIP MASONRY CONCRETE MASONARY BRICK $3.93 |
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United Rentals SS T-Shirt (L) NEW Trench Concrete Truck Skid steer Drill saw G1 $3.99 |
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United Rentals SS T-Shirt (L) NEW Trench Concrete Truck Skid steer Drill saw G2 $3.99 |
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United Rentals SS T-Shirt (M) NEW Trench Concrete Truck Skid steer Drill saw Or $3.99 |
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DRILTEC 1/4″ X 6-1/4″ SDS-PLUS HAMMER DRILL BIT,GERMAN, CONCRETE MASONRY $3.99 |
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Vermont American 14377 Concrete 3/16 Drill Bit tapcon $3.99 |
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DRILTEC 3/16″ X 6-1/4″ SDS-PLUS HAMMER DRILL BIT,GERMAN, CONCRETE MASONRY $3.99 |
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DRILTEC 5/32″ X 6-1/2″ SDS-PLUS HAMMER DRILL BIT,GERMAN, CONCRETE MASONRY $3.99 |
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5pc Masonry Drill Bit Set For Brick Concrete Stone Slate Marble Tile Plaster Etc $3.99 |
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6mm Width Tip 10mm Dia. Shank Concrete Hammer Drill Bit $4.04 |
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8mm Width Tip Concrete Hammer Drill Bit SDS Plus Shank $4.05 |
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SDS Plus Shank Concrete Hammer Drill Bit 160mm Length $4.07 |
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6mm Width Tip 10mm Dia. Shank Concrete Hammer Drill Bit $4.07 |
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SDS Plus Shank Concrete Hammer Drill Bit 160mm Length $4.09 |
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6mm Width Tip 10mm Dia. Shank Concrete Hammer Drill Bit $4.10 |
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Drilling Concrete 6mm Width Tip Hammer Drill Bit $4.12 |
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Drilling Concrete Spline Metal 8mm Hammer Drill Bit $4.15 |
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Drilling Concrete Spline Metal 8mm Hammer Drill Bit $4.19 |
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Drilling Concrete Spline Metal 8mm Hammer Drill Bit $4.19 |
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8mm Width Tip Concrete Hammer Drill Bit SDS Plus Shank $4.19 |
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8mm Width Tip 10mm Dia. Shank Concrete Hammer Drill Bit $4.22 |
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8mm Width Tip 10mm Dia. Shank Concrete Hammer Drill Bit $4.22 |
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Drilling Concrete 6mm Width Tip Hammer Drill Bit $4.22 |
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8mm Width Tip Concrete Hammer Drill Bit SDS Plus Shank $4.24 |
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SDS + PLUS DRILL BIT TUNGSTEN CARBIDE TIP MASONRY CONCRETE MASONARY BRICK $4.25 |
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SDS + PLUS DRILL BIT TUNGSTEN CARBIDE TIP MASONRY CONCRETE MASONARY BRICK $4.25 |
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8mm Width Tip Concrete Hammer Drill Bit SDS Plus Shank $4.26 |
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85mm Length Spiral Flute Hammer Drill Bit for Concrete $4.28 |
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Drilling Concrete Spline Metal Hammer 10mm Width Twisting Drill Bit $4.29 |
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Drilling Concrete 6mm Width Tip Hammer Drill Bit $4.33 |
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8mm Width Tip SDS Plus Shank Concrete Hammer Drill Bit $4.34 |
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Drilling Concrete Spline Hammer Drill Bit 6mm Width $4.37 |
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8mm Width Tip 10mm Dia. Shank Concrete Hammer Drill Bit $4.38 |
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6mm Width Tip 160mm Long Hammer Drill Bit for Concrete $4.40 |
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SDS + PLUS DRILL BIT TUNGSTEN CARBIDE TIP MASONRY CONCRETE MASONARY BRICK $4.41 |
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SDS + PLUS DRILL BIT TUNGSTEN CARBIDE TIP MASONRY CONCRETE MASONARY BRICK $4.41 |
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SDS + PLUS DRILL BIT TUNGSTEN CARBIDE TIP MASONRY CONCRETE MASONARY BRICK $4.41 |
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6mm Width Tip 160mm Long Hammer Drill Bit for Concrete $4.44 |
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Concrete Hammer Drill Bit SDS Plus Shank 8mm Width Tip $4.47 |
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Drilling Concrete Spline Hammer Drill Bit 6mm Width $4.51 |
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SDS Plus Shank Concrete Hammer Drill Bit 160mm Length $4.53 |
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12 x 260mm SDS + PLUS DRILL BIT FOR CONCRETE, MASONRY AND BRICKWORK $4.50 |
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Drilling Concrete Spline Metal 8mm Hammer Drill Bit $4.56 |
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Drilling Concrete Spline Metal 8mm Hammer Drill Bit $4.56 |
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SDS + PLUS DRILL BIT TUNGSTEN CARBIDE TIP MASONRY CONCRETE MASONARY BRICK $4.57 |
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SDS + PLUS DRILL BIT TUNGSTEN CARBIDE TIP MASONRY CONCRETE MASONARY BRICK $4.57 |
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SDS + PLUS DRILL BIT TUNGSTEN CARBIDE TIP MASONRY CONCRETE MASONARY BRICK $4.57 |
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SDS + PLUS DRILL BIT TUNGSTEN CARBIDE TIP MASONRY CONCRETE MASONARY BRICK $4.57 |
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SDS + PLUS DRILL BIT TUNGSTEN CARBIDE TIP MASONRY CONCRETE MASONARY BRICK $4.57 |
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SDS + PLUS DRILL BIT TUNGSTEN CARBIDE TIP MASONRY CONCRETE MASONARY BRICK $4.57 |
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8mm Width Tip Concrete Hammer Drill Bit SDS Plus Shank $4.58 |
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Drilling Concrete Spline Metal Hammer Drill Bit 12mm $4.59 |
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5 Masonry Drill Bit Set Concrete Cement Brick Rock Hole Drilling Kit 4-6,8,10 mm $4.59 |
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SDS Plus Shank Concrete Hammer Drill Bit 160mm Length $4.59 |
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8mm Width Tip SDS Plus Shank Concrete Hammer Drill Bit $4.61 |
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8mm Width Tip SDS Plus Shank Concrete Hammer Drill Bit $4.61 |
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10mm Width Hard Alloy Tip SDS Plus Shank Concrete Hammer Drill Bit $4.63 |
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Concrete Hammer Drill Bit SDS Plus Shank 10mm Width Tip $4.63 |
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85mm Length Spiral Flute Hammer Drill Bit for Concrete $4.64 |
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SDS Shank Gray 6mm Tip Masonry Drill Bit for Concrete $4.65 |
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Drilling Concrete 6mm Width Tip Hammer Drill Bit $4.65 |
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Concrete Stone 6mm Tip Straight Shank Masonry Drill Bit $4.66 |
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SDS Shank Gray 6mm Tip Masonry Drill Bit for Concrete $4.66 |
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8mm Width Tip 10mm Dia. Shank Concrete Hammer Drill Bit $4.67 |
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Concrete Hammer Drill Bit SDS Plus Shank 8mm Width Tip $4.67 |
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SDS Shank Gray 6mm Tip Masonry Drill Bit for Concrete $4.68 |
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8mm Width Tip 10mm Dia. Shank Concrete Hammer Drill Bit $4.69 |
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Concrete Hammer Drill Bit SDS Plus Shank 8mm Width Tip $4.70 |
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SDS + PLUS DRILL BIT TUNGSTEN CARBIDE TIP MASONRY CONCRETE MASONARY BRICK $4.72 |
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SDS + PLUS DRILL BIT TUNGSTEN CARBIDE TIP MASONRY CONCRETE MASONARY BRICK $4.72 |
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Replacement 8mm Masonry Drill Bit Tool for Concrete $4.74 |
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Replacement 8mm Masonry Drill Bit Tool for Concrete $4.74 |
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110mm Length Twist Drill Bit for Masonry Concrete Stone $4.74 |
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110mm Length Twist Drill Bit for Masonry Concrete Stone $4.77 |
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8 x 160mm Drill Bit Plus Shank Metal Drill Bit for Masonry Concrete $4.77 |
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Concrete Stone 6mm Tip Straight Shank Masonry Drill Bit $4.78 |
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Concrete Stone 6mm Tip Squared Shank Masonry Drill Bit $4.80 |
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Drilling Concrete Spline Hammer Drill Bit 6mm Width $4.80 |
