A suitable drill bit for rock depends on the material used, finishes put on them, and the size. The choice of drill bits also depends on the texture, quality, and size of the rocks to be drilled. Nonetheless, masonry bits remain the best for drilling through rocks, concrete, and bricks. You can use it with the rotary hammer drill.
A good masonry bit is made out of tungsten carbide, which is the strongest and more durable than the ordinary types. On the other hand, the hammer drill should be compatible with the bit if you are using one. This ensures the movement of the hammer does not damage the ordinary bits.
Usually, masonry drill bits are used with the hammer drill. They operate by hammering the bit into the rock as it rotates. This action fragments the rock at the bit tip while the rotation flutes dust from the dirt. Simultaneously, moving the cutting edges towards a new part of the bottom of the hole via its rotation and hammering action. As a result, the bits move openly inside the chuck to drill the rocks. You can also use core bits with a hammer to drill wide holes in rocks.
Star drill bits are another option and are made up of several blades that join the middle to create a star shape. They resemble chisels, and it’s used as hand powers drill plus hammers to drill holes in the stones. However, diamond drill bits are the best for drilling hard rocks like marble, granite and limestones. They are great because of their tips made of diamond that grinds well into very hard rocks. It’s important to use water as a lubricant and lower speed when using diamond drill bits. Don’t use hammer drill together with diamond drill bits as it can cause overheating and lowers the speed of drilling.
How Does One Drill A Hole In A Rock?
Drilling a rock is a difficult task since it’s one of the hardest substances. However, the material is used for various purposes. If there is a rock that needs to be drilled and the right tools are available, you can do it yourself. You don’t need to call a professional mason to do the job, rather follow these steps to get the job done;
Step 1: Mark The Places Or Areas Where You Want The Hole Or Holes In The Rock.
Use a marking pencil to mark all areas you want to drill and ensure it’s dark enough to guide you when drilling through the rock.
Step 2: Insert A Fully Charged Battery Into Your Cordless Hammer Drill
Avoid using a battery that is not charged fully since more power is needed to drill into the hard rock. For an electric hand-held hammer drill, plug it into a socket. If it’s far from the location of the rock, use an extension cord if you can’t move the rock.
Step 3: Take Your Carbide Or Diamond-Tipped Masonry Drill Bit And Insert It Into The Drill.
To insert it, easily loosen the chuck of the drill, insert the end of the bit and carefully tighten the chuck of the drill back up. Never use a wood bit while drilling into rock because it will result in bit breaking that can cause injuries.
Step 4: Carefully Take The Tip Of The Drill Bit And Place It Directly On The Mark You Had Made On The Stone.
Place the bit and slowly lower its tip down, keeping it straight and aligned. Bring the bit closer to the surface of the rock and ensure the bit remains vertical and steady.
Step 5: As You Begin To Drill, Put More Pressure While Squeezing The Drill’s Trigger Slowly.
You will gain more speed by applying more pressure downwards. The tip of the drill bit will start to penetrate the surface of the rock; as you apply more pressure, the speed of the drill increases. Ensure the bit remains firmly straight while drilling the rock until you reached the desired depth.
Step 6: Remove The Drill Bit By Pushing It Up And Out Of The Rock.
If you have more holes to drill, move to the next one and repeat the step four and five until you finish drilling all of them.
For safety purposes, remember to have gloves for your hands, protective eyewear, some leather for scrapping purposes, a protective air mask and the tools required to start drilling.
How Do You Drill Through Small Rocks?
Drilling small stones for making natural jewelry and other purposes have been made easier thanks to developed tools. Now, with the right tools, you only need to put on your goggles and follow these instructions:
1. Hold Your Small Stone On Top Of The Piece Of Wood Firmly, Under The Water.
2. Using Your Other Hand, Turn On The Rotary Tool And Hold It Perpendicular To The Pebble– be more careful when working with the rotary tool, especially around the water. Don’t grasp the tools with wet hands and avoid getting other parts of your tool wet. Get a GFCI if you want to use Dremel around water safely. We bet you don’t want a short circuit happening to your gorgeous rock drilling devices.
3. Start Drilling– allow the weight of your tool to do the drilling for you. Lift the drill down, time to time, as this enables cooling water to get in the hole and flows out the elements from the stone. The water might not seem clear anymore, but it okay to continue doing your work.
4. You Easily Feel It When It Breaks Through To The Other Side– meaning you are done with your first hole. It only takes a minute to break through small beach stones. If you are drilling more holes, repeat the process until you are done.
What Does A Stone Drill Bit Look Like?
Masonry drill bits look like a larger but twisted drill that has a slightly tighter corkscrew shape. You can identify them easily by their wide arrow-shaped heads. They are popularly used together with a hammer drill to grind hard surfaces down as they cut through them. Actually, you can use them on stones, brickwork, breeze blocks and stones or any other harder stone surfaces.
More so, it’s used-on woods, although the hole can be ragged, and it will take time compared to a proper wood drill. But if it becomes difficult to identify, ask the shop attendants to show them to you physically. Online photos are available if you are purchasing them through online services.
Can You Use Any Drill Bits With Any Drill?
Frankly, no, not all bits fit in all drills due to their sizes. If you have a 3/8 sized drill, it means your drill will accept up to 3/8 drill bit shafts. The same case to ½ sized drill will only accept up to ½ and 3/8 drill bit shafts. Regular drill bits which don’t have a hex shanked should not be used in an impact driver. However, hex shanked can use bits in any other regular drill drivers. As for SDS bits, you can use SDS machines for them to work perfectly.
Numerous drill bits with their specific needs are available in the market. So, it is important to understand what bits will work best based on your drilling needs. The most significant thing is to match the size of the drill to the size of the drill bits shank. Remember, drill bits are made for different tasks. For example, there are bits made for drilling holes into plastic, wood, concrete, metal bricks and other materials. Apart from that, they are different types of drill bits you need to choose from like, steep angle, flat bits, auger bits, Forstner bits etc.
What Is The Difference Between A 3/8- Inch And 1/2-Inch Drill?
Size is also the most significant factor when it comes to both drills and drill bits. Drills are available in ½-inch, 3/8-inch, ¼-inch sizes. These measurements equal the size of the drill chuck, simply the part that holds the bit. Also, it indicates the size a bit of shark can fits the drill. A ¼ -inch chuck is good for a light-duty drill driver like small stones. While 3/8- inch drills well with a wide range of bits, making it versatile for popular tasks in homes. On the other hand, ½ drills are perfectly great for heavier applications.
How Does One Sharpen A Masonry Drill Bit By Hand?
When you are constantly drilling many holes, especially into bricks, concrete or masonry, your drill bit becomes dull and loses its edges. Since they are costly, you need to find a way to re-sharpen them and prolong their lifespan. To sharpen these drill bits by hand, you need a bench grinder, safety goggles and cold water.
Using both hands, hold the drill bit horizontally on the machine and put it at 60 degrees to the grinding wheel. Carefully press the drill against the grinding wheel and turn the drill clockwise while dropping the shack of the drill. It will push the tip up to a grinding wheel, repeat the same on the other side. Continue cutting the edges symmetrical.
In the end, it will save you money and time because a new drill bit is not required every time it become dull and blunt. Keep practicing until you become a pro.
Conclusions
The most significant thing you should consider while choosing your bits is the exact task they are needed for. Remember, when it comes to masonry and other stonework, versatility should not be a priority. Rather go for a specific bit that will be suitable for that particular task. Maintain your drill bits very well if you want to enjoy their services for years to come while ensuring the task is done efficiently.
