[TheForge] Drilling stone

[paul]

Hey Don

I know that every one of us likes to have everything under our control, 
but unless you are drilling small holes in concrete, ie 1" in diameter 
or less, The diamond core drill is the safest method to drill any type 
of stone. The hammer type percussion drills, like the Milwaukee or the 
Hilti brand systems are all that is commonly used in the construction 
industry. With the correct size hammer drill (the motorized part of the 
system) and a carbide drill bit, a 1" hole to a depth of 6" requires a 
couple of minutes or so, providing you don't hit rebar in the concrete. 
Using this type
of drilling system in rock reminds me too much of feathers and wedges...

Using a wet core drill is not difficult but the systems are expensive. 
Much better from a liability stand point (so who do you want to be 
responsible for blowing out the edge of a granite step in the middle of 
10 risers) to look in the yellow pages under core drilling or concrete 
cutting and call the professionals. They may charge by the inch of 
diameter times the depth of the hole, might be a flat rate per hole plus 
travel or what ever. The main idea is that they do this all the time, 
they own the equipment, and it will take far less time for them to drill 
the hole than it will for you to learn how to do it with out breaking 
anything. Quality diamond core bits run about $75 per inch of diameter 
at minimum. Sometimes we get 75-100 holes per bit and sometimes 1...
It makes more sense to make 30% of the core dill charge for expediting 
the subcontract, then to attempt something that you may only have need 
of a few times a year at best.

Paul
jadap and a lowly craftsman...



PlumDon at aol.com wrote:
> My Main Line customer wants a boot scraper in the shape of a canary  (Her 
> small mansion is "Canary Cottage"). No problem making the  scraper. She also gave 
> me one of her driveway Belgian blocks to mount it in. My  pretty good 
> Milwaukee hammer drill doesn't even dent this stone. I dont know  what they are 
> typically cut from but it is REALLY hard.;
>  
> Anyone know of a way to drill it or should I just try to convince her I  need 
> to use another stone. 
>  
> Kindest thanks for any help. 
>  
> Don Plummer
>
>