What Is The Procedure For Concrete Core Drilling?

Are you in the concrete cutting industry? Do you want to learn about procedures for concrete core drilling? If so, please keep reading for more information.

Core drilling is an essential task for virtually all concrete structures at some point.

Whether you want to pull a sample of concrete for testing purposes, drill an opening for manholes or install electrical and plumbing lines, core drilling is important.

Core drilling should be performed only by highly skilled and experienced concrete cutting technicians. Such technicians can provide safe and quality work.

In this article, we will take a look at the following:

  • Basics Of Concrete Core Drilling
  • Concrete Drill Types
  • Choosing The Best Concrete Drilling Service

Basics Of Concrete Core Drilling

Concrete drilling is a specialised service offered by concrete cutting companies. A cylinder of concrete material or a core is removed with a concrete drill.

Diamond core drills are the most effective tools to use when core drilling concrete. Core drilling is common when installing common utilities such as:

  • Recessed lighting and fixtures
  • Cutting walls, floor slabs, and ceilings for plumbing, HVAC, cabling, electrical, and communication services
  • Analyse concrete samples
  • Roadway holes for doweling drilling, drainage, or rebar tie-ins

The concrete cutting technician will use a small threaded anchor to secure the drill post to the wall or concrete slab. He will then bolt the drill post – which acts as a guide for the core drilling process.

This will let the drill hit its mark straight on and make a consistent and smooth core. Once the drill post is fastened, the technician will mount the drill bit.

The drill bit will depend on the size the client specifies. Once the drill bit is mounted, the drill is turned on. Water will be applied as a coolant while pressure is placed on the crank.

The core drill has a hand crank to drive the drill to the surface and cut through the concrete. Once the surface is penetrated, the core will come out with the bit.

You can pull out the core manually if it is found in a slab.

Concrete Drill Types

There are two types of core drills such as impact and non-impact core drills. Impact drills have two sub-types such as hammer drills and rotary hammers.

A hammer drill is a small tool equipped with a bit that drills into the concrete. The hammer drill has a ramped ratchet system with a high-speed vibration or rattling action.

Regular bits are not the best to use with hammer drills because they can easily break under repeated impact conditions.

Even though rotary drills are similar to hammer drills, they are more efficient. A rotary drill can drill up to 100mm diameter. A hammer drill can only drill up to 12mm compared to a rotary drill.

You need a non-impact drill if you want to drill larger holes – up to 250mm. A non-impact drill has diamond teeth.

Because these drills don’t impact the drilling surface, the drill bit needs to be exceptionally strong. Drilling with a diamond-embedded drill is quite complex.

Frictional grinding can generate a lot of heat in the process. That’s why you need a professional concrete cutting service to perform such tasks.

Choosing The Best Concrete Drilling Service

With dozens of concrete cutting services in Melbourne, choosing the right company isn’t easy. Your research is important when choosing the right concrete cutting service for concrete drilling.

There are many things to consider when choosing a reputable and experienced concrete cutting service.

If you are looking for a specialist concrete cutting company who uses only the best practices to get the job done right, then please call us at Megasaw on 1300 920 419 or contact us through our website

How Core Drilling Can Save Time And Money On A Retrofitting Project

Due to the changing economic climate, there are plenty of older, well-built concrete buildings that are being retrofitted and repurposed into other types of uses. In older industrial parts of the city, old structures are converted to loft apartments, small retail businesses, and restaurants.

core drilling

Doing these involves a lot of concrete core drilling, so that plumbing, electrical, and IT conduits can be installed. Let’s take a quick look at how this type of drilling can make working on concrete structures easier.

Most Older Warehouses And Manufacturing Facilities Are Shut Down

In many old cities, there are large sections that have been vacant, left in the aftermath of manufacturers relocating to other countries.

Good thing there are plenty of new companies that would like to get prime downtown locations that would love to move into the neighborhood. This has created a demand for retrofitting the older buildings into modern offices, lofts, artist studios, online offices, and restaurants.

For this to work, each small section of the building should have bathrooms, kitchens, plumbing and wiring and compliant to existing laws. This is where concrete drilling comes in. It allows pipes and electrical cables and conduits to run into every part of the building.

core drilling

In concrete drilling, a diamond-tipped hole saw is used to make round holes of several different sizes to accommodate each type of access. Of course, an architectural plan will have to be made, approved by the local inspector, and then followed to the letter.

Core Drilling Can Also Be A Lifesaver In Removing Sections Of Concrete

stone staircase

This is also needed when you’re turning an old warehouse into a couple of townhouse apartments.  Several staircases will have to be retrofitted into the structure.

One of the best uses of core drilling is to make core line holes in the thick concrete floor between levels and then connect the dots to remove a large portion of concrete. This makes concrete removal easier.  Even with space limitations, the core driller has enough room to maneuver.

core drilling

Another advantage of using diamond core drilling apparatus is that it makes precise cuts, making the job dust-free. With this, the activity won’t disrupt activities in an office or even a restaurant.

If you do have a project that is going to need lots of concrete core drilling it’s usually best to hire a professional concrete cutting company. That way they’ll have all of the right tools available and every imaginable bit to make them work without having to run to the store to purchase more.

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Core Drilling Techniques, Applications, and Available Tools

Rock Drilling And Drilling Fluids: What You Should Know

Drilling fluid properties when it comes to rock formations are typically straight forward. Lubrication and carrying capacity are important in this activity.

The fluids have to carry the cuttings from a borehole and serve as lubrication so that the tool won’t get damaged.  Maintaining the viscosity level is enough to carry the cuttings from a bore. This is very important in keeping the penetration rate. Let us help you as being Rock Drilling Expert.

If the viscosity is too low, the cuttings will fall from the area of the slurry to the area behind the drill head. But if the viscosity is too high, it will increase the pumping pressure which limits the flow properties. This will decrease penetration rates.

Typically, the marsh-funnel that has a viscosity between 50 to 60 seconds and even slightly higher works well. Rock drilling fluids when it comes to HDD (horizontal directional drilling) applications are typically bentonite, fresh water based. The extended sodium-betonites that are high-yielding are the more common products in the HDD applications. The extended bentonites have been formulated to give high yields and fast hydration at lower concentrations typically at around 3%.

Typically expressed as the “barrel yield” the products would be categorized in the 200bbl/ton.

The term “barrel field” is the oilfield term that measures viscosifying capabilities of the bentonite clay. This is defined as a number of oil-field barrels which is 42 gal of 35-second mud which can be created from one ton of the bentonite. This means that one ton of 200bbl bentonite produces 8,400 gals off a 35-second slurry. Contractors have to know this so they can pinpoint other material types that can double these application rates easily.

The addition of a few polymer additives can aid lubrication along with the flow properties. These polymers are known as shear thinning and allow the pumping out of the higher viscosity fluids without the need to increase pumping pressure. What this means is that contractors can maximize flow patterns inside annular spaces and still maintain the higher viscosities and a reasonable pumping pressure.

However, note that “polymer” is just a generic term which is used to describe categories of products. Polymers exhibit entirely different properties, particularly when introduced with the bentonite drilling fluid. To achieve desired results you have to understand the properties of the elements, as well as the right polymer.

What is Rock Drilling?

Besides drilling into rocks, the rock drill can be used for a number of activities — preparing foundations, exploring minerals and digging wells.

There are various manufacturers of rock drills that offer a variety of models to meet specific needs. These rock drills are usually costly and the users need special training to operate one properly.

Drilling into rocks is usually challenging as the substrate is extremely hard. This tough task damages standard drills quickly.

rock drill bits

Rock drills usually have very hard bits that are usually made from a hard material such as industrial diamonds. These bits have cooling and lubrication systems in order to limit the stress caused by excessive friction.

These drills also act as an air blower that clears out drilling holes. The air present lessens the chances of the drill getting damaged because of particular materials and rock dust. A rock drill can also be attached to a drilling rig, in case there’s a need to drill at great depth.

RELATED ARTICLE:
How to Drill into Concrete like a Pro
Core Drilling Guide
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Criteria For Choosing The Right Concrete Contractor

Criteria For Choosing The Right Concrete Contractor

Concrete is, arguably, the backbone of any construction project. Regardless whether the project is an impossibly tall skyscraper or an ornamental concrete wall, concrete can be found in all areas of the project.

If you look at any property, you would find some form of concrete used, particularly as surfaces. Concrete is preferred because of its durability, strength, and overall cost-effectiveness.

But incorporating concrete cannot be a do-it-yourself project.  It is recommended that you always tap the services of a professional concrete company. Problem is, finding the right one can be complicated.  

Sure, you can choose the first company listed in the yellow pages or on a Google search engine results list, but you can’t be sure they are the best ones for the job.  To be certain, that you pick the most effective concrete drilling contractor.

1. Contractor’s offered services should suit your needs

First, research on the list of services. Not all construction companies offer all services.

Megasaw service list

Many companies will claim that they specialize in certain areas of concrete construction, for example, concrete drilling, sawing, pumping, or product manufacturing.  

2. Peruse The Portfolios

After ensuring that they offer what you need, peruse their virtual portfolio and discuss their prior projects.

Megasaw Work

Ask questions to determine the skill level and work style and if they’ve been honest on their portfolio.

3. Consider The Company’s Reputation

You can gauge this from customer service feedback. Read testimonials or discuss the service via word-of-mouth.

Megasaw Testimonials

Through the internet, you can browse through testimonials on the company’s official website. However, these may be fraudulent and deliberately misrepresent the business.  To counter-check peruse official website testimonials with third-party review website testimonials.

4. Pricing

While construction projects are known to be expensive, this does not mean you should not include pricing in your checklist put it against your set budget before contacting your prospective contractor.

How to Drill into Concrete like a Pro

Knowing how to drill a hole in concrete comes in handy. With it you can drill holes into your wall, you will be able to put up shelves, hand paintings and install lights with little trouble.

megasaw
Concrete Drilling Melbourne

Contact us today or CALL 1300 920 419 for more info.

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The good news is – you don’t have to be a pro to drill holes in a concrete floor or even the ceiling.

Before we start with the step by step process, it’s important to keep two things in mind;

Concrete is tough

Created by mixing different elements including sand, gravel, and crushed stone that are then bonded together using cement, concrete surfaces can be as hard as stone.

Even if you’ve managed to drill holes in brick walls before, this will be a completely different task.

Safety is key

Being a very hard material, You need to be ultra careful when drilling through a concrete wall. That’s why using a hammer and sharp object is a no-no. The debris coming off the surface could get into your eyes which can be traumatic.

That’s why safety goggles are recommended. If you suspect that there could be a lot of dust, you may also want to wear a dust mask. Ear protection may also be necessary as drilling job tend to be very noisy.

Step by Step Process of Drilling Into Concrete

Step 1: Get the right drill

To put a hole in a concrete wall, you’ll need a drill. It has to either be a hammer drill or a rotary hammer drill. A standard drill might work or the drilling/rotation might not be enough to break the concrete.

concrete drilling

Hammer drills work perfectly because it chisels away the concrete. Its rotary action can punch into the concrete. This double-action allows for faster drilling with minimal effort.

More importantly, the resulting hole is good.  This is in contrast to other drills that make holes that aren’t deep enough or off the mark.
Considering how important a hammer drill, here’s what to look for to get the right one: 

  1. Depth gauge
  2. Variable speed setting
  3. Good handle and grip

Step 2: Get the right drill bits

You need reliable drill bits to get  huge impact on the quality of the resulting hole.

Experts recommend the masonry bit. A masonry bit is specifically designed for rough jobs. The bit is made of stainless steel with the tip made from tungsten carbide to provide an even tougher cutting edge.

When connected to the drill, the hardened head continually bumps against the concrete surface, breaking it down.

The flutes of the drill will help push the masonry dust out and away from the hole. This is different from when using an ordinary drill, when you have to physically blow or push out the dust.

In terms of size, it depends on your project. Anything between 5 to 40 millimeters in diameter and about 39 inches in length will do the job well.

Step 3: Determine how big the hole should be

How big is the hole you need? And, how deep do you want it to be? This will also depend on your project.

A homeowner looking to hang a few art portraits on the wall won’t need overly large holes. The holes also don’t have to be very deep. If the portrait came with plugs, check the length of the plugs by placing the drill head beside the plug and measure the length.

Some machines have a depth setting or depth control bar wherein you can set the needed depth accordingly.

If your machine doesn’t have depth control, just mark the required depth with a pencil or masking tape. Then, attach the drill bit into the chuck and tighten.

Step 4: The Actual Drilling

concrete drilling

Start by marking on the wall where you want to drill. You can use a marker to mark a visible dot or an “X” sign on the spot.

Alternatively, use an old screw to make a dent on the spot. The screwdriver can also help you chip out a bit of concrete to give you the point of the drill when starting the drilling process.

With that done, place the head of the drill bit on the spot and start drilling. The rule of thumb is to start out slowly and maintain the right pressure. You can always increase the speed later. The pressure needs to be just firm enough to avoid slipping while allowing the drill to rotate freely.

Once the hole starts taking shape, you can increase the rotation speed and even apply more pressure. Since it’s concrete, don’t expect to be done within seconds. It will take time depending on the power of your drill and quality of masonry bits. Once you reach the required depth, stop the machine.

Know How to Troubleshoot

Sometimes drilling projects don’t go as smoothly as anticipated. Along the way, you might hit a beam which may be difficult to penetrate.

If this happens, insert a masonry nail into the hole and hammer. This can help break the concrete, making it easier for the drilling to proceed more smoothly.

If you can follow these steps, expect an easy time drilling. And to be more productive, choose the highly effective hammer drills and masonry bits from Megasaw.

Contact us today to learn more.

megasaw
Concrete Drilling Melbourne

Contact us today or CALL 1300 920 419 for more info.

Megasaw has over 20 years of experience in the concrete cutting industry.We offer concrete sawing and concrete drilling services in Melbourne and across Victoria. We deal with both residential and commercial projects, and we use the latest tools for high quality construction work.

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Which Should You Choose Concrete Cutting or Concrete Drilling?

What is concrete cutting?

man cutting concrete road

Concrete cutting encompasses not only the actual cutting of concrete but also its drilling and removal. For the actual cutting segment of this material, concrete saws are used for this specific job requirement. These saws, based on their modern technology, have greatly replaced the jack hammer in many instances. They have the capability of making precise cuts and leaving a smooth clean finish. They also greatly reduce the dust that comes with concrete cutting.

There are various ways of cutting a concrete. These include slab cutting or sometimes referred to as flat sawing. There is core drilling and wall sawing. There are many different tasks within the construction industry that completely involve concrete cutting. It might be for the purposes of partial removal of a foundation or addition to existing building including residences.

Cutting concrete slabs is another common requirement in any construction job. No matter what the task at hand, it will surely demand the need for the right type of concrete cutting equipment. And this should only be done by an individual who has the training and skills to operate this type of equipment.

What is concrete drilling?

man drilling concrete

Concrete drilling involves digging of a hole in a certain concreted area. These holes are dig for many different purposes. It may be used when something has to be anchored in the concrete, such as large shelving units or other components. It may also be needed for electrical requirements and for mechanical or plumbing purposes.

The equipment used for this job requirement is called a diamond core drill. This has been designed to drill precise holes in a certain piece of concrete. It has the shape of a cylinder that can cut a precise and accurate circular hole. The size of the hole made depends on the drill bit being used and the depth it is required to cut. The drill bit is capable of removing the core of the cement hole being created.

There are different makes and models of diamond core drills. There are also different sizes of bits. Concrete drilling should be carried out with wet or dry concrete drilling techniques. These options will depend upon the job that is being required.

The basic diamond core drill is composed of the following:

  • Motor
  • Spindle connection
  • Locking switch
  • Gearbox
  • Handle

There are also other models of diamond core drill that may have additional compositions which include:

  • Dust extraction
  • Water supply
  • Electronics

The size, make and model of the core drill will depend on the type of job it is required for and how often it will be used. Some confusion will come into play if the layperson is not familiar with concrete drilling and which type of bit to use.

There are two most common types of equipment for concrete drilling. These are the diamond drill bits and the carbide. The type of concrete you are going to work on will determine which type of drilling equipment you are going to use. The depth of the drilling required also matters and whether you are going to be drilling on wet or dry concrete

The proper completion of concrete drilling usually requires that the holes being made are perfectly round. These holes can range anywhere between 1” to 12”. For commercial needs, they could be up to 60” round or even more. They also require the expertise of a highly trained person in the proper drilling of concrete.

There are a lot of judgement calls and selections of concrete drilling equipment to be made. This can be dependent on the project manager if this type of task isn’t present on a constant basis.

Conclusion

Doing any type of concrete cutting or drilling even if it is a small job can sometimes be difficult. It is not a forgiving task and when you make a mistake you simply need to start over again. Cutting too much or too little of the concrete or drilling a hole that is too big or too small can create a lot of extra work to try and fix the error.

The best and sure-fire way to ensure that the concrete is being cut or drilled precisely is to utilise a company that is specialising in this field. You can always find a reliable service provider in Melbourne, Australia such as Megasaw. They can guarantee that your required tasks are going to be done quickly, and effectively both in the requirements and cost. This company is fully capable of doing various types of concrete cutting and drilling projects in Melbourne and the surrounding areas. They highly stand on reliability and performance, which are a much needed aspects in the construction industry.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Machine for Concrete Core Drilling Jobs

All seasoned core drilling services know that an excellent project results from drilling machines used. That’s why they invest in the best hydraulic core drilling or electric core drilling machines, depending on their predisposition. Choosing the right drilling machines is crucial to the success of your projects. Here’s why:

Right Machines, Precise Job

The truth is you can use other machines to drill concrete holes. But the result can be completely unsatisfactory. A hydraulic core drill can give you the precise hole and circle.

The same goes for an electric core drill. Depending on power outages, these machines can be used interchangeably, to produce the results you so ardently desire.

Hire the right core drilling service with the right equipment to take care of things.

Gets the Job Done Quickly

Here’s a quick scenario:

  • You have an electric core drill
  • You need to drill a hole underground or somewhere

The problem is there’s no:

  • Access to electricity
  • Backup battery
  • Power for your core drilling equipment

Would you wait until someone

  • Goes into town to get battery/backup?
  • Finally sets up a circuit that will power your drill?
  • Fires up the hydraulic core drill to do the job without delays?

Chances are it’ll be the latter. Why is that? It gets the job done.

The point is hydraulic core drills can get the job done faster than electric ones. You need the right equipment to do an awesome job.

Drills Specific Hole Measurements

construction site with core drilling job

Sometimes, you need a 16mm hole. Other times, you may need holes as big as 1m. To get these precise measurements, you need core drilling machines that

  • Accurately measure hole sizes
  • Drill with precision, so holes are neither excessive nor too small

Machines that aren’t built for this job description will

  • Do a poor job
  • Also cost you more to pay your contractor, and redo the job
  • Have negative consequences for a bad drilling job

Your supposed savings won’t be enough to damage your reputation or put people’s lives at risk.

Getting the right machines is non-negotiable, if you want an excellent job. Get the right core drilling services, too.

MegaSaw has the machines and experts with technical skills set. We do awesome jobs for your drilling projects. As leading drilling specialists in Melbourne and all of Victoria, we’re the best for your flawless drilling project. Call us now at 1300 920 419 or email us at info@MegaSaw.com.au for more information and a no-cost drilling consultation.

Concrete Drilling Basics and Overview

Concrete drilling is a labour intensive task that can be quite dangerous if not carried out correctly. This guide will help you to understand the most important concrete drilling basics.

concrete drilling

What Is Concrete Drilling?

Concrete is a tough material that is much harder to drill into than other, softer building materials such as wood and plasterboard.  A standard steel bit will simply not be able to cut into concrete properly and cleanly, so most concrete drills use either a carbide bit or a diamond tipped bit.

Concrete Drilling Equipment

When you are drilling into concrete you have the option of using either an impact drill or a non-impact drill. There are two kinds of impact drills: they are the hammer drills and the rotary hammers.

With a conventional hammer drill, the bit is pushed into the concrete as it drills. Hammer drills are quite small and use a ramped ratchet system which applies a high speed vibration or rattling action to the 3 jaw chuck, speeding up the drilling process. Usually, hammer drills are used with percussion carbide bits. Do not try to use conventional carbide bits with a hammer drill because they are not strong enough to hold up under repeated impact conditions.

Rotary hammers are similar to hammer drills; however,they are much more efficient. Instead of using a ramped ratchet system, they have a piston/crankshaft assembly which will beat on the end of the drill bit. The bit itself can slide freely within the tool holder, and hammers back and forth as it turns. Again, you should use a carbide tipped bit with this kind of drill. You can drill holes that are up two four inches in diameter using a rotary hammer, while standard hammer drills are capable of drilling holes only half an inch in diameter.

Non-impact drill bits can be used to drill holes that are 10 inches or more in diameter. They do not apply an impact to the surface that is being drilled, so the drill bits must be a lot stronger. Usually, diamond core drills are used for non-impact drilling. You need a large rig to drill without impact, and there is usually a lot of set-up work required, in addition, the drilling time takes a lot longer.

In some non-impact drilling setups, a vacuum pump is employed to suck the drill down to the floor. This can only be used if the surface is smooth and free of cracks. Otherwise you will need an alternative setup.

Drilling with diamonds is a complex process. The diamonds grind away at the concrete and the resulting friction creates a lot of heat. If you do not keep the drill bit cool then the matrix that the diamonds are embedded in will overheat and start to glaze over, making it useless for drilling.

Usually, the bit is kept cool by keeping a steady stream of water running over it at high pressure. This water will form a concrete slime as it mixes with the dust created by the drilling process, so you will also need a vacuum cleaner to remove the slime.

Diamond drill bits can drill holes that are up to ten inches in diameter, and drill for about 16 inches per pass. After that first pass you will need to pull out the core plug and, add an extension to the stump and the start drilling again. You can use this process to drill very deep holes, but this may be beyond a guide to concrete drilling basics.

The above are just a few of the most important concrete drilling basics. Before starting work be sure to read the instructions that come with the tools that you are using.

Take care to wear the right protective equipment, and look after your drilling equipment.

Remember that if you choose the wrong drill bits, or allow the drills to overheat you could end up causing serious damage to your equipment. Taking some extra time to source the right parts and getting your drilling right the first time will help you to avoid costly and inconvenient mistakes and ensure that the job goes as smoothly as possible.

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