Homeowners may be able to handle their own core drilling or concrete drilling, but it should be done with proper preparation, the right tools, and a bit of extra knowhow. Cutting through concrete is different than cutting through drywall in your home or sawing wood for a certain project, which means you need to take precautions to avoid some very common mistakes with this type of drilling. Note a few of those mistakes here so you know you're prepared for any core drilling you need done on your property.
1. Drilling too fast
Diamond drill bits will have a recommended speed at which they should be used, but note that it's often good to decrease the speed of the drilling as the hardness and abrasiveness of the concrete increases. The drill needs time to rotate against tougher areas of concrete in order to create the hole you're drilling. Note the speed recommended for your drill bit but be sure you slow down if you hit any type of resistance so the drill can work properly.
2. Not using enough lubrication
Oil-based lubrications are not typically recommended with core drilling, as the heat and corrosion can cause the lubricant to break down. Water is usually the best choice, but many homeowners fail to use enough. This might be because they don't like the mess of having water run over their work, but if you don't use enough water, this can cause the drill bit to get too warm and, in turn, the bit can get damaged. This overheating can also result in heat fractures that damage your concrete. Be sure you're using enough water and do what you must to protect the area from the mess rather than thinking less water is the right choice.
3. Too much pressure
Core drilling is not like driving a car; when behind the wheel of a car, you put more pressure on the gas pedal to go forward and get to your destination faster. However, if you applied this thinking to drilling and apply more pressure to push through the surface, you won't actually get through the concrete faster but will simply cause damage to your drill bits and possible heat fractures to your material. As with the speed of the drill bit, you need to mind the pressure you're putting behind the drill and not assume that more is better. Don't push the drill through but let it lead you as to how it's making progress in getting through the concrete.
For more information and tips on core drilling, contact a local concrete contractor.
