What is the M18 Hammer Drill capable of?

[joetech]

I work at a tire shop. We have a bunch of "side projects" that get done when we have no work to do for customers. Today was one of those days. I got a tire machine moved and bolted down, moved several other machines around trying to make the shop more efficient.

One of these side projects involves boring a 1" hole through a cement wall for a metal pipe. I can get my hands on a sds drill when ever I want to but it's 15 miles away and we never know when we're going to be dead enough to do this stuff. I have a M18 hammer drill I keep at the shop... so....

Is the M18 hammer drill capable of boring a 1" hole through 60+ year old cement block or should I get an SDS drill?

Thanks.

 

[KnurledNut]

How much time do you have? ;-)

 

[joetech]

How much time do you have? ;-)

I figured that! Just discussed it with my wife and decided to go ahead and buy a reconditioned Milwaukee SDS Plus drill and a 1 1/8" SDS Plus bit.

Total cost $140 but then I'll have my own SDS drill. I might only use it twice a year but they don't lose their value very quickly- if I'm not using it that much I'll have it for awhile. The one that I can get that's 15 miles away is getting old and pretty worn out.

For the record, M18 hammer drill does punch 1/2" holes in cement pretty quickly, but I'm not sure I would want to go much bigger with the M18 hammer for the time involved.

 

[KnurledNut]

How deep do you need to go?
SDS+ will do those sizes, but it will still struggle.
I have a 1" SDS+ dry cut core bit that works well. That would be an option depending on depth.
Anything over 3/4 i usually grab the spline rotary hammer.

 

[joetech]

How deep do you need to go?
SDS+ will do those sizes, but it will still struggle.
I have a 1" SDS+ dry cut core bit that works well. That would be an option depending on depth.
Anything over 3/4 i usually grab the rotary hammer.

This is through a concrete block wall, so 8-10" max. I'll probably end up punching at least 3 holes through this wall over the course of several months.

I actually did get a Rotary Hammer. Didn't know there was a difference between an SDS drill and a Rotary Hammer.

Milwaukee 1 in. 120V SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Kit 5262-81 Recon

 

[KnurledNut]

My mistake. I meant to say spline rotary.

If its hollow block, the SDS+ will blow through that like nothing.

 

[joetech]

My mistake. I meant to say spline rotary.

If its hollow block, the SDS+ will blow through that like nothing.

Thank you KNut! That's interesting, never did know what the next step up from the SDS drill would have been. Yes, it's hollow cinder block, not sure if I'll end up going through a center or through a joint.

That spline rotary buy in point is $300+! Wow, but worth it if you're doing that kind of work. I'm a general residential handyman, switched careers to work at the tire shop because I really like the boss and it's only 1/2 mile from home.

 

[chuckya]

I used my m18 fuel hammer drill to drill 5/8" x 5" holes in 26 concrete piers. It did a pretty good job for what it is. It got hot I would have to let it cool down but would still keep going. I cut the end off of an SDS bit so I could put it in the chuck. It will definitely drill that hole you want. Especially if it's just cement and not concrete, cement is not that strong at all.

 

[The Cobbler]

... if it's just cement and not concrete, cement is not that strong at all.

ugm,, cement is a part of concrete



Cement is a fine binding powder that is never used alone, but is a component of both concrete and mortar, as well as stucco, tile grout, and thin-set adhesive.


Concrete is a very strong structural building material composed of cement, sand, and larger aggregate (gravel).

 

[chuckya]

ugm,, cement is a part of concrete



Cement is a fine binding powder that is never used alone, but is a component of both concrete and mortar, as well as stucco, tile grout, and thin-set adhesive.


Concrete is a very strong structural building material composed of cement, sand, and larger aggregate (gravel).

I'm well aware. Alot of people call concrete cement not knowing a difference.

 

[PoorOwner]

I burned mine trying to drill 5/8 x 3” hole. I think I was on the 3rd one. It smoked and lost power.

SDS drill is 5 seconds per hole.

 

[Regnar]

Have a look at Milwaukee Diamond Hole Saws. Guys are drilling holes through Granite and Porcelain Tile with no problems. Dont even need the hammer function. One of the reviews said it did great on block just not good on brick.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-1-in-Diamond-Plus-Hole-Saw-W-Arbor-49-56-0517/204994414

 

[Regnar]

This just popped up in youtube. They must be watching me on here.

 

[highland512]

With sds+ drills going above 5/8 its all about what are you doing. Are you harry the home owner drilling a hole for your sons earth worm project? Use the sds+

Are you a contractor drilling 5/8 and up holes for epoxy dowels, hundreds of them? Use the sds max.

They make some pretty large sds+ bits but its all about how much time you have. The sds+ will do it............ eventually.

 

[rlitman]

Thank you KNut! That's interesting, never did know what the next step up from the SDS drill would have been...

The next step up from SDS+ is SDS-Max.
Spline is just an older technology that predates SDS.

 

[KnurledNut]

The next step up from SDS+ is SDS-Max.
Spline is just an older technology that predates SDS.

When it comes to ability, they function the same. SDSMAX is more popular today. However, Spline is still used heavily in the industry. IMO its a better design. The 3/4 round hex chisels compatible with spline work excellent. The majority of jack hammers still use the same profile, but in 1-1/8 format.

And technically, the next step up from SDS+ is SDS Top. But i seriously doubt anybody cares.

 

[engineer2]

I have Makita and performance should be similar to the M18 hammer drill. Based on my experience, it should be easy for one hole. Make sure the carbide is sharp. If you have a bunch, then step up to an SDS hammer drill.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

To add further complexity, Hilti offered (& maybe still does) what looks like an SDS but is in between the size of SDS and SDS max. A guy I worked with just assumed it should fit in our SDS max Hilti and was oblivious to the fact he was destroying the chuck as it failed to work properly and kept on trying nonetheless.

 

[rlitman]

To add further complexity, Hilti offered (& maybe still does) what looks like an SDS but is in between the size of SDS and SDS max. A guy I worked with just assumed it should fit in our SDS max Hilti and was oblivious to the fact he was destroying the chuck as it failed to work properly and kept on trying nonetheless.

Yeah. KnurledNut brought that up.
TE-C is SDS+, TE-T is in the middle and is SDS Top, and TE-Y is SDS-Max.
I can't say I've ever seen one of those in person.

 

[MushCreek]

I had to bore a 3" hole through the solid concrete wall of my house for A/C lines. I used my M18 pre-Fuel drill, and burned up several carbide grit hole saws. Got'er done, though. I do have a cheap HF SDS drill, and it flies through concrete.