drill through cinder block?

[David9726]

Do i need a hammer drill to drill through cinder block that is hollow and only 8 inches thick? I would do my best to drill through the hollow part to avoid the center brace with in block.

I want to make a hole 2-3 inches big. I have cordless drills, impact driver but nothing rated for cinder block. I did buy a SDS plus bit that is 2 inches.

I have looked at renting but i can buy a dewalt hammer drill or cheap harbor freight one for $40 more than renting it with a coupon but it is not a tool i would use a lot. I only need one hole.

 

[acer66]

Cinderblock is nothing special, you could use concrete bits in a regular drill.
Just takes more time especially if you hit a stone and watch not to overheat the bit.
You also just use a chisel or a pointy hammer end and carefully make the hole w/o a drill.

 

[Moosefire]

I drilled a 3 inch hole thru mine with just a standard Dewalt drill and a 3 inch masonry bit. Took maybe 4 or 5 minutes, much quicker than I anticipated

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

Block is pretty easy to drill through, you shouldn’t have any problems just take your time

Be careful when you’re almost all the way through because sometimes drilling through masonry causes blowouts to the face, Electricians do that all the time when they drill from the inside out to mount lights or something they blow the face of the brick off. You always want to start drilling on the side that you want a nice looking hole

 

[sberry]

I made a mistake a while back and used double lb where I should have went thru a block instead of the sill. It was old looking and never considered the outside was decorative so to speak. The Z was a real problem, I got it done and it looks good but was certainly harder than it would have been to cut a hole in the block.

 

[DTE]

you can use a star drill and do it by hand, it is best to do each hole from the outside of the block otherwise ( sometimes even with a drill ) it will push a larger piece of the block off when the bit goes through.https://www.core77.com/posts/68321/How-to-Hand-Drill-Holes-in-Stone-and-Concrete

 

[tarbellb]

How pretty?

Like others have mentioned, block is soft and prone to blowouts. A carbide or maybe standard HSS hole saw might yield a few holes?

If it doesnt need to be super defined/pretty, you can do a series of 1/8" holes in the desired diameter you want, then knock out the middle.

2" SDS bit.... sounds expensive.

Good luck.

 

[SteveCh]

I've drilled holes in cinder block a number of times. Mine were only about 1" diameter, and I just used a carbide bit and a regular drill. Be patient and let the bit cool off now and then. I did not have problems with blow-out. I did go very slowly when I estimated the bit was getting near the far side.

I now own a 1" SDS rotary hammer drill, and it will go through cinder block with ease. However, if you only have one or a few holes to make, the cost of the hammer drill is probably a non-starter, unless you just want one anyway.
By the way, the rotary hammer will also go through concrete fairly easily, though slower than cinder block, of course.

 

[yatg]

A 2" SDS hammering on the block might make a bigger hole than expected.

 

[Renegade1LI]

For a 2 - 3 inch hole a core bit would yield the best results, you can rent one at home depot. We drill a lot of masonry, usually anything over an inch gets cored, less destructive.

 

[MoonRise]

Umm, you already BOUGHT a 2" dia SDS-Plus bit?

But don't have an SDS-Plus tool to put the bit into?

(2" dia solid SDS-Plus bit is a BIG one. A 2" dia 'core' type SDS-Plus bit is also not a little one. )

Bosch SDS-Plus core bit

https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/bo...peedcore-thin-wall-core-bits-t3914sc-33864-p/

Which uses a pilot bit that the core bit (cup) attaches to

https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/bo...ore-bit-extensions-and-pilot-t3926sc-35226-p/

So-called 'cinder block' can be anything from old-school relatively weak block to a more modern "concrete block" made with stronger concrete.

Yes, a hollow 'concrete' bock will certainly be easier to drill through than a solid poured concrete wall.

But it is still concrete.

Absolutely the mention about blowing out the 'far' face of the block when you drill through is true. So depending on the application and how 'nice' you need the hole(s) to be will influence just how you proceed.

Speaking of which, just what is the application you are dealing with?

As to using a HSS hole saw in masonry? Nope.

 

[JRC3]

I'd probably try this for $14. 65mm (2-1/2") https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y2CXDGS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

If you don't have an SDS not sure how well it would work though. Block is pretty soft and it might do the job.

Hell, I'm tempted to buy this just to have it. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JV77MVB/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[David9726]

I'd probably try this for $14. 65mm (2-1/2") https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y2CXDGS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

If you don't have an SDS not sure how well it would work though. Block is pretty soft and it might do the job.

Hell, I'm tempted to buy this just to have it. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JV77MVB/?tag=atomicindus08-20

That is actually the brand I bought. I do not have a sds plus tool will it not fit into a chuck?

Maybe I’ll just buy the cheap harbor freight one. Home depo wants $40 for a day rental.

 

[Sawdust_]

I bought the cheap harbor freight SDS machine. It's awesome. I may never need it again but it was worth every penny. Just dont forget to fill the grease reservoir.

 

[Bretny]

SDS plus is normal SDS. SDS max is something else.

I too have the cheap $75 SDS drill from HF. Its paid for its self 2x in rentals alreaty. I bought it less than a year ago.

 

[JRC3]

Go hit the local pawn shop for a drill, or CL or FBM. I bought this a few years back at a LPS mainly for the SDS drill, and as backup or loaner tools. Since then the recip has bit this dust, the circ has a bearing going and I gave the impact to a buddy. I got my $150 out of it besides the SDS drill, oscillating saw and charger probably being worth the admission price. I had the Ryobi platform in other garden type tools so the lack of batteries was nothing.

 

[dutchgray]

If you don't need the hole to be neat you can just belt them with a framing hammer until a hole appears.
2" is core drill territory and the thin section of a hollow block would drill very quickly. You can run that size hand held with a standard SDS and it will be fine, the drill wouldn't stand it if you were doing hundreds of holes though.

 

[Al Borland]

You can get a dry cut masonry core bit that goes on an angle grinder.
Easy-Peasy.

 

[David9726]

If i where to drill into the center part of the cinder block would it fall apart?

 

[sparky 1971]

Just get a 12" long 1/4" masonry bit and drill all the way through the hollow part to make a pilot hole through both sides. When the bit comes through the other side, the blow out won't be bad. Make the hole bigger with a hammer. I have done that many times before I bought core bits. It's pretty medieval, it's not as cool as buying a new tool, but expense wise it's pretty cheap.

 

[manwithtools]

If i where to drill into the center part of the cinder block would it fall apart?

The block or the core drill? In my experience, these bits can work just fine on the web of the block. Drill an inch or so deep, break out the core with a suitable tool. Drill another inch, repeat. I've used these style of bits to drill through 12" of solid concrete. Proper SDS drill, a little water and some patience and you are rewarded with a uniform hole all the way through.

You DO NOT want to use a 2" diameter SDS bit to do this. Plenty of unrecoverable cap will happen in a cinder block wall. Use the core bit rated for SDS use.

 

[David9726]

The block or the core drill? In my experience, these bits can work just fine on the web of the block. Drill an inch or so deep, break out the core with a suitable tool. Drill another inch, repeat. I've used these style of bits to drill through 12" of solid concrete. Proper SDS drill, a little water and some patience and you are rewarded with a uniform hole all the way through.

You DO NOT want to use a 2" diameter SDS bit to do this. Plenty of unrecoverable cap will happen in a cinder block wall. Use the core bit rated for SDS use.

The center part of the block. Just in case i hit it.

 

[Modern Garage]

I needed a 1-1/2" hole in my concrete block wall for a conduit to the outside and I picked up a diamond hole saw meant for drilling countertops for faucets for about $35. It went thru one side of the block in little over a minute. I only needed one side as I accessed the block core from the top of the wall, but it would have been just as easy to do the other face of the block from the other side. The bit is supposed to be used wet and comes with some sticky washers to hold a pool of water on a horizontal surface, but I just backed it out and sprayed water in the hole with a squirt bottle a few times. I think the price stepped up quickly above the size I needed but this may be an option for you. I was surprised how easily it cut.
Joe