Drilling through rocks and rebar?

[Makoto]

hey guys, I'm embarking on my journey to install the maxjax and I think I hit some rebar. I then tried to drill a couple inches to the right (i would fill in the old hole) and didn't get but maybe a couple inches. I also noticed some rock in my concrete floor.

Questions: I'm using a half inch drill with hammer function, will a rented big boy hammer drill from home depot power through the rebar and rock?

If I pay someone to drill my ten holes fo rthe maxjax, what would be a ballpark figure to do the job?

Using the drill I have my hand lost feeling after about ten seconds into it.

Please bestow your wisdom upon a greenhorn! thanks!

 

[A_Pmech]

Rocks will not stop a proper hammer drill but they will not drill through rebar. The usual solution is to send a standard metal cutting twist drill down the hole, drill through the rebar, then go back to work with the hammer drill.

The twist drill might require sharpening due to the abrasive action of the concrete surrounding the rebar, but that's par for the course.

 

[Makoto]

update, pretty sure i didn't hit rebar. I would think it would be odd to have rebar in a 23x22 foot slab, what do you guys think?

 

[A_Pmech]

Stick a magnet down the hole an you'll know.

 

[72Anthony]

The magnet suggestion is a good idea.

How old is the slab? Foundations in the Houston area need some type of reinforcing, either rebar or post tension cables, because of the expansive soils (expands and contracts due to moisture).

 

[fivespdcat]

Hammer drill:

 

[RivennHewn]

Rebar eater:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QFYPWM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Makoto]

The magnet suggestion is a good idea.

How old is the slab? Foundations in the Houston area need some type of reinforcing, either rebar or post tension cables, because of the expansive soils (expands and contracts due to moisture).

laid in 1980

 

[tomsmith]

I had the same problem with my maxjax. I switched to a 3/4" cobalt bit to drill through the rebar and then switched back to the masonry bit.

The 3/4" bit didn't get all the rebar, since the rebar was a bit thicker but once the bulk of the rebar had been drilled out, the masonry bit didn't have a problem chewing through the remnants.

Don't forget to blow out the hole after you've drilled the rebar and before switching back to the masonry

 

[readhead]

If it is rebar the rebar eater shown above is your best bet. With a proper rotohammer you should be able to drill all the holes in about 15 minuets.
Your biggest problem is that you drilled another hole so close to the first one. There is a minimum distance required for the anchors to work correctly. Check the specs on the anchors. Most of the ones we use require 3-4 inches between holes for expansion anchors. The distance requirement is different for epoxy.

 

[Makoto]

I got 2 holes drilled with the anchors set. Turns out it wasn't rebar, I just wasn't using a proper hammer drill. My slab is about 5-6 inches thick, too, so I'm happy about that.

#maxjaxgettininstalledtoday!

 

[Riverside]

Even a cheap ($80 or less) import rotary hammer will get the job done in 15 minutes. Don't waste time with a regular drill.

 

[Makoto]

Rented a makita. Problem solved