Extended Run time 1/2" Drill...?

[strizzy]

I am a member of my university's concrete canoe team and we are getting ready to make up some test mixes to cure over break. Problem is with the small quantities we make up, and the very fine additives/aggregates (it’s got to float!) we use it’s not practical to use a drum mixer. Right now we use a 1/2" corded dewalt, but the 20min run times is doing its toll. We do a good amount of runs adding up to several hours of use. I was curious as to if an air drill would work better, but don’t have any real experience with them.... My concern is if they put out enough torque, but I haven’t found anything with numbers.

I thought there was a post about something like this, where a user wanted a 1/2 drill to run something, but the search function isn’t quite working.


Any help or other suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Ign]

I think a quality 1/2" pneumatic drill would have plenty of torque. I dunno if it might freeze up, tho. I'd look to industrial tools, maybe Patco or Atsco if they make air drills (I've never looked). Or high dollar Ingersoll Rand, not consumer grade stuff. IOW air tools that are meant to be run all day every day in a production environment.

Dotco or high dollar Universal Tool could work, too. Here's a Dotco, and the $630 price tag is an indicator it's meant for more than shadetree work:
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT?PMPXNO=9107127&PMT4NO=15384533

 

[l_bilyk]

I have a 1/2" slow speed pneumatic drill and this thing CANT be stopped... it ran a dull 1-1/2" auger through 4x4's like a hot knife through butter

 

[VvvJRvvV]

Milwaukee Hole Hawg. Hand's down, best 1/2 drill if you are looking for torque.

 

[stupidjet]

you need a serious compressor to run a serious drill for any real length of time...

the hole hawg or a spade handle dewalt should do the trick..

 

[Down Under Bloke]

Concrete Canoe racing; interesting. I would love to know the rules and how you make them. I would be tempted to add in scoria (volcanic rock), etc to lighten the mix.

For your mixer I suggest searching out the type of mixer that is used for construction rendering, after all they are designed for the job and all day use. Using two may be a good idea, as you will get longer life from two used in rotation than two used to destruction and if they last you through the year then you may be able to sell them to the next suckers. Or try contacting a few local rendering companies for a loan unit. Who knows part of the exercise may be to encourage you to make contact and links with industry. Remember if you don't ask you can't get.

 

[stupidjet]

my concrete canoe back int he day, we added those tiny little Styrofoam balls tot he mix...

 

[TNToy]

Milwaukee hole hawg would be my second choice in electric drills. Some flavor of Bosch product would be my first. Incredible durability.

I will say that the hole hawg really needs to be used with the auxiliary handle - even with it, it'll about break your wrists if the bit binds.

A pneumatic drill with an in-line tool oiler would be my first choice. Problem here is air supply. Drills use a metric crapload of air.... with a full load, most 1/2" drills use about 25-30 CFM of air. That's five times as much as an impact gun.

Even an 80-gallon upright 2-stage will not be able to keep up with a 1/2" drill during extended use. If you've got a GOOD gas-fueled compressor avaiable that really pushes air (at least 18 CFM @ 90 PSI, I'd think)... then it's the best way to go. The motor will run all day with about zero wear, and the 1/2" models that run around 500 RPM are extremely torquey. Moreso than pretty much any electric dreams of being. You won't stall it.

The IR 7803RA is a good one in this category. The ones your looking for have a planetary gear reduction and spin 500RPM MAX - with no load.
http://www.tooltopia.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=10049

 

[strizzy]

Wow, thanks everyone for your responses and your time! Being the state’s “crown jewel” university we have some nice shops, but I am certain the compressors aren’t going to be putting out 20+CFM. Let alone very practical. When I first looked at pneumatic drills, the ones I saw (unknowingly to me) only listed non-load CFM figures. It makes sense these drills use a high volume of air; unfortunately.

At this time I think it would be most practical to purchase a second drill. I will look into the drills suggested.

Thanks again for all your time guys!

If you were interested, here is the (very lame, nor mine) site http://concretecanoe.org/

Over my winter break I will be working on a site (as time permits) for our team and can follow up for anyone interested.

-strizzy