MaxJax Drilling Question Poll

[les_garten]

Did you drill your MaxJax holes in steps, such as: 1/4" >> 5/8" >> 7/8" and did you have probelms?

So here's how the poll will go:

I drilled in ONE step(7/8") and DIDN'T have problems
I drilled in ONE step(7/8") and HAD problems

I drilled in TWO steps(5/8" >> 7/8") and DIDN'T have problems
I drilled in TWO steps(5/8" >> 7/8") and HAD problems

I drilled in MULTIPLE steps and DIDN'T have problems
I drilled in MULTIPLE steps and HAD problems

I drilled a Small Pilot hole then 7/8" and DIDN'T have problems
I drilled a Small Pilot hole then 7/8" and HAD problems

Multiple steps would be 3 or more drills.

The reason why I am asking is that I am wondering if drilling a 5/8" hole then drilling a 7/8" hole sets you up for a wallowed out hole as opposed to just drilling out a one shot 7/8" hole.

A problem would described as: a "Hinky" hole. You either don't feel comfortable about it, or it pulled up, or you had to hammer down and go epoxy.

 

[joes169]

I take it you're talking about drilling and anchoring into concrete? If so, step-drilling has no benefit, and is actually harder as the larger drill bit will often bind up in the hole. The hole won't be as rue either........

 

[les_garten]

I take it you're talking about drilling and anchoring into concrete? If so, step-drilling has no benefit, and is actually harder as the larger drill bit will often bind up in the hole. The hole won't be as rue either........

Smart boy!

That's the purpose of the poll.

Lots of folks drilling in steps

 

[joes169]

Oooops, sorry if I ruined it. Someone can delete my post if you want......lol

 

[les_garten]

Oooops, sorry if I ruined it. Someone can delete my post if you want......lol

No, your input was great.

 

[skulldrinker]

the only time i ever heard of drilling in steps into concrete is the pilot hole for a core bit. I say it should never be done if you want a round hole. It's not like drilling steel.

 

[regguy1]

I drilled a Small Pilot hole then 7/8" and DIDN'T have problems

The smaller pilot hole gives guiadance to the larger drill point, I found the larger pilot hole allows it to dance around some.

 

[mikeyr]

I drilled 2 holes with pilot and then 7/8", I got tired of that and decided to try the 7/8" by itself and it worked great, did the rest in one step. The 2 holes I started with pilots are the 2 that the anchor lifted up on.

 

[les_garten]

I drilled 2 holes with pilot and then 7/8", I got tired of that and decided to try the 7/8" by itself and it worked great, did the rest in one step. The 2 holes I started with pilots are the 2 that the anchor lifted up on.

How big were the pilot holes?

 

[NewShockerGuy]

Ahhh.. very interesting, I don't want to view the results just yet due to then not being able to vote later on, but the recommended way is to not follow the directions then and use a smaller bit then move up to the correct size? Just go right in with the correct size from the get goo... Very good to know!

Will keep an eye on this thread. I don't want nor need anchors pulling up on me!

-Nigel

 

[regguy1]

I drilled a Small Pilot hole then 7/8" and DIDN'T have problems

The smaller pilot hole gives guiadance to the larger drill point, I found the larger pilot hole allows it to dance around some.

Clarification: By small pilot hole I'm mean 1/4" - 5/16"

 

[les_garten]

Ahhh.. very interesting, I don't want to view the results just yet due to then not being able to vote later on, but the recommended way is to not follow the directions then and use a smaller bit then move up to the correct size? Just go right in with the correct size from the get goo... Very good to know!

Will keep an eye on this thread. I don't want nor need anchors pulling up on me!

-Nigel

You can view the results without voting.

The results aren't exactly rolling in either, may be a while. But we have some good feedback here already

 

[DonnyT]

I used the correct size bit and drilled in one step. I positioned the MaxJax posts exactly where I wanted them and then drilled using the posts as a template. After I drilled the 5 holes I then removed the post and vacuumed out the holes. I had NO problems.

 

[les_garten]

I used the correct size bit and drilled in one step. I positioned the MaxJax posts exactly where I wanted them and then drilled using the posts as a template. After I drilled the 5 holes I then removed the post and vacuumed out the holes. I had NO problems.

You're trying to make this too easy!

 

[NewShockerGuy]

I used the correct size bit and drilled in one step. I positioned the MaxJax posts exactly where I wanted them and then drilled using the posts as a template. After I drilled the 5 holes I then removed the post and vacuumed out the holes. I had NO problems.

I was actually going to ask this question!!! Why not LEAVE the posts in place and drill the hole that way you know there is NO movment by drilling a hole, moving the post, put the post back, mark a new hole..etc. Seems like there is too much room for error when doing something like that when you can verifiy everything is true and plumb, drill the holes using the post as the template no?

Glad you posted this! Very valuable to me!

-Nigel

 

[DonnyT]

Les and Nigel, take your time you guys will have no problems as well. It really is simple with the right drill and a quality new bit.

 

[IONH]

I was actually going to ask this question!!! Why not LEAVE the posts in place and drill the hole that way you know there is NO movment by drilling a hole, moving the post, put the post back, mark a new hole..etc. Seems like there is too much room for error when doing something like that when you can verifiy everything is true and plumb, drill the holes using the post as the template no?

I'd put one in, bolt down the post. Then do the opposite corner one, bolt it down. Then you can finish the rest without risk of it inadvertently turning on you.

 

[cyamaha2007]

Why would you drill in steps??? I drill dozens of 1 1/4in holes in 8-12in of concrete weekly and never pre drill unless its a coring drill(concrete hole saw)

 

[les_garten]

Why would you drill in steps??? I drill dozens of 1 1/4in holes in 8-12in of concrete weekly and never pre drill unless its a coring drill(concrete hole saw)

The idea was that it is easier to keep a little bit from jumping around.

I still can see some utility to drilling a small pilot hole that is shallow.

 

[NewShockerGuy]

Also if it's not too much trouble those that DID have problems and you choose that via the poll, please post so that we know what the problem was.. IE: Anchor lifting up or anything like that. It will show a pattern if mulitple people did it a certain way and were experiencing the same pattern...

Thanks,
-Nigel

 

[70runner]

Drill recommendations would be useful also...

 

[les_garten]

Drill recommendations would be useful also...

1) Rent a Hilti at HD
2) Bosch
http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/BoschProductDetail.aspx?pid=11253VSR

http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/BoschProductDetail.aspx?pid=11224VSR

 

[dr bob]

I use a H-F SDS drill, with the Bosch 7/8" bit from Home Depot. One shot with no pilot holes, it all worked fine. I did make locator/iondexing dimples, as described below:

I had calculated the desired column spacing, and measured the hole spacing on the baseplates. I put down some masking tape to make the marking easy, drew in the hole centers and rings from the measurements. Measure 3x, drill once. So plopped the column baseback over the tape markings. Adjusted the markings some to account for actual base plate hole spacings. (same as: didn't have exact measurements...) Re-tested with the column, then removed column for drilling.

At each hole center, I punched a small dimple in the tape. Then using a sacrificial center punch, I chipped a small dimple in the concrete. With centerline crosses in the tape, I could see where the center of the dimples needed to be. Then drilled with the 7/8" bit in one step. The dimples kept the bit from walking.

After the initial set of five holes, I moved the columns closer together by one row of holes, so the two outer rear holes in the base indexed with the two previous front holes in the concrete. Marked three more holes: two at new front sides and one at new rear center. Did the same measure/mark/dimple/drill procedure as the other holes. Now there are three possible column spacings. Widest is 132" (outside of plate dim) down to about 121" narrowest. When installed on the widest (most common for me) setup, the baseplate covers the unused holes completely. 16 Anchors used.

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Helped a friend install his in his new garage, and made all but one hole easily using the same procedure. On the last hole, we hit rebar a couple inches down. No local rebar bit in 7/8" on a Sunday, so had a brown truck deliver one from Amazon mid week. Finished the following weekend.

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I bought two full sets of anchors with the lift, a total of 20. Used 16 for the bases in plce, and used the others to bolt the columns in their storage positions. Here in the state where the ground can move, those bolts should keep the columns upright even when the bottoms wiggle.


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The HPU is mounted on the wall next to the door about 4' up at the top of the mounting. A 10' hose extension is added to one side, and there's a hose hoop mounted above the HPU to manage hoses. Better IMHO than the cart. I can always pull the HPU down and put it on the cart if it needs to go somewhere else, but in the years since I did this it's never been off the wall.

 

[TurboCup87]

Bosch SDS and Bosch 7/8 SDS bit. One stage drill. After lots of measuring and planning to place the posts properly, I used the posts to mark the holes in the slab. Drilled in the center of the marks.