SDS Drill for 5/32 holes?

[LG63]

I most likely own a SDS drill at some point down the road and I’m thinking to buy one now for a project that probably doesn't justify it. (But of course this is GJ so no tool purchase truly needs to be justified)

I have a bunch of 5/32 holes to drill in brick and was wondering if an SDS is practical for a hole this small or would it be too unwieldy? My cordless hammer drill does fine in concrete but I’m finding that brick is much harder and more time consuming, even on a hole this small.

 

[finn]

SDS drills come rated at various drill size capacities, with the physical size, weight, and price varying accordingly.

The cordless Dewalt I bought is rated at something like an inch or so, I don’t remember exactly, but it handles quarter inch bits ok.

 

[Caman]

Yes it is will work. I purchased a smaller Hilti SDS drill to drill about 5000 5/32 holes in cinder block. Worked great, just a bit heavy for all day use.

BTW - here is the same 25 pack of bits I purchased. Best price around and went through maybe 10 during the project. They hold up great!

www.amazon.com/dp/B001MXA4QO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_cQjvBbGQG9MHB

Also, test your holes occasionally with the screws you’re using, once the bit wears out they start getting smaller and almost impossible to screw in without shearing.

 

[LG63]

Thanks Caman, that's the reassurance I was looking for. And thanks for the heads up on Makita bits, that will be a lifetime supply for me.

 

[engnerdan]

If these 5/32 holes are for tapcon style screws its possible with the more powerful SDS drills to make oversized holes. At full throttle my Milwaukee demo hammer will blast through cinder block leaving a hole so large the tapcon barely grabs.

I now start the hole off very slow until I get a small cup formed. Then I will slowly ease into the throttle.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

 

[LG63]

If these 5/32 holes are for tapcon style screws its possible with the more powerful SDS drills to make oversized holes. At full throttle my Milwaukee demo hammer will blast through cinder block leaving a hole so large the tapcon barely grabs.

I now start the hole off very slow until I get a small cup formed. Then I will slowly ease into the throttle.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

Yes, for Tapcon screws. And yes, too much power was my concern. I'm planning to go with a lower end Bosch or Makita SDS, hoping with less weight I'll have better control.

 

[purplezr2]

I used a milwaukee m12 5/8 cordless sds drill when I did some mount holes in my foundation. Milwaukee has a nice kit the holds the tapcon driver bit in a collar that slides over the drilling bit so that the same drill can be used for both worked awesome .

 

[NORDFORD]

Point blank, this is exactly what the smaller sds hammers are designed for. Once you use a rotary hammer, you’ll never use a hammer drill again.

 

[Firebrick43]

I have installed 100's of tapcons using a 5/32 bit in my icf house. Every 1900 electrical box is screw with at least two tapcons to the wall. They last a long time until you hit rebar. That doesn't happen often. I used my Bosch bulldog to drill them.

Tried my cordless hammer drill and after two boxes gave up as the rotary hammer does them in 10~ seconds and the hammer drill take nearly a min.

Menards has 5 packs of the smaller bits in the master force brand. Reasonable priced and last long enough. Expensive bits (in smaller sizes) don't last any longer due to hitting rebar takes them out usually before they wear out.