Once you have a firm grasp of these four crucial steps of concrete core drilling, you’re on your way to proper drill operation.
For the inexperienced operator, concrete core drilling can be an intimidating task. Many factors can arise and having a good understanding of the proper training and equipment safety standards is essential to proper use. Once you have a firm grasp of these four crucial steps of concrete core drilling, you’re on your way to proper drill operation. But don’t forget your personal protective equipment.
Power
Due to the electrically powered nature of most drills, it is essential to follow the posted amperage. Drill operators should make sure the drill is operating at the maximum amperage without exceeding it. To this end using an amp meter is highly recommended, as it is hard to tell the optimal settings without. If the amperage is exceeded, the motor will become bogged down and potentially overheat causing excessive wear.
Speed
Each drill bit size has a different recommended rate, the smaller the bit, the faster the drill can be run. While most drills come with standard speeds that are specific to each bit size, it’s important to become aware of the preferred speed per size.
Anchor
To achieve a straight, clean core, an anchor must be used. To set up the anchor make sure to use the correct physical anchors rated for the type of drilling you will be doing, always use the proper techniques and tools to set the anchor when possible. In addition, a vacuum might be useful to help with drilling. If using a vacuum make sure the gasket is aligned correctly and the filter bottle is free of debris and clean. We recommend always using a vacuum gauge as well.
Water
Water is essential to concrete core drilling, but too little or too much can leave you with numerous problems. The ideal situation is to have enough water to create a concrete slurry that looks like coffee with plenty of cream. Too little water will mean that you don’t have enough slurry and the diamonds on your bit will only be grinding the same particles and might overheat. Meanwhile, too much water will mean that the concrete dust will all be washed away with nothing left to keep the diamonds exposed.
Concrete Visions Can Help You See Danger in Your Future
Concrete Visions has over 12 years of experience and expertise in concrete scanning and we know how to detect any problems lurking beneath the surface. We use ground penetrating radar accurately and expertly and are familiar with many other methods that can be used when appropriate like concrete x-ray and electromagnetic conductivity. We are also very familiar with the latest construction safety techniques and train all of our workers to do their work quickly, accurately, and safely. If you would like to learn more about how we can help you, give us a call at (410) 766-2210 or visit us online. For more articles and tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.