Share
Dry diamond drill bit
What are the major cost benefit differences of using a dry diamond core drill bit versus a carbide drill bit.
Diamond drill bit vs carbide bit
I am sure you are aware that there are different solutions for drilling or core drilling concrete, bricks and other building materials. The two best options are to use diamond core bits and to use core bits with carbide or hard metal tips. However, many questions we have received are related to which of the two products to use and with which equipment.
Hammer drill and core drill
Usually carbide drills or hard metal drills are made of a steel core with small black inserts. These products are used with classic hammer drills. On the other hand, diamond drills are made of a steel core on which diamond segments are welded. These drills are used with manual or column core drills.
Most construction companies have hammer drills at their disposal. For this reason, the use of diamond core bits is discarded by these types of companies. However, later we will find out how this is a problem that can be avoided with simple adapters and small tricks.
Carbide tipped coring vs. dry diamond core bit
Coring is a very time-consuming type of work. Unless you are drilling simple hollow bricks. Also, coring always requires a clean hole without the material breaking up at the exit of the tool.
Hard metal drill bit
Carbide drill bits often do not provide a chipping-free and shatter-free cut. Don't get me wrong, carbide bits are a great solution! They cut well, last a long time, and overall allow you to drill holes in concrete without additional accessories. However, carbide bits will shatter concrete, which can extend your working time when you have to chip away at the compacted residue inside the tool.
Drilling reinforced concrete with carbide tip
When cutting concrete you may encounter iron or steel rods. If you are using a carbide drill bit you can very easily lose one or more inserts. Losing a carbide insert will make the job much slower or even impossible. Good luck!
When you find yourself drilling reinforced concrete with a hard metal drill bit, remove the iron with pliers, then proceed with the coring work again. This way you will be able to finish the job without problems and you will save your tool.
Dry diamond drill bit
The alternative is the dry diamond core bit . You don't necessarily have to spend €2,000.00 or €3,000.00 on a Hilti or Tyrolit core drill. You will find other competitively priced solutions on the market that are useful for the work you need to do. There are numerous advantages to using dry diamond core bits for coring concrete, reinforced concrete, asphalt and other building materials.
For professional seriousness today we will only talk about the dry diamond core bit, because we are comparing it to the carbide tip that works without the use of water. However, know that wet diamond core bits guarantee even more superior cutting performance in terms of tool life and speed.
Drilling reinforced concrete with dry diamond core bit
The first important benefit is drilling reinforced concrete without any problem. The diamond core bit cuts the iron rods and does not need to interrupt its coring phase. This difference is explained by the different cutting technology. The hard metal or carbide tips work by crushing, while the diamond abrades the material it comes into contact with. In this mode you will save a lot of time, up to 15 minutes per hole.
Clean hole with dry diamond crowns
Coring reinforced concrete is not the only benefit of using dry diamond core bits. We have said that the carbide core bits crush the material. This method often causes the breakage and explosion of the drilled material, creating many problems. For the installation of services, the hole must often be exposed. This technology is therefore often not suitable for the context in which it is used.
With diamond drills, abrasion allows you to have a clean cut without the risk of breakages in the final part of the hole. I am sure that this information is already in your possession. In fact, most operators do not use diamond drills because they do not consider themselves equipped.
Adapters for dry diamond drills with hammer drills
Did you know that you can also use dry diamond core bits with hammer drills? We are not kidding. This possibility is finally a reality. Nord Srl also offers SDS Plus or SDS Max adapters for dry diamond core bits with M16 attachment. Obviously, the use of diamond core bits must necessarily take place without the hammer option, but only with the rotation function of your drill.
Obviously this is not the most professional solution for daily core drilling. But if you need to drill holes sporadically this solution may be the right one for you.
For further information write to sales@lanordsrl.it or via the whatsapp chat that you find on the website.
