SDS drill being used instead of core drill?

[HappyHippyDad]

I realise this has been asked before, but I find the search bar really poor on the site since the big change and it doesn't come up with anything useful.

I am getting more extractor fan installs that require wall mounted fans. Instead of hiring a core drill once a year I wondered if anyone uses their corded SDS drill?

I used a friends 4kg SDS and it seemed fine. My SDS is a Bosch GBH 2.7kg and I wondered if this was sufficient for perhaps 4 or 5 x 100mm holes p/year?

Cheers.

 

[Bellendian]

I've got a tct cutter that fit the sds max machine. Heavy but flies through if there is space to use it! Got to be tct not diamond though as hammer always active on sds max. Other than that, my 3kg dewalt sds plus is fine with diamond cores as long as your careful, gets a bit warm mind!

 

[pirate]

my tuppence-worth...
years and years ago, for a particular project, I bought a Ferm, corded SDS, for £49.99. It drilled hundreds of holes from 5 to 25mm, I used it for stripping bathrooms of tiles with a wide chisel, I used it to chisel out brickwork for a boiler exhaust and for installing vents for bathroom and kitchen extractors..driving Multi-Montis into breeze block, and it's still going strong. My view was that if it lasted for that first job, it was good value...it has proved to be so much more, yet Ferm is hardly known as a go to brand!
More recently, I have had experience of a MacAllister SDS corded from the big orange store, and it was absolutely brilliant while it lasted, but we are now on our third in as many months...however, they are very tough and we abused them dreadfully making them work extremely hard digging out conctrete fences and running for several hours at a time. Each time we had a failure they were replaced without question, and I am quite sure that if I bought one for personal use it would see me out comfortably even if I used it every other day for say an hour or so. The clutch mechanism on it was a real boon, and I wouldn't be without it. It all depends on what you really need, the use frequency, and the material being drilled.
My 35 year old B&D hammer drill will put a hole through any modern brick houses for an outside tap, say, with no problems at all.
Horses for courses...(brick courses, of course)

 

[Judd]

In the past year I've probably core drilled somewhere In the region of 100 100mm holes for fans, if your getting an increasing number of jobs requiring cores then I would suggest investing in a decent core drill. I wouldn't even consider using an sds, although it depends on the material your drilling into, different types of brick and masonary have varying core times. If your just going through breeze block then you'll be fine with sds.
Eibenstock core drills are pretty decent.

 

[Judd]

Sorry repost

 

[MJPD29]

I use my Bosch sds as a core drill and abuse it into the ground and it's still going strong

 

[pirate]

delete, double post

 

[DavidSpark]

So @DavidSpark you need to explain the dumb you gave me ...

Accidentally rated you that while browsing by the looks of it! I agree with you.

 

[Octopus]

Accidentally rated you that while browsing by the looks of it! I agree with you.

Thank you ......

 

[Midwest]

I did tens of 110mm core holes with my Dewalt SDS (with clutch) until it died. So I bought another SDS. I also bought a core drill to do the 110mm holes.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Don't seem to have to drill many cores of late, used to be able to borrow a milwaukee core drill in exchange for a pint from a mate. It was very good but some thieving so and so robbed it out of his van. I bought a cheap titan sds+ drill from screwfix about 18 months ago, and it does a decent job, for £50 i have more than had my money's worth out of it, find as long as you dont force the cutting edge in too hard and let the diamonds do the hard work it does a decent job. if the cutting edge is getting a little too hot, then dip it in water and carry on.

 

[Deleted account]

I've use a cheap £50 Ryobi sds drill. I burn out one every 2 years or so. I do about 2 100mm cores per year and charge an extra £150 on top of bill if a core is required.

I give customers the option of doing the core themselves ( not using my drill) and agree to knock off £150 from the bill if they do.
2or 3 customers take me up on this each year. One changed his mind and got me to do it when he struggled.
If drill burns out fine, £50 to get a new one.

 

[Electric Magic]

I've use a cheap £50 Ryobi sds drill. I burn out one every 2 years or so. I do about 2 100mm cores per year and charge an extra £150 on top of bill if a core is required.

I give customers the option of doing the core themselves ( not using my drill) and agree to knock off £150 from the bill if they do.
2or 3 customers take me up on this each year. One changed his mind and got me to do it when he struggled.
If drill burns out fine, £50 to get a new one.

I've definitely been undercharging for coring out holes by the looks of it! Usually just charge about £30! My core drill is pretty good though - most 107mm holes in cavity walls take about 2 minutes unless it's engineering brick (Marcrist DDM1 - £240 from Screwfix, possibly cheaper if you shop around HHD, well worth it IMO).

 

[Deleted account]

£30. That's well cheap. You've got to take into consideration the wear and tear on the drill. Or in my case the replacement.

Also if you have bought some a super £250-£300 core drill it needs to be paid for by the customer.

 

[Baddegg]

My 240 dewalt sds has cut loads of core holes 32mm to 125mm and I use it for chasing out,still going after 3 years......beat to death but still going best £100 odd quid ever spent!

ummmmmm....sorry happy hippy buried in my van and I’m buried in the sofa! It is basically their cheap range sds that I bought when first starting out, I do lots of bathrooms and kitchens and partial/full rewires on occasion so it’s had a lot of use! been waiting for it to die for ages so I can justify a new one!

2kgs happy hippy has a clutch as well,used it again today for a 50mm hole........still going! Got an extractor in the morning as well!

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Thanks for all the advice guys.

I have just bought a Makita 8406 for £200 and reckon I'll be pretty happy with it