Can I drill a hole in a stone with an SDS rotary hammer drill?

Question

I want to drill a hole, maybe 3/4" or less and two or two and a half inches long, into a loose stone, probably under four inches thick and one foot in diameter. I am told than an SDS rotary hammer drill with a carbide tip is the way to drill a hole into rock, but I have no idea how this device works and with a name like "rotary hammer" it makes me wonder whether I could safely and effectively use it on a small stone in a vise (as opposed to a mammoth, immobile rock). Does this device work like a jackhammer or is it primarily rotary motion?

Answer 1

1) A hammer drill is a regular drill that also has a pulsating action on the drill bit. Something like 60x per second it hammers as well as rotates. It's normally "the tool" for drilling into masonry, but I propose your small rock will be decimated by this action.

2) Use a good regular drill, corded, for torque, rather than a battery powered one. Clamp the heck out of the rock! Multiple clamps! If possible use a drill press, even an attachment if a real press is not available. Go slow and steady with a new masonry bit. Safety goggles, with side protection. Protect your groin and chest in case this thing breaks apart and throws schrapenel everywhere!

Do NOT wear gloves! It is normal practice to not wear gloves in drill-like operations as they can become caught in the drill bit and pull your hand into the bit causing much more damage than having not worn gloves. Read all the owners and instruction manuals for your project. My advice is not meant for the amateur.

For the record, drilling a hole in an organic rock just doesn't seem like a wise idea.

Answer 2

If you can rent, or buy, a Bulldog model rotary hammer drill and get carbide bits, it will do the job. Bulldog is made and branded Bosch. Rotary Hammer drills will put a smooth hole in the stone if you understand that your job is to keep the hammer where you want the hole and DO NOT PUT ANY PRESSURE ON THE DRILL. Don't force things, let the drill work. All of that means that you don't lean on the thing to get it done faster. The way that those thinks work is through a piston system and if you put pressure on it, you shorten the stroke of the piston. For gods sake, do not use a simple electric hammer drill, like Black and Decker, they will burn up.

Rotary hammers work like both a jack hammer (much less strength) and a rotary motion.

Talk to a Bosch dealer who knows what he is talking about.

Answer 3

A regular hammer drill and a carbide bit should do the job just fine. I had to drill seven or eight two inch deep holes in a concrete slab and the hammer drill worked great. Rather than renting I just purchased a Black and Decker hammer drill for around 50 bucks. It may have been the cheaper one on the shelf but it worked great for the light application. A standard drill would probably work - depending on the density of the stone - but you may end up going through several bits in the process. To avoid this, try using a small amount of water to help cool the bit.

Answer 4

a rotary hammer drill works like a regular drill only its like a person hitting the back of the bit as it turns thus knocking out chunks of stone creating a hole. A masonry bit is what you need.

Answer 5

A hammer drill will most likely break the stone- try a regular drill with no hammer action and a masonry bit.

Answer 6

The hammering action will crack the stone. Turn it off or use a different drill with a masonry bit.

Make sure that you wear safety glasses no matter what drill you use.

Answer 7

You might want to check out the pawn shops for a good deal on a top quality cordless drill, I bought a second hand 18-volt Dewalt compact driver and would again.

Answer 8

its both at the same time watch out cause they spit rock chips like crazy and they hurt, it spins while hammering so make sure you have the right bit cause you could stab a knee or sometyhing if it bends or breaks, and if you dont wanna wear safety glasses the hammer drill will teach ya real wuick why ya gotta.

Answer 9

Any solid hand drill with a masonry bit will work. Keep the drill bit straight and direct so you don't crack the stone.

Answer 10

The primary function of this unit is to rotate and hammer and it is very slight, it is not like a pneumatic hammer that you are thinking of. they are small and light weight and you probably wont need ear protection, however, you will need safety glasses. This will work well for what you described.