I need to make some holes with a diameter of 8 or 10 for screw plugs in the basement. The entire foundation and most of the basement walls consist of slaggsten.
A chimney guy once tried to access the chimney via the adjacent basement wall but had to give up. I will probably need to borrow something substantial to make more than just a small mark on the wall...
Has anyone made holes in these glass-hard blocks and what did you use?
A chimney guy once tried to access the chimney via the adjacent basement wall but had to give up. I will probably need to borrow something substantial to make more than just a small mark on the wall...
Has anyone made holes in these glass-hard blocks and what did you use?
Diamond drill. That's what I used, the problem is that they have such a varying consistency. Everything from glass to a porous gray mass that crumbles really easily.
Another problem is that they can contain iron bits that are hard on the diamond drill.
I cracked two blocks with the impact drill before I tried the diamond, but these were loose blocks so I could have plenty of coolant, which might be a bit troublesome if it's a wall you're drilling into...
Another problem is that they can contain iron bits that are hard on the diamond drill.
I cracked two blocks with the impact drill before I tried the diamond, but these were loose blocks so I could have plenty of coolant, which might be a bit troublesome if it's a wall you're drilling into...
Can you tell me more about the diamond drill? Sounds like something you would most easily rent for a lot of money, so it would be good to know roughly what is a suitable level of power...
Unfortunately, I have no idea where it was purchased or what it cost, I borrowed it from a friend.
Low speeds on the drill and plenty of water to make the drill bit last longer.
They are surely available for rent, both the machine and the drill, at places like Cramo or similar, but check the agreement first; I've heard of rental services that charge per mm of wear on the diamond tool. If you accidentally damage the drill bit, it can get really expensive.
When/if you encounter a softer part in the stone, the diamond drill can clog up and nothing happens no matter how much pressure you apply, then you need to switch to a regular carbide drill until it starts to get hard again.
Low speeds on the drill and plenty of water to make the drill bit last longer.
They are surely available for rent, both the machine and the drill, at places like Cramo or similar, but check the agreement first; I've heard of rental services that charge per mm of wear on the diamond tool. If you accidentally damage the drill bit, it can get really expensive.
When/if you encounter a softer part in the stone, the diamond drill can clog up and nothing happens no matter how much pressure you apply, then you need to switch to a regular carbide drill until it starts to get hard again.
I have to thank you for the help. These walls are like real safes. It's probably important to minimize the drilling or to make sure you can place the holes in the joints.
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