Went through 4 masonry bits installing framing for windows in a
concrete foundation. Some holes were very straightforward - the bit
cut easily to the full depth. Others either immediately destroyed the
bit (remove the carbide flange) or would just not cut into the stone,
like it was hitting some aggregate that was very very hard.


Suggestions anyone? Can I use a power nailer to attach 2 x 4s to
concrete?

I had THAT trouble here, bought a real hammerdrill and problem went
away. apparently the aggragate in my block are extremely hard.

I dropped my Hilti out aq second floor window, it was OLD bought from a
garage sale...

ended up buying a cheapie chicago electric hammerdrill from harbor
freight, buying good bits from home depot the hammer drill type its a
breeze........

since I need the hammer drill infrequently the harbor freight one is
fine.....

Hammer drills are just the best thing going for drilling concrete. I
wondered if he'd hit rebar.

I've heard that power nailers (the ones with the .22 blank shells)
will do nails into concrete. Never tried it, but this I've heard.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

wrote in message
ps.com...
I had THAT trouble here, bought a real hammerdrill and problem went
away. apparently the aggragate in my block are extremely hard.

I dropped my Hilti out aq second floor window, it was OLD bought from
a
garage sale...

ended up buying a cheapie chicago electric hammerdrill from harbor
freight, buying good bits from home depot the hammer drill type its a
breeze........

since I need the hammer drill infrequently the harbor freight one is
fine.....

"Stormin Mormon" wrote in
:

Hammer drills are just the best thing going for drilling concrete. I
wondered if he'd hit rebar.

I've heard that power nailers (the ones with the .22 blank shells)
will do nails into concrete. Never tried it, but this I've heard.


THe power nailers do work. The single shot ones are good for infrequent low
volume tasks. They are only like $25.

In article . com, wrote:
Went through 4 masonry bits installing framing for windows in a
concrete foundation. Some holes were very straightforward - the bit
cut easily to the full depth. Others either immediately destroyed the
bit (remove the carbide flange) or would just not cut into the stone,
like it was hitting some aggregate that was very very hard.


Suggestions anyone?

Better-quality bits.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

I suspect that the problem is with the quality of the bits and the
hammer drill.

SDS grade bits from Bosch, Milwaukee, DeWalt, etc in an SDS type
hammer drill should solve your problem.

Powder actuated guns can certainly shoot nails through 2x4 into
concrete or steel. The hammer drill method is better. The PAT
tool may not fully drive the nails to full depth and/or may blow
out large chunks of concrete.
______________________________
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)




wrote in message
ups.com...
Went through 4 masonry bits installing framing for windows in a
concrete foundation. Some holes were very straightforward - the
bit
cut easily to the full depth. Others either immediately
destroyed the
bit (remove the carbide flange) or would just not cut into the
stone,
like it was hitting some aggregate that was very very hard.


Suggestions anyone? Can I use a power nailer to attach 2 x 4s
to
concrete?

"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message
...
Hammer drills are just the best thing going for drilling concrete. I
wondered if he'd hit rebar.

I've heard that power nailers (the ones with the .22 blank shells)
will do nails into concrete. Never tried it, but this I've heard.


And they WILL do a U-Turn and come back at you if you hit aggregate or
rebar. I know. I've seen it many times.

You can't beat a roto-hammer. Even a small one like a Milwaukee. They use
a different manner to hammer and turn the bit than a hammer drill. As a
hammer drill is better than a regular drill, so is a roto-hammer better than
a hammer drill.

If you need to do any serious or repetitive drilling of holes, either buy or
rent a roto-hammer. And you don't need the jackhammer size unless you are
core drilling. There are roto-hammers made that are the same size as the
Makita and comparable hammer drills. (the larger ones)

Steve

DanG wrote:
I suspect that the problem is with the quality of the bits and the
hammer drill.

SDS grade bits from Bosch, Milwaukee, DeWalt, etc in an SDS type
hammer drill should solve your problem.

Powder actuated guns can certainly shoot nails through 2x4 into
concrete or steel. The hammer drill method is better. The PAT
tool may not fully drive the nails to full depth and/or may blow
out large chunks of concrete.
______________________________
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)




wrote in message
ups.com...
Went through 4 masonry bits installing framing for windows in a
concrete foundation. Some holes were very straightforward - the
bit
cut easily to the full depth. Others either immediately
destroyed the
bit (remove the carbide flange) or would just not cut into the
stone,
like it was hitting some aggregate that was very very hard.


Suggestions anyone? Can I use a power nailer to attach 2 x 4s
to
concrete?


I have done it both ways, hammer drill and rotary hammers. Hammer
drill works for me only if I don't hit aggregate (have had failures
with both 3/8 and 1/2 inch hammer drills). Anymore I don't even try
using one, I just rent a rotary. They are so much faster.

Harry K

wrote:
Went through 4 masonry bits installing framing for windows in a
concrete foundation. Some holes were very straightforward - the bit
cut easily to the full depth. Others either immediately destroyed the
bit (remove the carbide flange) or would just not cut into the stone,
like it was hitting some aggregate that was very very hard.


Try drilling slower. Masonry bits work best at slow speed with a
hammer drill.