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Concrete Cutting: An Insight To Concrete Core Drills and Concrete Core Drilling
Concrete Cutting: An Insight To Concrete Core Drills and Concrete Core Drilling
by Robert Short
Concrete core drilling is the process of drilling perfectly round holes through
concrete walls, floors and other concrete structures. Concrete core drilling is
the most commonly recognized use of any diamond concrete cutting tool. Concrete
core drills or "core rigs" can be operated in any orientation, vertical,
horizontal and even upside down thru concrete ceilings. A concrete core drill
bit consists of a steel tube with diamond segments brazed or laser welded on the
drilling end. The core bits are mounted on the rotating shaft of various types
of concrete core drilling machines. Most concrete core drills are connected to a
stand that is secured to a wall or floor with a concrete anchor and a bolt but
there are also concrete core drills that use vacuum pressure to attach to a
floor. There are also many different types of "hand held" core drills. Concrete
core drills can be powered by electricity, hydraulic, gasoline or air power
sources. Concrete core drill bits can range in diameter from 1/2 inch to 72
inches in diameter and drilling depths are virtually unlimited with the use of
extensions. A solid cylindrical slug or "core" of concrete is removed from the
hole after the drilling is complete. The applications for concrete core drilling
are virtually endless.
Core holes are used for "utility penetrations" such as electrical, plumbing and
heating but are also commonly used for venting furnaces or clothes dryers.
Concrete core drilling also allows concrete structures to easily be made ready
for sprinkler systems, HVAC ducts, fiber optics, phone lines, computer lines and
much more. Core drilling methods are used widely in underground utilities
construction, most commonly, manhole taps, underground vault taps, and wherever
sewer, water, steam, air or communication lines pass through a concrete or brick
structure.
Line drilling or "line coring" is similar to perforating, when core holes are
drilled in a series of overlapping holes in a row, allowing for one large piece
of concrete to be removed. Line coring is an effective method for cutting and
removing small, square or rectangle openings of almost any thickness of concrete
where other concrete sawing or cutting methods cannot be applied.
Although not recommended, concrete core drilling can be performed by an advanced
"do it yourselfer" and the equipment necessary to perform concrete core drilling
is readily available at your local tool rental and supply store. Most
professional concrete cutting companies have a minimum charge of $250 to core a
hole for you and it can take a professional as little as 10 minutes to unload
his equipment, core the hole, and reload his equipment. Yet, I have seen
homeowners rent the equipment and spend an entire weekend trying to core a
single hole and then call a professional concrete cutter in to complete the
project anyways. Just like with any trade a professional concrete cutter will
make his job look easy.
© Copyright 2005 Affordable Concrete Cutting, Inc.
About the Author To learn more about converting your basement into an apartment,
remodeling your basement or just installing a precast concrete stairway and a
bulkhead please visit Affordable Concrete Cutting Boston's website at http://www.affordableconcretecutting.com |
