Battery Powered Rotohammer

If you start with a 1/4" hole, and then enlarge it to 3/8", then 1/2", then 5/8", and you don't have to go too deep, and the rock isn't some super hard quartz or something.....

I routinely drill 1/2" holes in concrete about 2" - 3" deep using a M18 Milwaukie battery powered hammer drill using the above procedure. Admittedly it's hard on the drill. A heavier drill, such as the Bosch 36v model would do much better.

Dewalt 18v / 20v SDS Hammer drill w rock bits & chuck adapter for regular carbide rock bits
Iron ore rock & concrete in this area

https://aegpowertools.com.au/18v-rotary-hammer-drill

I use this with a carbide diamond tip drill bit. Does the work very quick. Ensure that whatever drill you get. Make sure it uses the SDS drill bit. Those bit and machines are proper rotary hammer. Learnt that the hard way

Milwaukee M18 SDS Plus would do it. we have had one 2 years now works great in concrete.

I just bought a hilti TE-A22 and could not be happier. Expensive but you get what you pay for.
I can't imagine that it would not drill solid rock. It might depend on the type of rock though. Rock climbers use a non-electric hand drill with a sledge to make holes while hanging on a rope so I can't imagine a battery drill having a problem?
If you get a SDS bit pay attention to the tip. They make a higher quality bit with a "cross" (+) of tungsten carbide instead of the typical "minus" (-) point. Way better.

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I can confirm A Harris's comment of the Dewalt 18V hammer drill. I have used this drill with a 5/8" bit to drill concrete curbs, asphalt driveways and rock boulders. Granted a larger hammer drill would be nice but this one does a very nice job, light weight and can be used for other tasks. I also use it to pre-drill for concrete nails when nailing a footer.

Got a Bosch Bulldog this year about $800 battery lasts forever can drill through anything

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Adam1, post: 430533, member: 12262 wrote: I can confirm A Harris's comment of the Dewalt 18V hammer drill. I have used this drill with a 5/8" bit to drill concrete curbs, asphalt driveways and rock boulders. Granted a larger hammer drill would be nice but this one does a very nice job, light weight and can be used for other tasks. I also use it to pre-drill for concrete nails when nailing a footer.

recently picked one up myself and was unhappy with the concrete bits you get at lowes ect. I have one single blade, carbide tip that works on rock, just have to take your time and not push down to hard. Stopped at my sharpening guy who ordered me a bit ($35) used to drill marble and granite, was told to use it in drill mode only not hammer. Will try it tommorow and let you know.
Jim

As a rock climber, I have drilled LOTs of 3/8 x 4" holes into solid rock. Here are a few tips.

At minimum, you need an 18v hammer drill. A cheap ryobi does the trick, but in Basalt (brutally hard rock), you are only going to get about 8 holes of 3/8x4. Each hole was about 45 seconds (Not sure the depth you need in your case).
Bosch inline hammer drill is 24 volts and has a much better weight to it, making your job easier. I had a custom belt battery made for it, so can't give you a suitable estimate for number of holes, but the weight and the power make a faster hole than the 18 volt at about 30 seconds.
You definitely want an SDS style drill, otherwise you are wasting your money. Also, invest in a blow out bulb to clear dust out the hole intermittently, and a bottle brush if you are doing wedge anchors or using epoxy. Cleaning out the hole often makes the battery and the drill bit last longer.
And, regardless of your drill choice, invest in Bosch drill bits (the blue ones) while they are twice the price, they last 4 to 5 times longer.

The SDS Bosch bits work
Other rock bits like Dewalt rock bits work with a chuck adapter

36 v Bosch Bulldog takes SDS plus bits. Will make quick work of blue basalt.

The Bosch is the bomb. Well worth large sack of coin you have to shell out.

Yes, the bosch 36v has been great for several years for us

James Vianna, post: 430550, member: 120 wrote: recently picked one up myself and was unhappy with the concrete bits you get at lowes ect. I have one single blade, carbide tip that works on rock, just have to take your time and not push down to hard. Stopped at my sharpening guy who ordered me a bit ($35) used to drill marble and granite, was told to use it in drill mode only not hammer. Will try it tommorow and let you know.
Jim

So much for the new bit, didnt work at all in drill mode only, was slightly better in hammer. took about 5 min to get a 1" deep 1/2" dia hole, anybody have a source for a double carbide tipped bit?

Beau_Immel, post: 430526, member: 8320 wrote: Rock climbers use a non-electric hand drill with a sledge to make holes while hanging on a rope

Did you hear how hard that guy was breathing when he was done drilling that hole? That's what I remember about using a star drill, and why I love my Bosch hammer drills.

Remember that a hammer drill and a rotary hammer are different tools and have different hammering mechanisms. For drilling big holes you want the rotary hammer.

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Dan Henry, post: 430714, member: 10756 wrote: For drilling big holes you want the rotary hammer.

I should have said rotohammers. I have both 11536VSR battery model, and an 11240 corded unit. The battery unit is fine for a few holes, but the 11240 is much faster and will run all day as long as the generator has gas.

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For those of you who have some time to kill.

I also vote for the Bosch 36V Bulldog. Not all bits are created equal, the https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/boschtools-ocs/sds-plus-hammer-carbide-22573-c/&apos ;">Bosch brand of bits tend to work better IMO. This ting drops holes in concrete like it was butter...

SHG