I was trying to set some PK nails in a concrete alley and they simply won't go. It's been 15 years since I set a lead and tack with a star drill for a mentor but looks like that might be the thing. If I keep doing city jobs, might need a vibrating drill or a rotohammer. Any suggestions? What's the best way to set a point neatly in 80 year old aggregate?
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I use a Bosch 36v rotohammer.?ÿ For onsey-twosey monuments it's great.?ÿ If you have dozens to set a corded machine would probably be better.
For a mag or PK nail you could use a ?ÿa new masonary bit. Anything over ?ÿ5/16? in diameter you??re better off with a hammer drill. ?ÿI suggest buying Milwaukee cordless tools.
I used my cordless hammer drill today. It uses masonry bits. Today I made a 5/8 inch diameter hole. More fun than a star drill.
I have used the 36v Bosch and it is awesome .?ÿ It is also nearly $1000, and that is before you have bought bits.?ÿ I now use a Milwaukie M18 D-Handled rotary hammer which is very effective for the purpose you intend and costs around $400 with battery and charger. A second battery will cost you another $150, or so, depending on how big a one you buy. But you probably do not need a second battery for most uses. I go weeks between charges. Whatever brand you get make sure it has the SDS-plus chuck, not the old style jacobs chuck. The SDS bits will out last round masonry bits of any kind 10 to 1 (at least). Enough to?ÿ back the extra you pay for a rotary hammer as opposed to a hammer drill in no time.?ÿ?ÿ
With a Jacobs chucked hammer drill I would get about 5-10 holes per bit. We also destroyed 2 jacobs chucks in 2 years. With the SDS chucked rotary hammer I've installed over 200 brass plug monuments in the last 2 years with the same 3 bits and they are still going strong. To install these things I need a 1/2" hole about 2" deep. I first drill a 1/4" hole, then ream it out with a 3/8" bit and then a 1/2", then follow that with the countersink bit.?ÿ The 1/4" bit is the one I will have to replace first.?ÿ ?ÿ
Also, spend the extra dollar on the 4-cutter bits. These last longer and drill a cleaner hole than the 2 cutter bits. They also bind up less. ?ÿ .
Finally, batteries.?ÿ The Bosch comes with a pair of 4Ah batteries at 36v. That's 144 Watt-hrs in each battery. The Milwaukie, with a 6Ah battery at 18v gives you 108w-hrs. That's enough for maybe a half hour of solid run time,?ÿ time enough to install 20 or 30 brass plugs and maybe 50 mag nails.?ÿ ?ÿ?ÿ
I've also used a Dewalt Rotary hammer, cordless, and it was good, also. The SDS chuck is the main thing.?ÿ
I'm seeing a Ryobi 18v hammer drill for $175, and if all I need is to put in a PK nail with a washer, might do it. The 36v Bosch sounds like a great thing to aspire to someday. I could also get a star drill for about 10 bucks and put in a lead and tack with a washer. It would match all the others on the block. Maybe a PK in lead with a washer. Gonna make a new rule soon, no surveys where there is concrete. Probably have to do one or two more though. If I buy anything else with batteries I'm gonna have to hire someone just to put stuff in chargers.
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I have used the 36v Bosch and it is awesome .?ÿ It is also nearly $1000
Yikes!?ÿ When I bought mine years ago it was a little over $500.
Of course, you could just use hammer and chisel, and paint an x or + or ??.
Or a plumb bob and a hatchet.
Place the bob point on the coordinate. At about 15 degrees off plumb. Then slide the hatchet down the side of the bob. Hatchet blade cuts a line in the conc. Turn 90 degrees, repeat.
Paint the cross. Wait a minute. Paint again.?ÿ
They work. "Set painted x in conc."
No batteries.
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A Ryobi ROTARY hammer drill will work just fine. Rotary hammer drills take SDS style bits rather than regular drill bits. The main disadvantage of Ryobi cordless tools is they do not have the internal protection circuits inside the batteries to protect from charging in sub-zero temperatures.?ÿ
If you buy Ryobi, just make sure the batteries are warm and the charging happens inside, and you should be just fine.?ÿ
regardless of the tool you choose, Bosch generally makes the best masonry bits.
I have the less expensive 18v Cordless Bosch Hammer Drill. I picked up a used naked tool for $50 at a pawn shop. New battery and charger were about $100. It's not as powerful as it's larger cousin, but seems handle everything I ask of it. From a recommendation on a post on this forum, I picked up this accessory kit. Basically has everything you need.
I love the whole setup, has rotary+hammer mode, as well as hammer only. In hammer only mode, the chisel bit gets through asphalt easy, I've used the pointed bit in place of a pick to open up hard ground. Driving the drill bits through concrete hasn't been a problem, though admittedly I haven't done too many. Try to avoid as it seems I don't get many holes out of the bits.
And you find one battery is enough for a few holes in concrete or a hole or two in the road?
Dewalt DCH775X2. Expensive but worth every penny.
And don't discount using it for other tasks.
It's used to set rebar; get the attachments and drive a rebar through solid ice.
Leave the hammer in the truck and save your arm and back. The thing's heavy and a load to carry around, but you won't mind when setting a bunch of monuments, in the dirt, in concrete, it handles all of it. The first time you set a rebar in tight soil or rocky ground the light will click on fast.?ÿ
I don't even know what a PK nail is. We have caps in newish curbs, use the force.?ÿ
Got me thinking about the Ramset tool with maybe a stamped washer.?ÿ Apparently you need a license for these things now.
Then you'll probably have to watch what neighborhood you're in when setting those points.?ÿ
Then there's heavy aggregate concrete. Not sure if there's a limit to those guns.?ÿ
@lukenz?ÿ
I think there's at least two different size batteries available for it, I have the smaller of those, and yes it seems to be plenty of juice for setting a few nails in concrete and chiseling out a mon or two. It's never died on me, but my day to day needs are pretty minimal.
I'm seeing a Ryobi 18v hammer drill for $175, and if all I need is to put in a PK nail with a washer, might do it.
I really want to encourage you to stretch for a unit with an SDS chuck. But if you really want to keep the investment to a minimum and only need it to set a few MAG nails (nobody has set a PK nail in 20 years) per day then I suggest Milwaukee's 12volt hammer drill?ÿ.?ÿ
I have the less expensive 18v Cordless Bosch Hammer Drill.
What you have is a rotary hammer.?ÿThe difference is more than just the SDS chuck. $50 is a fantastic score. Congratulations.?ÿ
And you find one battery is enough for a few holes in concrete or a hole or two in the road?
With my Milwaukee M18 and a single 6Ah battery I'm sure I could drill 50 1/4" holes suitable for MAG nail setting.?ÿ Then slap in another battery for the night shift. How many holes in asphalt I could chisel out depends very much on the asphalt and the size of the hole.
In the Milwaukee line there are batteries available from 1.5Ah to 12Ah. BTW, these things will fully charge from dead in about an hour.?ÿ
It may feel like I'm Javad'ing on Milwaukee tools. I'm not. Other brands are pretty nearly as good and some are better, quality and capability-wise. But Milwaukee does have the greatest variety of tools in their line, for which their batteries are interchangeable, and the greatest variety of battery capacities.?ÿ Plus they are all sold at HD. So I've hitched my wagon to that brand.
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