When it comes to the hammer drill bit industry, extreme regional variability in concrete aggregate hardness in North America is a real issue. High Market penetration of mediocre masonry drill bits have limited performance. Couple that with the increasing use of rebar in building and code requirements, and contractors are faced with dwindling choices on how to stay productive while working in reinforced concrete.
The type of aggregate and the size of the rebar also plays a significant role in the challenges of drilling concrete. There can be dramatic variations of hardness in different aggregates and the rebar hardness. Lastly, the harder the material, the higher the heat that is generated during drilling. The heat breaks down the brazing and carbide tips of regular bits.
All these factors contribute to lower bit durability, diameter sustainability over the life of the bit, performance and life of the masonry drill bits in both clean and reinforced concrete, and more productivity issues for contractors.
Drilling rebar reinforced concrete has a negative impact on the productivity of both the contractor and the masonry bit as it requires a premium bit to get the job completed efficiently. The business of drilling concrete is often expensive and exhausting for contractors as they are forced to play a guessing game of “when” and “how long.”
“When” will I hit rebar and “how long” will my bits last? Fortunately, Diablo Tools has come up with a solution.
