Whats your opinion on core drills?

[mrlennie]

Why the need? Is it just a speed thing or do you think the neatness accounts for anything?

 

[wheeto]

Less messy too - you're taking some of the wall out in a chunk rather than as dust!

 

[mrlennie]

Good point!

 

[Halesowen1]

Neatness firstly, as I have cored many a hole and the house is less than dust free some bricks will leave the house needing a complete wash down. I have been known to stitch and hammer out holes but prefer to core them.

 

[AWheating]

neatness really, stitch and hammer is sometimes alot faster tho. depending on the size of your hammer of course 🙂

nothing worse tho to see a big blob of compo slaped around a flue or waste pipe because its been knocked out and bricks have splatted.

 

[SimonG]

Neatness for me. But yes sometimes have to resort to the big hammer.

 

[Best]

Using a core drill means you don't knock lumps of bricks into cavity or chippings flying everywhere. Often is much faster than cutting by hand or electric hammer & trying to cement it up again. Also handy for drilling from inside to outside, where the hole is very high up - need to watch all clear below though! :uhoh2:

 

[tamz]

Diamond core drills are much faster (if you use the right gear) and neater than any other method with minimum making good. Hook it onto a vacuum and there is very little dust (solid cores without slots).
Cheap core bits are a waste of money and time.

 

[AWheating]

goto agree about that tamz, i normally buy marcrist. Hilti bits are the dogs but just to expensive.

 

[tamz]

i normally buy marcrist. Hilti bits are the dogs but just to expensive.

+

I've picked a couple of good ones up on ebay. Not a mark on them from when they fell off the lorry :lol:

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

as tamz says quality and falling off lorries is the key with good core bits,the apprentice had to cut through a stone wall 4 foot thick earlier,the 30 year old kango eat it no core would cope here,mind i think the boys a bit cooked now

 

[johnnyplumb]

Neatness firstly, as I have cored many a hole and the house is less than dust free some bricks will leave the house needing a complete wash down. I have been known to stitch and hammer out holes but prefer to core them.

Core from outside in, use long arbor. all the dust will go outside.

 

[tamz]

Core from outside in, use long arbor. all the dust will go outside.

or use a hoover attachment

 

[twistednuts]

I always used to stitch drill till i bought a core set up, thought core was ace at first then one of coredrills wore down so i had to stitch again. After this i'd never use a core again!
Theyre just a complete pain in the bum. Slow, heavy, dust hell and expensive.

Yes they give a nice neat hole, but if its 100mm flue then its easier and so much quicker to stitch as the pipe ring covers the hole. If the flue only has one ring (tight asss baxi or main) then i use the old core in me battery drill just to cut a nice hole in the plaster.

For inch an half or inch an a quarter i use tct on sds, obviously from inside, then from outside.

 

[Halesowen1]

This is what i meant in saying that the house needs cleaning, after core drilling up a ladder with very sandy style bricks the complete outside of the house needs washing down then, plus the cars, neighbours house and cars, everything. Granted not all bricks do this but some do.

 

[mrlennie]

Hmm I see the advantages and disadvantages thanks guys very helpful

 

[Deleted member 25704]

I have spent over a grand on drills (1600 W boshe) and bits. The bosche purchase was led by local merchant rep, when I told of problem of drills burning out - this drill cost about £750 with VAT, but turned out to be a waste of time - it was so big that it was really one that required bolting to wall. It broke down, but after about two years I complained that it was unusuable - Bosche gave me a smaller drill, which is probably about £200 and its done the job since.

However, I stitch drill most of time, because I really don't think that core drills save you that much time, they are dangerous to use on ladders, and the bits don't last five minutes if your drilling in hard brick. My big drill had dust extraction connection which I connected to my Henry - not much difference.

Conclusion - Core drills ok if smaller, and for holes up to 50mm

 

[Halesowen1]

If you want a neat hole then core is a must, I reckon I get about 70 holes per core bit (5"). My Makita core drill cost me about £200, that was approx 8 years back and still as good as new.

 

[mrlennie]

If you want a neat hole then core is a mustQUOTE]

Thats the thing..is a neat hole a must?

 

[Halesowen1]

No a neat hole is not a must for some, I do try and do a neat job, if you stitch and hammer out a hole and a brick breaks etc, then you end up patching and making a mess.
But obviously sometimes neatness is not needed. But a good core drill and bit and I dont see much difference in speed to drill and hammer.
So its what you like and see best for you, no wrong or right answer only opinions.