Marcrist ddm2

[nellyc79]

Hi guys & Gals,
has anyone on here used the marcrist ddm2 core drill? and if so how are you finding it. I am looking into purchasing one and trying to get some feedback first.

cheers
Nelly😉

 

[REDSAW]

marcrist?

isnt these what holes were made for?.

 

[Synaptic23]

I have the ddm2. It is built like a tank, quite heavy but very powerful.

 

[dancinplumba]

Bump,
anyone got one of these ? how much did you pay and where from ?
thanks

 

[tom609]

i paid 260 for mine it is built like a tank took some getting used to after my hitachi 950 nearly went round with it the first time i used it ha ha have to say it went faulty after a few weeks rcd switch sent it back and repaired no problem

 

[dancinplumba]

cheers tom lol at going round with it, mate went round drilling and knocked himself out lolol, i thought he was dead for a minute 🙂

 

[tom609]

ha ha nearly did same screw my shoes down first now ha ha

 

[tamz]

I have both the DDM2 and the DDM3. Same machine but the DDM3 is higher powered and faster. The 2 cost £300 odds with a couple of 850 core bits and the 3 about £430 for the gun itself.
If you do a lot of drilling it is the best buy you will ever make.
My DDM2 was (ab)used daily drilling walls up to 4ft thick and pushed so hard i've had to wear gloves to hold it it was so hot and even pushed it with my feet. It refused to die no matter what i did to it and lasted 4 years before i the clutch gave in.
I got it repaired by a local diamond drilling company who service their own gear for £60 but as i use it daily and couldn't be without it, i bought the DDM3. It is different geared and has 3 speeds up to 3500rmp so of course i use it on speed 3 for everything regardless of what core size and what the makers recommend.

 

[dancinplumba]

cheers tom was looking at ddm3 cos it is faster lol but does it justify the extra cost ?? decided...its ddm3 😉

 

[tom609]

i looked at that and spoke to marcrist they reccomended the ddm 2 cos i was thinking of the3

 

[tamz]

To be honest Steve unless you are doing some serious drilling and can use the faster speed it is not worth paying the extra £200. The DDM2 will do everything you need no problem.

 

[dancinplumba]

lol ddm2 then lol arrgh haha 400 is a lot for a single use drill 🙂

 

[tamz]

Mines has paid its way many times over.

 

[TBServices]

DDM2 has to be the biggest bargain going in the powertool world.

 

[vern]

I have both the DDM2 and the DDM3. Same machine but the DDM3 is higher powered and faster. The 2 cost £300 odds with a couple of 850 core bits and the 3 about £430 for the gun itself.
If you do a lot of drilling it is the best buy you will ever make.
My DDM2 was (ab)used daily drilling walls up to 4ft thick and pushed so hard i've had to wear gloves to hold it it was so hot and even pushed it with my feet. It refused to die no matter what i did to it and lasted 4 years before i the clutch gave in.
I got it repaired by a local diamond drilling company who service their own gear for £60 but as i use it daily and couldn't be without it, i bought the DDM3. It is different geared and has 3 speeds up to 3500rmp so of course i use it on speed 3 for everything regardless of what core size and what the makers recommend.

LMFAO Tamz pushing with the feet is a beauty!

 

[Dannypipe]

LMFAO Tamz pushing with the feet is a beauty!

Yeah, funny mental imagery there!!

 

[dancinplumba]

ddm3...done and bought 🙂 cannot wait, roll on tuesday 🙂

 

[Dannypipe]

I want one!!

 

[TBServices]

ddm3...done and bought 🙂 cannot wait, roll on tuesday 🙂

Good move!

 

[mcniven]

I might buy one then!

Jus bought a Kane 455on Monday this is not so good after jan lol

 

[tom609]

you wer always gonnna get the ddm3 lol

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

pushed my makita so hard yesterday my guts have hurt all day,its C R A P,struggling now jamming constantly and getting very hot will have to look at the marchist

 

[Dannypipe]

I'm gonna get one, it's just a case of when.

 

[dancinplumba]

I'm gonna get one, it's just a case of when.

will send you piccys of mine for you to drool over 🙂

 

[Dannypipe]

Cheers!! Send me the link you bought from too please, as it may save me some time shopping about. I fitted a new boiler last week, and cored the flue with a £90 Bosch SDS. It wasn't much fun.

In the past I've had a Makita core drill, which was good to be honest (got nicked), and I tried that 'Sparky' one that Screwfix sell. It was worse than the SDS. Total rubbish.

 

[dancinplumba]

had a metabo but it was long, heavy and slow, bought it off fleabay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Marcrist-...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item3f14150be1

 

[vern]

My Makita ain't gonna be long before she blows, can you post a review Steve when you get it please pal?

 

[dancinplumba]

will do vern, but check tamz posts above, says it all really lol

 

[vern]

will do vern, but check tamz posts above, says it all really lol

Yeah Tamz review has 90% convinced me to junk my Makita, the core bits themselves are just as important also, I'm using some nortons which are average IMHO

 

[rob2048]

Hi are they only good for core drilling or can you use as a drill as well

 

[Roger Welton]

Core only

 

[dancinplumba]

dont know rob, dont see why not tho, might be good for boring large holes in joists 🙂

 

[dancinplumba]

Core only

have you tried it as a drill only roger ?

 

[tom609]

got my ddm2 from northern hardware in blackburn cost 250 if my memory serves me

 

[rob2048]

Having never seeing one do you still drill a pilot hole for the core to follow I only ask cos it looks like it doesn't have a chuck on it just threaded

 

[Roger Welton]

no way to fix normal drill bits (only a threaded chuck for core bits)

 

[dancinplumba]

Having never seeing one do you still drill a pilot hole for the core to follow I only ask cos it looks like it doesn't have a chuck on it just threaded

they don't have hammer action so no, you can put guide rod in, they use tapered bit

 

[Roger Welton]

I normally pilot with sds then use guide bar to get me started

 

[dancinplumba]

no way to fix normal drill bits (only a threaded chuck for core bits)

could it be possible to get chuck that screws on end ?

 

[Roger Welton]

It may well be possible, though not sure I'd want to do so, Its a bit unwieldy to use for a prolonged period. And with my 2kg and 5kg sds / sds max never felt the need.

 

[rob2048]

So you need 2 drills

 

[TBServices]

So you need 2 drills

In a word yes, but you're better off using an sds to drill the pilot, even if your core has a chuck.

 

[dancinplumba]

So you need 2 drills

more usually, I have 5 inc cordless

 

[Roger Welton]

You always need at least one more drill (I 'need' a cordless sds at the moment)

Edit to add: you can use a tapered pilot bit but I find it a bit unwieldy so use the sds to put pilot in accurately then a guide bar with taper attachment to get core going

 

[rob2048]

I have a sds but you would think a drill that does core holes would be able to drill the pilot hole it needs to run its guide in not moaning still want one just a thought

 

[dancinplumba]

I have a sds but you would think a drill that does core holes would be able to drill the pilot hole it needs to run its guide in not moaning still want one just a thought

very rare for me to use a guide

 

[Roger Welton]

It'll do it just its such a lump, and with so much of a kick I find I get much better (more accurate) results doing it as described above

 

[turnpin]

I have both the DDM2 and the DDM3. Same machine but the DDM3 is higher powered and faster. The 2 cost £300 odds with a couple of 850 core bits and the 3 about £430 for the gun itself.
If you do a lot of drilling it is the best buy you will ever make.
My DDM2 was (ab)used daily drilling walls up to 4ft thick and pushed so hard i've had to wear gloves to hold it it was so hot and even pushed it with my feet. It refused to die no matter what i did to it and lasted 4 years before i the clutch gave in.
I got it repaired by a local diamond drilling company who service their own gear for £60 but as i use it daily and couldn't be without it, i bought the DDM3. It is different geared and has 3 speeds up to 3500rmp so of course i use it on speed 3 for everything regardless of what core size and what the makers recommend.

May be time to consider thermic lance Tamz
regards turnpin:8:

 

[TBServices]

I have a sds but you would think a drill that does core holes would be able to drill the pilot hole it needs to run its guide in not moaning still want one just a thought

A chucked one would, but it would take an age without a hammer function, so you wouldn't even bother. Hence, a lot of dedicated core drills don't have a chuck.

 

[SimonG]

My makita is looking as though it will go the journey this year so might look at this one. I haven't used my feet before but I've used a lump of 3 x 2 to use as a lever before.

 

[rob2048]

Sorry I didn't know it had no hammer or any thing we use a makita which has other functions on it so its core only

 

[tom609]

yeah its a core only but sds first makes it easy

 

[tamz]

Right i'll do a wee review on these machines just to straighten things out.

First of all this is a dedicated diamond drilling machine. It has absolutely no use for anything else. If you want a drill that will do most things just buy an sds.
If you are serious about what vyou do you will have at least half as dozen drilling machines, each with a dedicated use.

As most of you know i've been doing this nonsense for a long time and my time is not only money but i would rather get the job done and back to my own time asap.

Ever since flues became round and i more or less hung up my 4lb mash hammer i searched for a decent diamond drilling machine at a reasonable cost.
I've bought a couple of Makitas, a dewalt, an industrial ryobi and another one i can't remember which make, all costing in the 2 -3 hundred price range and also many times used my standard sds gun for cores.
They would all do the job reasonably well, some better than others but all took their time.
The guy who lives next door to my dad has a diamond drilling company and they will drill holes up to 4ft dia and more
I was standing having a chat to him one weekend and he said to me why don't you try a marcrist. They are doing a machine which is near enough the same quality of hand held as we use so i looked it up and bought a DDM2.

Your first impression will be this is one heavy beast of a machine (it is an all metal construction) and it is. It is a solid built machine.
It comes with 4 spanners that fit all the sizes of cores, extension bars and the adaptor and a wet drilling attachment which most won't use but if you ever do you will find it speeds things up even more.
Plug it in and turn it on and you will feel the back kick as it starts. Its a powerful machine but don't be scared of the weight or power. It is easily handled due to the hydraulic clutch.

Personally i don't use a pilot hole. I have used these things enough to be able to start the hole with the core bit straight onto the wall to be accurate to within a mill or 2. (dig in at an angle)
That is an experience thing but if you feel the need to drill a pilot/guide hole then use your sds to drill a 10mm hole. Stick the K taper guide rod in the end of your diamond core bit and away you go.

The DDM 2 has 2 speeds and the DDM 3 has 3 speeds and they recommend different speeds for different sized cores. So you get your 117 mm core on and it tells you to use speed 1 with that sizw core.
I did that for a while and it did the job better than any drill i had used previously then one day when drilling a particularly deep hole i thought fk it i'll try speed 2. Big difference and much quicker howwever you can't push the machine so hard. So me being me i've left it on speed 2 ever since (and speed 3 on the DDM3). Just don't push it so hard
It is not only the machine that makes the difference. Good core bits are a must.
The marcrist 850 cores are definitely top of the range stuff. They will cost you around a ton for a 117mm but they are worth the money. PTS do a similar core bit to the marcrist 750's A decebt bit and if you talk the talk you will get them for under 30 quid. I've bought the cheap sets from merchants and Aldi etc thinking fior £30 /100 quid a set it will do a turn. They won't, They are junk. Save your money for something better.
Knock off hilti cores from ebay are just as good (make sure the are not the quick fit only ones)
Talking of Hilti. Their core guns are very good but you will be paying £800 plus for a machine that does the same as a marcrist.
Best advice: never skimp on tools. they save you time and money.

So a summary of a marchrist core gun.

It certainly does what it says on the tin better than most.
You won't get a better gun unless yo0u spend 5-6 hundred more
It is heavy but once it bites the weight is irrelevant.

As said above somewhere; it is the best money you will spend if you do cores.

Btw some facing brick or engineering brick are just so hard no diamond drill will be quick on them. After drilling 2mm in 2 minutes just lay it down, drill a 7mm pilot then get the old 4lb hammer out. 4 or 5 hits and its sorted.

Another btw for the brave.
Try a core bit on your 9" grinder (you will need to buy an adaptor). No clutch and speeds of up to 7000rpm. Live life on the edge :lol:

 

[Dannypipe]

Great review. Thanks Tamz.

 

[dancinplumba]

Will get my angle grinder out 🙂

 

[Howsie]

Will get my angle grinder out 🙂

Braver man than me!

 

[dancinplumba]

ha ha ha

 

[vern]

Steve you mad head....

 

[SimonG]

Bit of scaffy pole over the handle for extra bracing and the jobs a good un 🙂

 

[dancinplumba]

good idea

 

[tamz]

Safer if you don't go over 2" with the grinder as there is no clutch but you can do it if you can hold it.

Core Buddy Hole Coring with an Angle Grinder - PWM Sales .Ltd - YouTube

and from about 1:30 here
Dry Hand-Held Core Bit - YouTube

 

[erpkid]

Safer if you don't go over 2" with the grinder as there is no clutch but you can do it if you can hold it.

Core Buddy Hole Coring with an Angle Grinder - PWM Sales .Ltd - YouTube

and from about 1:30 here
Dry Hand-Held Core Bit - YouTube

Looks good Tamz. Like the central bar thing as would hate to have a big grab with 18 inch grinder as a lever. Most of my grabs are a result of the pilot slipping out so this system would get rid of this. Cheers !

 

[rob2048]

Just been looking at these on the web you can get dm2. And the better core bits together I've noticed two kinds of the same core bits different boxes most with the ally box and some with a plastic box I can see in the plastic box it has a extension bar but carnt see one in the ally box one does any one know if there is a differance thanks

 

[01ST13795]

Just been looking at these on the web you can get dm2. And the better core bits together I've noticed two kinds of the same core bits different boxes most with the ally box and some with a plastic box I can see in the plastic box it has a extension bar but carnt see one in the ally box one does any one know if there is a differance thanks

I've got the ally box and It came with 200mm extension bar!!

 

[Dannypipe]

Bumping this old thread. Anyone know where I can get one for about £250? The DDM2 seems to have gone up a bit!!

 

[Roger Welton]

I think the ddm2 has been discontinued

 

[Killy Bing]

Ddm2's gone. I ordered one from ffx a few months ago and they got back to me a week later and said they were unable to get them in anymore. Looked at pro tiler tools the other night and they don't list them either. Ill just get the Milwaukee at some point now. I don't like using my sds for cores.

 

[Roger Welton]

I believe the ddm3 is still available, same drill with a 3 speed 'box I'll probably get one these if my 2 ever packs up.

 

[Killy Bing]

I believe the ddm3 is still available, same drill with a 3 speed 'box I'll probably get one these if my 2 ever packs up.

it comes in at just under 500 quid for the 3!

 

[Roger Welton]

Tax man will have it if you don't spend it though (I also have addiction to buying tools!)

 

[Dannypipe]

I think £500 is a bit too much. Even if the tax man will have it. I'm not putting boilers in every day so I can't justify the dosh at them moment. Maybe when I get everything done for Xmas as I should have a few more quid spare by then.

 

[Killy Bing]

4002395232628 milwaukee dd2-160 xe 2 speed dry diamond core drill 240v

that's next on my list danny. if you get a ddm3 i'd love to lend you that and have a little compare.

my workmate has it and its nice to use

 

[Dannypipe]

I heard the Milwaukee has a 'soft hammer' function. Years and years ago I was chatting to a plumber in a merchants and he had just bought a Milwaukee core drill and it was playing up. This was before they were as popular as they are today. I will happily lend it to you when I get it mate. That is if I don't by a cheap Dewalt or similar instead!

 

[Killy Bing]

it goes lovely, stops without a bad jerk due to the electronic clutch. the soft hammer makes a lot of difference in time.
I'm fitting a boiler Tuesday and I'm employing Thomas (the one with the Milwaukee) and I will see what it's like with my new marcrist cores. (yay, no more crappy Ryobi cores)

i'm interested to see which is the better beast between the ddm3 and milwaukee.

I have vowed not to get a cheap core drill after having a sparky drill get stuck on and pull me off a ladder, luckily it was a bungalow.

 

[tamz]

A few places are still saying they have the ddm2 if you do a search. Might be worth ringing them.

http://www.alanwadkinstoolstore.co....amond-core-drilling-machine-2-speed-240v-p211

Buy Marcrist DM2 Core Drill Machine 2 Speed 110 Volt Online

Marcrist Dm2 Core Drill Machine 2 Speed 110 Volt MRCDDM2110 from MTS Power Tools

 

[tamz]

i'm interested to see which is the better beast between the ddm3 and milwaukee.

It is a no contest if you put the ddm3 on speed 3

 

[smtplumbing]

King where did u get your cores from

 

[Killy Bing]

It is a no contest if you put the ddm3 on speed 3

when the ddm3 binds and jerks does it do it badly ?

 

[Killy Bing]

King where did u get your cores from

Marcrist 127 CCU850X Diamond Core Drill Set 249.512.0002 - £126.99 - www.protilertools.co.uk

 

[tamz]

when the ddm3 binds and jerks does it do it badly ?

Not that i've ever felt. I can hold it with one hand and drink my coffee with the other :smile:
It's easily held but i'm about a foot taller than you and probably a wee bit stronger.

 

[Killy Bing]

taller yes but as for strength i'm pretty good usually !!! I got attacked when I was 14 by a group of 20 ish year old showing off , knocked to the floor and one of them jumped up both feet onto my right hand. I have to look after it now and when a core drill snatches man do I feel it !!! hence why I like the milwaukee

 

[tamz]

Use your left hand them. You need to learn to be ambidextrous and never be afraid of the tool you are using. Thats when it will bite you.
You can hold it no problem and it never snatches.

 

[Killy Bing]

I do, its just that occasion you can't get into the right position 🙂 thanks tamz, i'll consider the ddm3 then 🙂

 

[g60rge]

heads up ddm2 and 3 now rebranded under the sparky brand and cheaper too

not sure which is the best one for my needs though

ddm2
Sparky BBK21500 2 Speed Core Drilling Machine 1500 Watt Range | Power Tools Direct
ddm3
Sparky BBK3 1500 3 Speed Core Drilling Machine 1500 Watt Range | Power Tools Direct

 

[mcniven]

how do u know thiS?

 

[mcniven]

do others agree if so il order one, will it be as good???

 

[Dannypipe]

I'll let you know. I've ordered mine!

 

[g60rge]

ordered the bbk2 for 206 pounds delivered - let you know how good it is, no doubt screwfix will start selling these.

 

[g60rge]

wow,

so last week i drilled a hole for the stack pipe with my dewalt hammer drill, got through the breeze block ok, then it wouldnt drill through the brick, i gave up and stitch drilled in the end, time taken 45mins. dead arms and shoulder pain for 4 days, (bare in mind ive had double shoulder operations)

today i drilled the boiler flue hole with the same worn drill bit with the new sparky drill, woooooow, it took 2 mins, arms are fine!!!!

one of the if not best investments soo far after the power flush machine!

the sparky re brand is definitely the real deal

 

[gasmanrob]

Sweet!

Err anyone wanna buy my hardly used ddm1?

 

[Dannypipe]

George - I found the gear on mine hard to change. I have the three speed one. You have to manually shift the chuck and slot it into gear. There is info in the Sparky instructions about this. I hope we haven't damaged the gear box because we actually span the drill out of gear at the start and then when the motor slowed, we slotted it into gear. What do you think? Tamz you have used these???

Its not the same as a DDM1 which is a totally different drill. This is a total beast of a drill compared to the DDM1.

 

[lame plumber]

Sparky BBK21500 2 Speed Core Drilling Machine 1500 Watt 110 Volt - Sparky from Cassells Industrial Products Ltd UK

being as the other company is out of stock !!

 

[tamz]

It looks the same gun as the old DDM2/3 Danny.
Probably made by the same company. There are a few similar machines under different brands (do an image search for handheld core drill).
You have to (usually) move the chuck to change gears. This is common on a lot of tools.
I just leave mine in speed 3 for everything unless i need more torque on a particularly deep hole (the clutch kicks in more on higher speeds).

 

[lame plumber]

tamz is the 3 speed better than the 2 speed as it looks like the top end speed is the same for both at 950 cheers jcd

 

[tamz]

Speed 3 on a ddm3 is >3000rpm, speed 2 around 1800.

Speed 2 on a ddm2 is >2000rpm

 

[lame plumber]

more speed means quicker holes 🙂

just managed to read the small print on the ddm3 sparky,
No Load Speed: 950/2,100/4,300/min. so I might save the other £100 for that one

 

[tamz]

more speed means quicker holes 🙂

Usually but depending what you are drilling it sometimes glazes the tips if you are dry drilling.
Run the core in a bit sandstone to deglaze and sharpen it again.

I paid around £250 for my ddm2 and £4 odds for the ddm3 so these ones are a lot cheaper.

 

[shezzaar]

Hi Guys,
Cant seem to find anywhere to buy the marcrist ddm3. Not keen on the sparky version. I have done a quick google for others and come up with the rems picus s3 REMS Picus S3 - Electric diamond core drilling machine thoughts?

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

here Marcrist Drilling Machine DDM3, Core Drill City

or here: Marcrist DDM3 Diamond Core Drill 240v | Pro Tiler Tools

or here: https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/...-230v-2-speed-core-drill?da=1&TC=GS-060213002