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Need Help drilling into concrete foundation

4219 Views 5 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  stadry
I'm having a hard time drilling small pilot holes to attach capping for a small section of foundation wrap I installed. I'm using a 1/2" Dewalt corded hammer drill with a Ryobi 1/8 masonry bit and also a Tapcon 5/32 bit. I can only get about an inch in and it won't go any further. It seems like I'm hitting some hard aggregate. Don't think it's rebar but I could be wrong. Could rebar be that shallow in the foundation? I managed to drill 10 holes already to attach the membrane but had trouble doing them. I ended up going through 3 bits so far. I could only drill an 1" 1/4 in one hole and had to cut the Tapcon screw 1/4" to attach the plug to the membrane and foundation. I'm also using zinc coated #8 diameter 1"1/2 green screws which I don't think they're meant for concrete but they work and the website for the membrane states that plated or galvanized screws can be used. I drilled 3 holes from the bottom of the foundation to the top but I only managed to drill to the correct depth of 1"1/2 at the bottom hole. I can only drill about an inch in the other 2 holes and then I get stuck. The holes won't go any deeper. I damaged a few bits already trying. Should I use a rotary hammer drill with an SDS bit as I've read other forums saying it would be much easier and more hammering power with a rotary hammer drill. Can I just use a better drill bit to accomplish this task b/c the holes I need to drill aren't deep and big. Or can I just use 1" plated screws b/c it worked when I tried using 1" brass plated wood screws. I know it's not the right way but I'm only attaching the plastic cappings. Any help would be greatly appreciated
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I got a 5/32 Bosch Blue Granite hammerdrill bit from Home depot today and it got chewed up faster than the Ryobi and Tapcon bit. Maybe I was pressing too hard. I managed to only finish one of the holes I started. Frustrated, I went back to HD and rented a Bosch rotary hammerdrill which came with a 5/32 sds carbide tip drill bit. The rotary did the trick. Drilled the holes like a hot knife through butter. What a difference of power compared to a regular hammerdrill. I drilled all the holes except 1 hole that was really stubborn. I managed to get it done but I chewed up the SDS bit. Luckily it was the last hole I had to drill. When I went back to return the drill the guy at the HD rental center asked if I needed another bit so I would've managed anyhow. Anyways, thanks for the advice from you guys, unfortunately it didn't really help but good to know anyhow.
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