I just finished stairs for my low deck with the help of Buzz, my handyman and I am installing a handrail for my wife. The upper part of the rail is a slam dunk as it fits against the tall post of the deck. The bottom fits on a 4”X4” post base fastened into concrete and I broke the carbide tip of my masonry bit that is used in a Porter cable hammer drill.
The base requires four bolts with anchors. The first hole went slow and I stopped at about 3”. On the second hole it went slow and then the carbide on the bit broke. I am wondering it I struck rebar or a steel mesh but I doubt that the builder would have had the masonry contractor put any steel in the 80’ plus rv driveway.
i am thinking either steel or perhaps the bit was at the end of its lifespan. I’ve probably drilled 20-30 1/2” holes in concrete about. 3”-5” deep. I am going out to get another bit in the morning and I wii give it another try. The bits are a little spendy but it works out to 50 cents per hole which is not too bad. The bit is one that is suitable for hammer drills.
i had thought about flushing the hole with water periodically during the drilling but I don’t like using electric drills in a wet environment - perhaps it would cool the drill bit and prevent the carbide from breaking.
any advice will be appreciated.
Lee
The base requires four bolts with anchors. The first hole went slow and I stopped at about 3”. On the second hole it went slow and then the carbide on the bit broke. I am wondering it I struck rebar or a steel mesh but I doubt that the builder would have had the masonry contractor put any steel in the 80’ plus rv driveway.
i am thinking either steel or perhaps the bit was at the end of its lifespan. I’ve probably drilled 20-30 1/2” holes in concrete about. 3”-5” deep. I am going out to get another bit in the morning and I wii give it another try. The bits are a little spendy but it works out to 50 cents per hole which is not too bad. The bit is one that is suitable for hammer drills.
i had thought about flushing the hole with water periodically during the drilling but I don’t like using electric drills in a wet environment - perhaps it would cool the drill bit and prevent the carbide from breaking.
any advice will be appreciated.
Lee
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