A core drill is an investment that should last a long time, if it’s properly taken care of. If you’re spending money on a core drill, the last thing that you want is poor performance because of a low-quality drill bit. That’s why it’s important to understand how to maintain your core drill bits. Extended use, poor handling, and improper usage of drills can all contribute to a lower lifespan for your bits.
It’s important to clarify early on that Diamond Core Bits don’t really get “dull” or “sharp”. Instead, diamond bits can become glazed with use as debris gets into the bit, making them seem blunt and less effective. But, to keep things clear-cut and simple, we’ll be using the terms “dull” and “sharp” throughout this post.
Your core drill bits need to be sharp (deglazed) and properly aligned. You can sharpen your bits by raising the bit’s weight while lessening the water flow, before raising the water again as the cut improves. If your bits aren’t correctly aligned, don’t try to realign them during the drilling as this can damage the drill or break the bit entirely.
This post outlines a few useful tips on how to maintain your core drill bits, so that your drill can keep its high performance and consistent use.
Do not try to realign the drill after you have started the drilling process. If you have begun to drill and you find that your hole is slightly off, be careful when moving forward. While you might want to exert more pressure on one side to account for the mistake, you should absolutely NOT do this because it could lead to severe complications.
Pressing to one side while drilling could cause materials to catch. When this happens, your drill might experience mechanical complications as it is interfered with. Doing this can also cause the bit to break, which is the last thing you want after spending thousands of dollars on a bit.
You may find it difficult to determine when your bit is dull. You can tell when it needs to be sharpened when it is not cutting as fast as it once was. That seems intuitive, but oftentimes we think that there’s a mechanical issue when the bit is actually just dull.
To avoid going out to buy an entirely new drill, find a qualified professional to look at your bit. Or, if you’re confident in your own abilities, it’s also possible to sharpen your bit yourself.
To sharpen your core drill bit – to deglaze it – you need to raise the weight on your bit while reducing the water flow. When your cut begins to improve, the bit has successfully sharpened. At that point, you can return both the weight and the water to their original levels. It’s also important to make sure the bit is intended for the layers of material you’re drilling, and for the task you’re undertaking. Both of these are common reasons that a bit might dull prematurely – reasons can you can avoid by using the bit only for its intended purpose.
Some bits are designed to be self-sharpening. These are typically the diamond impregnated core bits. If operated correctly, the original material will wear away and the diamond is exposed to sharpen and renew itself.
Even diamond bits can be dulled if they are used improperly. To avoid dulling your bit, you want to make sure that the settings on your drill are suited for the type of ground or material you are drilling on. Core bits are designed to work only on particular materials, and there isn’t really a one-size-fits-all solution. So, you need to make sure that your bit is fit for the material you’re drilling on. Otherwise, it’s very easy to dull your bit.
When you’ve reached the point where your bit needs to be sharpened, there are a few steps to sharpen it yourself. Start by briefly raise the weight on your bit by around 20 percent. While doing this, lessen the flow of water to the lowest amount that your manufacturer allows. You can check the lowest recommended water flow for your drill in the user’s manual, or on the manufacturer’s website.
When you increase the weight on the bit, you will also notice that the torque of the drill rotation increases. This means that your initial material is shaving down, thereby sharpening and exposing new material.
Your bit will begin to cut properly at this point. Once the cut improves, restore the water flow to the amount that it was at before you began to sharpen. You will also reduce the weight on the bit to its original amount.
This process should successfully sharpen your bit. If the bit is sharpened without much trouble, it’s likely that there is an identifiable reason for why it became prematurely dull. To avoid these issues, read your manual and make sure your bit is accurate for both the project itself, and the material you’re drilling on.
If you experience difficulty during this process, you may be dealing with a larger issue. It is advised that you contact a professional to take a look at your bit.
We’ve gone over the steps you can take to maintain your bits, but you might still be wondering why it’s necessary to maintain them at all.
A core drill bit is used to remove cylindrical portions of material. This often means that the person using the drill to do significant work on their home. Additionally, these parts are used by professionals who need to do an excellent job.
If you’re working individually on your home, you’re likely to have limited knowledge of construction. You’ll want to have functioning materials that will last. Even if you think that this will be the first and only time that you’re going to use the drill, you’ll want to be prepared for unexpected repairs that are needed in case you didn’t get it right the first time.
Another reason to correctly operate and properly maintain your core drill bits is that you have a chance of doing significant damage. Working on a home can be a very precise thing, and the last thing you want to do is replace an entire wall because the drill bit you were using slipped and you punctured a significant portion of sheetrock.
Professionals using this equipment face the same problems. Customers may be extremely angry about a mistake caused by poorly maintained equipment. This risks a bad reputation, further repair costs, and loss of a customer.
When you’re using machinery, you need to know that it is correct for the task you are using it for. If you’re realising that you need to constantly maintain your core drill bits, it might be because you have the wrong one for your project.
If you need to pick up a new bit, it’s recommended that you do some research and order the best fit. If you have any trouble finding or understanding the bit you need, please contact us and we’d be happy to help.
How do you sharpen a coring bit?
How do you deglaze a diamond core bit?
Want more information on Core Bits Segments, Dimple Diamond Segment With Long Drilling Life? Click the link below to contact us.