Hammer Drill Bits Explained

Hammer drill bits are designed to withstand hammer drills’ intense pressure and pounding action. These drill bits are made from high-quality materials such as carbide or hardened steel, known for their durability and strength.

The drill bit tip is often reinforced with tungsten carbide, a super hard material that can easily penetrate through concrete.

In this article we’ll cover what a hammer drill bit is, types, and much more.

• What is a Hammer Drill Bit?
• What Type of Drill Bits are Used with a Hammer Drill?
• Are all Hammer Drill Bits Created Equal?
• The Anatomy of a Hammer Drill Bit
• Drill Bit and Its Role in the Hole
• Ensuring the Best RH Test Hole

The design of a hammer drill bit is also crucial for its effectiveness. The flutes, or grooves, on the bit, help to remove debris and dust from the hole as it is being drilled, preventing clogging and ensuring smooth drilling.

Using the right hammer drill bit is essential for achieving optimal results. Selecting a bit that matches the size and type of hole you need to drill is crucial.

Hammer drills are known by a number of descriptive terms: chipping guns, rotary hammers, demolition hammer drill, rotary drill, or combi drills.

What is a Hammer Drill Bit?

Hammer drills are designed to quickly drill through brittle materials like concrete by combining the rotary action of the drill bit with a hammer action that moves the drill bit in and out of the hole along the bit’s axis to provide a pounding action along with the drilling motion of the bit.

They work with a couple of different mechanism designs, but ultimately the drill’s effectiveness is only as strong as its drill bit. With that dual action in a tough building material like concrete, the drill bit itself has to withstand incredible pressure.

What Type of Drill Bits are Used with a Hammer Drill?

Hammer drills are a powerhouse tool, essential for tough drilling tasks. The kind of bit you’ll need largely depends on the material you’re working with. Here’s a rundown of the commonly used drill bits with hammer drills:

Masonry Bits

These are the go-to bits for hammer drills, thanks to their tough carbide tips capable of pulverizing hard materials like concrete and stone.

SDS (Slotted Drive System) Bits

Designed specifically for hammer drills, SDS bits provide a secure fit and are capable of handling the rapid hammering action.

Spade Bits

While not as common, spade bits can be used with hammer drills for making large holes in wood, especially in a rough construction setting.

Carbide-Tipped Bits

Known for their durability, these bits are another excellent choice for drilling into hard materials.

Equipping your hammer drill with the appropriate bit is crucial for achieving the desired drilling performance, ensuring the longevity of your tool, and, ultimately, the success of your project.

Are all Hammer Drill Bits Created Equal?

In basic anatomy, maybe.

However, in real job site experience, several small factors can add up to a better experience when drilling concrete. Different materials have been developed to provide both hardness and strength to improve the drill bit’s performance, and the type or make of drill you are using will steer your bit choice as well.

So let’s look at the basic anatomy of a hammer drill bit and what is necessary for complete and accurate relative humidity (RH) concrete testing.

The Anatomy of a Hammer Drill Bit

The shank

The shank is the portion of the drill bit that fits into the hammer drill collar and holds it securely as the drill provides both rotation and impact during operation. For most rotary hammer drills, a smooth shank is insufficient because the drill bit can slip during operation and come loose from the drill itself.

Common shank designs for rotary hammer drills include SDS, SDS-MAX or spline shanks that lock into the chuck so that the action of the hammer drill will not dislodge the drill bit.

The land

The land is essentially the raised portion of the spiral portion of the drill bit. The land holds the cutting edges of the bit on its outside diameter.

The flute

The flute on a drill bit is the “trough” that runs parallel to the land. Its purpose is to remove dust from the hole as it is being drilled to prevent jamming.

The head

The head is the lead point of the drill bit that holds the tip and provides maximum impact in breaking up the concrete. It will also have two or four flat angles (depending on the number of flutes) for the lead-cutting action into the concrete.

The tip

For concrete drill bits (and others), carbide is bonded to the drill bit head to harden and strengthen it for breaking up the concrete. Extreme heat in the drilling hole can sometimes cause damage to the carbide tip, dulling it or melting it away completely, reducing the bit’s ability to break the concrete.

Drill Bit and Its Role in the Hole

Regardless of the hammer drill bit’s precise composition, the basic elements are the same and its ultimate role is the same: to provide a precise test hole in a concrete slab that will accommodate the RH sensor for accurate RH, or in situ, testing of the slab’s moisture conditions.

The depth and the width of that hole play a role in providing accurate RH data to building inspectors, flooring installers, and other professionals and specialists in place to provide a lasting and serviceable concrete slab.

Free Download – 4 Reasons Why Your Concrete Is Taking Forever to Dry

Ensuring the Best RH Test Hole

A rotary hammer drill bit is a key part of preparing a concrete slab for RH testing, and because a precise test hole will help ensure the best fit for the RH Smart Sensor, the technique is also important.

Test hole depth

ASTM F2170 says the sensor location (and, therefore, test hole depth) must be at 40% of the slab depth when the slab is drying from one side and 20% when drying from two sides when testing concrete moisture with RH testing.

We recommend marking that depth on the drill bit with a tape “flag” that lets the drill operator see when they have reached the precise depth. Holding the hammer drill vertically straight ensures the best torque for the test hole and the maximum performance of the drill and drill bit.

Test hole width

RH test method manufacturers supply precise specifications for their test hole widths as well. For example, Rapid RH^® Smart Sensors should be placed in holes drilled with a 4-fluted, carbide-tipped drill bit that falls within the specifications for an ANSI standard ¾” bit.

This range is from 0.775” to 0.787”. If your drill bit is at the lower end of this specification, the sensor might be a tight fit that is difficult to install correctly.

The head design of a drill bit can be an area where experience suggests that four cutting angles (4-flute drill bits) produce a rounder hole, making it easier to “seat” the RH test sensor. Our Rapid RH^® routinely provides a 4-flute bit for optimal test hole dimensions.

Of course, the other reason for a tight fit could be that your drill bit has worn down with use and has lost some of its diameters. This will most likely become noticeable after about 60-70 holes are drilled.

A worn drill bit also increases the risk of the bit jamming in the hole because it can no longer clear the dust efficiently. Before each job, the drill bit’s head and flutes should be visually examined to ensure they are not damaged from a previous job.

RH testing provides accurate, ASTM-approved concrete moisture measurement, and the hammer drill bit is a vital component of the process.

FAQs

How do I Measure Drill Bits?

To determine the right hammer drill based on your drill bits, you’ll need to measure the shank diameter of each bit. The shank is the part that fits into the hammer drill itself.

Measuring the Shank Diameter: Use a digital caliper or micrometer to accurately measure the diameter of the shank on your drill bits. For example, if your caliper reads 1″, then the shank diameter is 1 inch.

Hammer Drill Specifications: Once you have the shank diameter, check the specifications of potential hammer drills you’re considering purchasing. Manufacturers will specify the shank types and sizes that their drills can accommodate.

Hammer drill bits are essential tools for drilling through rigid materials like concrete. Their durable construction and specialized design allow them to withstand the intense pressure and pounding action of hammer drills.

You can ensure efficient and effective drilling for your construction or DIY projects by choosing the right bit and properly maintaining it.

Make sure to test with the most accurate concrete rh test.

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Jason Spangler

Jason has 20+ years’ experience in sales and sales management in a spectrum of industries and has successfully launched a variety of products to the market, including the original Rapid RH® concrete moisture tests. He currently works with Wagner Meters as our Rapid RH® product sales manager.

Last updated on December 6th, 2023