Rotary hammer drill = awesome

[RearAdmiral]

So I've been working on installing decking over my 1/2 wood and 1/2 cement L shaped porch. Got 2x6 framing / sleepers down and installed deck boards on the wood section of the porch no problem. Very sturdy and looks great! Installing the sleepers on top of the cement was tough. My FIL bought a harbor freight hammer drill(yuck) and I bought a bunch of bosch masonry bits, and it just did not work out at all. Cooked a bit, broke 2 others in half, spent another 2-3 after maybe 2-3 holes each.

My dad brings a rotary hammer drill home from work, and I pick up 4 sds plus bits. I rotate using 2 of these bits to allow for more cooling and just murdered the concrete, it worked out so much better. That and I picked up a nice new blade for my FILs miter saw, which is working out great as well. Learning about and using new / correct tools is a joy for a newish homeowner.

All this work and a new bedroom set from Lancaster, PA + wife decorating and the house is starting to feel like a home!

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I hope you didn't individually attach the deck boards to the concrete portion.

 

[RearAdmiral]

I hope you didn't individually attach the deck boards to the concrete portion.

No, sorry for confusion. 2x6 framing w/ 16" centers go down then the deck boards on top.

 

[DrPizza]

Learning about and using new / correct tools is a joy for a newish homeowner.

All this work and a new bedroom set from Lancaster, PA + wife decorating and the house is starting to feel like a home!

1. Absolutely!
2. Congratulations!

 

[shabby]

I was also doing something similar and needed to drill 25 1/2" holes, figured i'd give the hammer drill a try and see how it goes... at this rate it would probably take me the whole day. Friend brought over a rotary hammer and it took 10 seconds per hole, unbelievable how quickly it drilled.

 

[Greenman]

You can also get a pretty astounding assortment of rotohammer bits. I have 3/4" bit that's over 5' (yes, that's feet) long. Darn handy for installing hold downs through a pony wall.

 

[RearAdmiral]

I was also doing something similar and needed to drill 25 1/2" holes, figured i'd give the hammer drill a try and see how it goes... at this rate it would probably take me the whole day. Friend brought over a rotary hammer and it took 10 seconds per hole, unbelievable how quickly it drilled.

It really is unbelievably fast. I thought I had hit an air pocket or something my first hole.

 

[natto fire]

I obviously like that roto-hammers do the work much easier, but I also like that the noise is deeper instead of the high pitched whine of a regular hammer drill. My roto hammer also has an anti-vibe handle that works really well, especially when chiseling.