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Concrete drill rigs - overview of types

Every construction company — whether specialising in plumbing, roadworks or finishing works — will sooner or later face the challenge of carrying out precise drilling by:

Concrete drilling rig CX20-C3

  • ceilings and joists,
  • load-bearing and partition walls,
  • concrete rings and manholes,
  • heavily reinforced elements,
  • industrial flooring,
  • facades and cladding,
  • granite and basalt,
  • marble and natural stone,
  • refractory materials,
  • hard porcelain and ceramic tiles.

SDS+ or SDS Max drills are a natural and common choice — their speed, power and ease of use are well known on every building site. However, all these advantages are lost when faced with reinforced concrete, hard natural stone or dense ceramics. The hammer drill loses efficiency, damages the edge of the hole and generates excessive vibrations, which can cause micro-cracks in the surrounding structure — a particular risk in the case of ceilings and load-bearing walls.

The only effective and professional solution in such cases is to use diamond core drill for concrete.

This is a non-impact, dust-free and quiet technique that produces perfectly round holes with clean edges in any building material. The absence of impact means there are no vibrations transmitted to the structure — which is crucial when working in active or historic buildings, or in projects requiring precision installation. The quantity and type of reinforcement pose no problem whatsoever for concrete drills used in conjunction with diamond core bits and drill bits. Diamond cutting segments grind away both concrete and reinforcing steel without any loss of performance. (Read our tips on the principles of drilling with diamond drill bits)

Many potential customers consider a diamond concrete drill to be expensive to buy. However, this is a misleading impression: concrete drills and diamond drill bits are more expensive to buy, but significantly cheaper and more effective to use compared to conventional carbide drill bits. The cost of a single SDS drill bit for reinforced concrete, which wears out after just a few holes, quickly exceeds the cost of a diamond core bit capable of drilling hundreds of holes. Working time must also be taken into account — a diamond core drill makes a hole several times faster than a hammer drill for diameters above 50 mm.

Concrete drilling rigs allow holes to be drilled in the range from 20 mm to 1500 mm. Depending on requirements and application, they are divided into:

  • electric drills — the most popular models, powered by a 230 V or 400 V mains supply, ideal for construction and installation work inside buildings,
  • hydraulic drilling rigs — designed for heavy-duty industrial and roadwork applications, they offer significantly higher torque at large diameters.

Each concrete drilling rig set comprises a stand (drilling tripod) and a motor. The motor’s power is selected to suit the range of drilling diameters — standard electric motors used in concrete drilling rigs have a power output ranging from 1,300 W to 7,500 W. Models with a power output of up to approx. 2 kW can be used without a drill stand — so-called ‘hand-held drilling’ — which is convenient for small diameters (up to approx. 68 mm) and hard-to-reach areas. For larger diameters, a drill stand is essential: it ensures alignment stability, protects the diamond core bit from lateral loads and significantly increases the working speed and service life of the tool.

Drilling with a concrete drill is carried out in approximately 90% cases wet — Water fed directly onto the bit flushes cuttings out of the borehole, cools the diamond segments and prevents dust from forming. This has a decisive impact on the service life of the diamond bit and the quality of the borehole. In areas where access to water is difficult, special dry-drilling bits are used — but only for smaller diameters and with regular breaks to prevent overheating.

The concrete drills offered by our company are from trusted brands:

  • EIBENSTOCK — A German manufacturer of specialist industrial and construction power tools,
  • CARDI— is an Italian manufacturer and a respected leader in the construction equipment sector,
  • WEKA — a world leader in the manufacture of diamond drill bits, synonymous with precision and durability in the most challenging operating conditions.

Astar Diamond Tools also offers a range of professional diamond drill bits and core bits in every size — both new and reconditioned. Concrete core drills and diamond drill bits are available for immediate delivery, and our team of technical advisers will help you choose the right set for your specific application.

We invite you to explore our professional range in the concrete drill rigs