need advice on SDS-Max drill bits

[newbury]

Son talked me into buying him a Bosch 1 9/16" SDS-max drill now I'm in need of bits that seem to start at $15@.
Some of the envisioned project are enlarging cracks in concrete pad to patch, drilling holes in concrete to set bolts, putting holes through concrete block walls for various things.
Any advice on brands and types of bits?

 

[JimRB]

I just buy what I need and use them. They sit on the shelf for years until I need them again. I buy the Bosch bits usually and have worn a few out but most are still useable. Nobody sees a hearse towing a trailer full of the dead man's money. ;-)

 

[jenkinsph]

I have two Hilti SDS max drills and bought the bits at the same time. I have had one or two of the bits that have failed but over the last twenty years so I am very satisfied. Probably have over twenty different sizes in sds max and several for the smaller sds sizes.

Hilti and Bosch both make good quality bits.

 

[gsganzer]

I've seen these SDS drills, but have never used one. What are they used for? I assumed they were like a hammer drill, but is there something else that makes them different?

 

[Steppenwolfe]

hilti... then bosch.

 

[jenkinsph]

I've seen these SDS drills, but have never used one. What are they used for? I assumed they were like a hammer drill, but is there something else that makes them different?

SDS is the chuck design, simple and easy to use. Most of these bits are for hammer drills but Hilti did/does offer ship augers with the SDS set up. I use a wide range of bits with the Hilti drills from 3/16" to 5" to pass 4" pvc pipes or conduit through foundation walls and electric vaults. Bullet proof design and trouble free is what sets them apart for me.

 

[radioman]

if you are drilling many holes - i'd go name brands, other wise go cheap like i did. i bought the 16 inch sds bit from harbor freight for 23 bucks for 5 bits and the bit i used the most was half inch.

 

[newbury]

if you are drilling many holes - i'd go name brands, other wise go cheap like i did. i bought the 16 inch sds bit from harbor freight for 23 bucks for 5 bits and the bit i used the most was half inch.

Actually, w/o the 20 to 25% discount the HF 12 in. SDS Max Type Masonry Chisel Bit Set 3 Pc set is $50. HD wants about the same for the Bosch, but they had it in stock 4 miles away vs 20 miles. So I got the $12 bull point at HD.

Darn that thing goes through old concrete sidewalk quick .

I had to get my son to pick it up early before I got distracted with it.

 

[Cord]

Yea, these bits do get expensive. I like to watch eBay and Craigslist for used ones that pop up on occasion. I've also bought some new off of eBay when I have a specific need. Just buy the bits one at a time. Oh, and stay away from the Chinwse junk. Despite the temptation you won't be saving any money. I have no brand preference for the bits.

My most popular bits are 3/8, 1/2 and 5/8"x12" and a 16" flat and pointed chisel.

 

[newbury]

After my son picked it up he talked about getting a Bosch spade blade for digging narrow trenches in the hard clay of his backyard. That's an application I hadn't thought of.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've seen these SDS drills, but have never used one. What are they used for? I assumed they were like a hammer drill, but is there something else that makes them different?

The SDS is the smaller type and it's fantastic for drilling holes in concrete, tile and brick up to half an inch in diameter. I'm sure it will drill bigger, but my selection of bits for it only go up to half an inch. I also have a flat wide chisel type bit for it that takes out brick and tile very quickly.

The SDS Max is a bigger, more powerful version. I have a half inch bit that I use for anchor bolts all the time, and then a 1 3/4 inch bit that I can fit 3/4" conduit through concrete. Both just melt through concrete like a sharp drill bit through wood. There is no effort at all to drill through concrete with this, just hold the trigger and wait. I also have a pointed jackhammer bit that I use for relocating drain lines on concrete slab foundations. Once I break through the slab, it goes quickly by just enlarging the hole in the direction you want it to go. Not as fast as a full sized electric jack hammer, but much lighter and easier to use. Plus I own it, so that makes it easy to use when I want it. Then there is the ground rod pounder attachment. Just put it over the ground rod, hold the trigger and watch the ground rod sink into the ground. I did a very big playground with three layers of landscape timber around it that I ran rebar through with the ground rod attachment. Super fast and easy. And probably one of the neatest things is the spade bit. It doesn't matter how hard the clay soil is, that bid just digs right through it like nothing!!!

The bits are designed so they rotate and also go in and out. The combination of both directions allows it to break up the concrete better then anything ever invented before. It truly is night and day better then a hammer drill !!!!!!

 

[Cord]

Also pick up a ground rod pounder. The SDS Max units work awesome on the.

 

[newbury]

The SDS is the smaller type and it's fantastic for drilling holes in concrete, tile and brick up to half an inch in diameter. I'm sure it will drill bigger, but my selection of bits for it only go up to half an inch. I also have a flat wide chisel type bit for it that takes out brick and tile very quickly.

The SDS Max is a bigger, more powerful version. I have a half inch bit that I use for anchor bolts all the time, and then a 1 3/4 inch bit that I can fit 3/4" conduit through concrete. Both just melt through concrete like a sharp drill bit through wood. There is no effort at all to drill through concrete with this, just hold the trigger and wait. I also have a pointed jackhammer bit that I use for relocating drain lines on concrete slab foundations. Once I break through the slab, it goes quickly by just enlarging the hole in the direction you want it to go. Not as fast as a full sized electric jack hammer, but much lighter and easier to use. Plus I own it, so that makes it easy to use when I want it. Then there is the ground rod pounder attachment. Just put it over the ground rod, hold the trigger and watch the ground rod sink into the ground. I did a very big playground with three layers of landscape timber around it that I ran rebar through with the ground rod attachment. Super fast and easy. And probably one of the neatest things is the spade bit. It doesn't matter how hard the clay soil is, that bid just digs right through it like nothing!!!

The bits are designed so they rotate and also go in and out. The combination of both directions allows it to break up the concrete better then anything ever invented before. It truly is night and day better then a hammer drill !!!!!!

Boy, with that amazing salespitch I want to buy another one!

 

[gsganzer]

Boy, with that amazing salespitch I want to buy another one!

Googling them now!! So could I use a SDS Max to help jackhammer some rocks in post holes? Or am I better off renting a jack hammer?

 

[EddieWalker]

Googling them now!! So could I use a SDS Max to help jackhammer some rocks in post holes? Or am I better off renting a jack hammer?

I would go to the rental yard and see what bits they have available for what you are doing. My guess is that you need something long enough to get down as deep as possible. I don't think you will find a SDS Max bit with that much length, but I honestly don't know for sure.

 

[crazyal]

Googling them now!! So could I use a SDS Max to help jackhammer some rocks in post holes? Or am I better off renting a jack hammer?

How big of holes are you thinking of? I have both a Hilti SDS and a Makita spline hammer drill. I rarely use the much larger slide drive as it's a beast. But I routinely drill 3/4" holes in the ledge around here. I do have a 7/8" and 1" bit for it that I have used but the SDS is pretty much at it's limit. The SDS max is in between the spline and the SDS. I do have a 1 1/4" bit for my spline drill and it works fine but it's not that fast. I've never tried them but they do make core bits. The problem with them is they are usually limited in how deep they can go.

 

[jenkinsph]

I have a 3 ft extension for SDS Max bits so you can get enough reach no problem.

That said if you have a lot of rocks to clear I use a Bosch 60 lb. electric jack hammer.

 

[jenkinsph]

How big of holes are you thinking of? I have both a Hilti SDS and a Makita spline hammer drill. I rarely use the much larger slide drive as it's a beast. But I routinely drill 3/4" holes in the ledge around here. I do have a 7/8" and 1" bit for it that I have used but the SDS is pretty much at it's limit. The SDS max is in between the spline and the SDS. I do have a 1 1/4" bit for my spline drill and it works fine but it's not that fast. I've never tried them but they do make core bits. The problem with them is they are usually limited in how deep they can go.

I installed drip irrigation tubing in a customer lawn this year and had 10 zones with 10 corresponding pieces of 1/2" drip to run through the concrete block wall. I used a 5" core bit with my Hilti to drill a hole to put in a 4" pvc pipe sleeve. For deep holes we usually will drill about 3" then remove the drill and bust the core with a steel form pin. You can get about as deep as you want three inches or so at a time. These cores break out quick and easy.

 

[Cord]

Googling them now!! So could I use a SDS Max to help jackhammer some rocks in post holes? Or am I better off renting a jack hammer?

The SDS-max stuff works great on rock (granite is slightly slower than concrete), but you are needing a 2" hole that's 2' deep. I'd go jackhammer at that point.