In a facilities operation, we rented Hilti equipment and fasteners frequently. It worker and did the job well.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
Why must you drill holes? Can't you just shoot them in with a ramset? No conventional building method I can think of uses drilling as a method of attaching framing. Usually a bottom plate is nailed to floor and underside of floor joists and then 2x4 or 2x3 framing is used between the two.

I am the furthest thing from an expert, but I would have thought this was the proper method.

I'm not an expert either, but nailing bottom plates to concrete doesn't meet hurricane code where as threaded fasteners do. Also, studs are strapped to the bottom and top plates with metal straps and lots of nails; joists, rafters, trusses, etc. are also strapped.

quote:

Originally posted by mrvmax:
Rent a Hilti and be done with it. The cheap hammer drills will not work well, Hilti and others are made for this and will drill through the concrete like it’s butter.

This was my experience.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
Why must you drill holes? Can't you just shoot them in with a ramset? No conventional building method I can think of uses drilling as a method of attaching framing.

I am the furthest thing from an expert, but I would have thought this was the proper method.

Technology marches on. I've been reading up on it a bit. Two advantages of these new "spring spikes" are: 1. They're resistant to backing-out from vibration. (Because of the spring action?) 2. They can be removed.

Anyway: As I said: The rotary hammer drill would be more all-around useful.

To that end: I've been reading consumer and professional ratings and reviews. Looks like the Bosch 11255VSR, at $180-$200 would be a good way to go.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
To that end: I've been reading consumer and professional ratings and reviews. Looks like the Bosch 11255VSR, at $180-$200 would be a good way to go.

That's the one I bought about 10 years ago. It makes short work of drilling 1/2" holes in the garage slab, and even shorter work for many other smaller holes. $180 for the tool plus $28 for a drill bit set at Amazon. You can also get a chisel bit for a bigger variety of work.
 

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
Why must you drill holes? Can't you just shoot them in with a ramset? No conventional building method I can think of uses drilling as a method of attaching framing. Usually a bottom plate is nailed to floor and underside of floor joists and then 2x4 or 2x3 framing is used between the two.

I am the furthest thing from an expert, but I would have thought this was the proper method.

I'm not an expert either, but nailing bottom plates to concrete doesn't meet hurricane code where as threaded fasteners do.

These aren't threaded, so they likewise unlikely meet hurricane code.

It's moot, for this project, anyway. I'm not going to do a sill. If I put a sill in, then I have to isolate it from the floor with a moisture-proof barrier. Instead I'll use Silva's method and simply not let any wood or wallboard come directly in contact with any concrete.

I use corded hammer drill (DeWalt) and concrete tungsten carbide bits (Bosch I think) from Home Depot. Drilled 8 5" deep holes for my safe (in 2 locations) and it drilled thru them like butter.

The DeWalt was like $130 or so I think but got it for $80 for an opened box.

quote:

unlikely meet hurricane code.

Imagine if you need hurricane reinforced 1x3 studs in a basement to withstand a Cat 4 Hurricane in SE Michigan then you have bigger problems than how the woods fastened to the concrete.

I got a B&D Hammer/Rotary at Home Depost 10 or 12 years ago, used it to drill in for tapcons to put up plywood for hurricanes. We did probably 5 or 6 homes in one day, lots of holes, it never skipped a beat, still runs well today.

I've got a corded Makita that Home Depot sells that was under $100. It has always been fine for smaller holes. I've used it to drill into a couple different basement walls and it has powered through them quickly. I also tend to use the Bosch bits, if that matters.

Actually, I have two of these drills, but one has a busted chuck. I lent it out to drill a bunch of 3/4" holes in some concrete blocks, and the chuck locked up solid on it. We managed to get the bit out, but the chuck won't open or close anymore. It's frozen. The motor and hammer are still fine, but the chuck couldn't take the abuse from that rather-large bit and the constant use for a couple of days. Buying a new chuck was looking like it would be about $60, and a whole new drill was about $90, so I just bought a second one!

For smaller holes it has always been fine, but it just didn't have the power to work that big 3/4" bit. For the size holes you are looking at drilling, it should do just fine.

- Bret

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

quote:

unlikely meet hurricane code.

Imagine if you need hurricane reinforced 1x3 studs in a basement to withstand a Cat 4 Hurricane in SE Michigan then you have bigger problems than how the woods fastened to the concrete.

I got a B&D Hammer/Rotary at Home Depost 10 or 12 years ago, used it to drill in for tapcons to put up plywood for hurricanes. We did probably 5 or 6 homes in one day, lots of holes, it never skipped a beat, still runs well today.

I didn't think buildings in Michigan were at hurricane risk, but as I said, I'm not an expert.

Tool acquisition mission accomplished! Got the Bosch rotary hammer drill and even got them to match Lowe's and Amazon's price of $179. Their price for 3/16"x6-1/2" Bosch SDS bits was competitive, so I bought three of those.

Just got the 3/16"x4" Powers spring spikes on order via AP.

Can't wait to see how this bad boy performs , but I have a bit more demolition to do, first. And materials (rigid foam insulation, adhesive, 100' of 1x3) to acquire.

I'll update this thread later, on how the drill works out.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
I didn't think buildings in Michigan were at hurricane risk, but as I said, I'm not an expert.

Tornadoes. We're at the extreme NE end of Tornado Alley.

I'm still not screwing a sill to the floor

You will be very happy with the Bosch.
I borrow my buddies and it drills concrete like butter.

I have to admit I would like to try Harbor Freights for $100 less.
They seem to have come a long way from the old Chicago Electric Days
https://m.harborfreight.com/1-...ammer-kit-63443.html

I like the idea of using spring spikes. It's much faster then traditional anchors and avoids the issues that come with Tapcons.

You will love the Bosch. We use them at work for hanging forms and I have days where I will drill 1,000 or more holes. We also have the Dewalt at work and it seems as though they stay in the box and the Bosch is always in use.

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
You will be very happy with the Bosch.
I borrow my buddies and it drills concrete like butter.

Thanks. Lookin' forward to giving it a go.

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
I have to admit I would like to try Harbor Freights for $100 less.

I briefly considered it. In fact a Chicago drill was the second one listed in this 11 Hammer Drill Comparison Test.

Where tools are concerned I tend to stick with job site-/commercial-grade stuff. "Buy once, cry once" kind of a thing. So I have not been inclined to try HF tools.

quote:

Originally posted by striker1:
I like the idea of using spring spikes. It's much faster then traditional anchors and avoids the issues that come with Tapcons.

Tom Silva sure made them look easy. Remains to be seen if they are for me

quote:

Originally posted by ffemt44:
You will love the Bosch. We use them at work for hanging forms and I have days where I will drill 1,000 or more holes. We also have the Dewalt at work and it seems as though they stay in the box and the Bosch is always in use.

Thanks.

I have a couple DeWalt power tools. A quarter-sheet palm sander and a reciprocating saw. They both perform adequately for me. But DeWalt is about as "low" on my Personal Tool Grade Scale as I'm inclined to go.

That article is 6 years old. HF has a new line of power tools branded Bauer that from handling them and their specs blow the old Chicago Electric out of the water.

I think HF is really trying to up their game in the electric tools and generator realm.

I would say in a couple years they will be the KIA of the car world.
Started out as complete and utter crap but worked their way up as a contender to the big boys. Not quite as good as the big boys but the lower price and better warranty makes them just fine for 75% of people.

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
That article is 6 years old. HF has a new line of power tools branded Bauer that from handling them and their specs blow the old Chicago Electric out of the water.

I think HF is really trying to up their game in the electric tools and generator realm.

I would say in a couple years they will be the KIA of the car world.
Started out as complete and utter crap but worked their way up as a contender to the big boys. Not quite as good as the big boys but the lower price and better warranty makes them just fine for 75% of people.

An article on comparisons of Bauer to PowerPlus, Master Mechanic, and LuTool.

https://toolcraze.net/bauer-20...powerplus-20v-tools/

Hilti or a Bosch Bulldog. Makes drilling very easy.

Oddly enough, I have had more luck drilling into concrete using a regular cordless drill with a masonry bit. The hammer drill setting is worthless.

To put a bunch of anchors into our concrete foundation for a project of mine, I used my Milwaukee cordless drill and just drilled, and sucked out the dust every few inches. Worked like a charm. I was seriously impressed.

Not our basement walls would you drill that way--trust me. At least not the 50+ holes I'll have to drill. The garage floor? No problem. Did it, myself, soon after buying the place, to secure a "floppy" short section of wall.

The basement walls in this place are the hardest concrete I've ever encountered.

I recall when I added a quad outlet behind the washer and dryer. Hardest part was drilling the holes to mount the box and secure the conduit.