Drills Used for Rock

Hydraulic Rock Drills

• Considered a lightweight rock drill at only 55 pounds without the hoses and bit, this rock drill can be used by one experienced technician to drill guide holes in rock or concrete quickly and efficiently. This type of drill is used regularly by utility companies, contractors and people in the Army who need to drill through rock without a compressor. Depending on the strength and quality of the drill bit, these drills can often drill up to 2 inches in diameter and down as low as 3 1/2 feet, without the help of an air compressor. With an air compressor, these drills can go as deep as 33 feet into rock.

Air-Powered Rock Drills

• Air-powered rock drills are much smaller and lighter than most rock drills and are used for specific rock-drilling purposes, usually to attach a structure to rock or secure it against rock. These drills range in weight from 9 pounds to 60 pounds and are designed for drilling through hard rock like granite or other rocks which come from quarries. The lighter versions of these drills are also available for overhead drilling work or chipping. These drills are primarily used in general construction and utility maintenance.

Sinker Drills

• Sinker drills are small, hand-held rock drills most often used in general construction. They have rotary hammers that are designed for a wide variety of construction and maintenance jobs, like driving masonry anchors and drilling holes in concrete, rock or brick. These drills can also be used to chip or mold pieces of rock on a specific project. These drills weigh about 8 pounds and operate with compressed air. These are the best drills for an independent contractor or masonry worker to purchase for themselves and use on different construction jobs.