Hand drilling technique

[briham89]

What is your technique / hammer pattern for hand drilling? Do you have one or do you just randomly smack the thing?

Once the hole is established I typically turn the drill holder in quarter turns, using the empty rubber hole (where the drill bit lives when not installed) as a guide. Meaning the hole in the drill holder starts at the 12 o'clock position, I hit it 3 - 6 times, then the 3 o'clock position hit 3 -6 times...and so on at 6 o'clock, 9-o'clock and then back to 12 o'clock. The 3-6 times usually varies based on binding and how tired I am.

Does anyone else do anything like this, or do you just whack away and turn?

[squiddo]

What is your technique / hammer pattern for hand drilling? Do you have one or do you just randomly smack the thing?

Once the hole is established I typically turn the drill holder in quarter turns, using the empty rubber hole (where the drill bit lives when not installed) as a guide. Meaning the hole in the drill holder starts at the 12 o'clock position, I hit it 3 - 6 times, then the 3 o'clock position hit 3 -6 times...and so on at 6 o'clock, 9-o'clock and then back to 12 o'clock. The 3-6 times usually varies based on binding and how tired I am.

Does anyone else do anything like this, or do you just whack away and turn?

Good topic. Wack and turn, I need more strategy clearly. My favorite though is pulling the trigger and let the 18v do the work. Then again this IS a Pinns thread so:-|

[JC w KC redux]

I turn as I hit, moving from wrist flexion to extension.
I tend to choke up on the hammer to reduce fatigue and focus on square hits rather than how hard I hit.
I tend to hit a bit harder as the hole gets deeper but try to let the tool do the work.
Hitting harder past a certain level gains very little and just uses more of your energy.
I sometimes find that hitting too hard causes chipping in the hole and a lot of binding.
Of course that can happen too if the rock is composed of micro chunks.
I start the hole slowly with small taps and grinding by turning back and forth (with and without tapping) to get the hole started, prevent cratering and keep the surface nice. That usually works well but things can go sideways if the rock is weird.

[JC w KC redux]

By the way - What's the big idea breaking up the screenshot gold streak? 

[JC w KC redux]

I also like the X-tipped bit for starting holes and a regular bit once it's well established.
I like the Hilti bits better than any bit I've tested.
I carry two drill holders because I have had the spring break on my Petzl Rocpecs.

[JC w KC redux]

clink drills with a 2/4 time signature.

When he gets going there is no pause. The next thing you hear is him pounding in the bolt.

Comparing your drilling to his will make you feel like a beginning guitar player trying to jam with Al Dimeola.

His hammer-hit efficiency is off the charts and he doesn't hit hard.

[F4?]

I tag up Mr Baby Bulldog and turn it loose!!!

Oh wait, wrong area.

I prefer to bring a Jim along. Hand rope and bolts....only issue is he tends to not stop often as us mortals would prefer.

[JC w KC redux]

All that being said - I've seen the beat you into submission method work too  

[briham89]

By the way - What's the big idea breaking up the screenshot gold streak?

That was 60% of my reason for starting this thread...that thread is meh.

Hitting harder past a certain level gains very little and just uses more of your energy

I've always wondered what an actual chart would look like for this, where on one axis is the power of the hit and the other is rock removed or hole progress.
Sometimes hitting hard seems to get the job done, and other times it seems to do nothing. I have a hard time quantifying this and coming up with a "standard" power to use.

I turn as I hit, moving from wrist flexion to extension.

Meaning you turn with every hit? Are you turning during the hit or after?

My favorite though is pulling the trigger and let the 18v do the work

Mine too....but there is some satisfaction in doing it the "hard way".

[F4?]

Paging Mungie!!!!

He has a video of the Master Brutus hand drilling.

He used a rapid strike and turning rythem.

Maybe Mungie still has the video and can share.

No Neul Young

[NOAL]

Did you mean Neil Young?  Dont worry he has nothing to do with drilling holes in rocks.

[JC w KC redux]

Meaning you turn with every hit? Are you turning during the hit or after?

 Yes - During the hit - simulating a hammer drill.

[clink]

 
 In my early days of drilling the bits sucked, always binding, at times breaking. I turned less and beat more on the bit. Getting on harder stance drilling with Waldo, drove a more efficient fear enhanced method, choking up on the handle more as go over and balance became an issue.

 I need to pay more attention but I think I hit 10-12 points per rotation, with 3 grip changes.

[F4?]

Well that JIM guy has a sweet system....
->Shorty drill/bit/holder for starting holes.
->Long blow tube.
->Long socket driver, like ''12

He can drill with either hand.

Me, I just whack and turn.

[briham89]

I think I hit 10-12 points per rotation, with 3 grip changes

So that's 10 - 12 hammer hits per drill making a full 360 degree rotation?

Also what do you mean by grip changes? On the hammer or on the drill bit holder?

[JC w KC redux]

 In my early days of drilling the bits sucked, always binding, at times breaking. I turned less and beat more on the bit. Getting on harder stance drilling with Waldo, drove a more efficient fear enhanced method, choking up on the handle more as go over and balance became an issue.

 I need to pay more attention but I think I hit 10-12 points per rotation, with 3 grip changes.

What the heck is go over?

[JC w KC redux]

So that's 10 - 12 hammer hits per drill making a full 360 degree rotation?

Also what do you mean by grip changes? On the hammer or on the drill bit holder?

He does 12 hits.

He lets go of the grip (on the holder) and repositions his hand/wrist for the next 120 degrees of rotation, once the drill is in far enough to stay in the hole.

[Gavin]

Interesting reading about folks' thoughts on drilling technique, and thinking about how my own technique has developed over time. I feel my speed with drilling holes has improved and become more efficient over time, but I'm sure I will never be even close to the speed with which Jim or clink are able to blast through new holes.

I don't really pay attention to the number of hammer hits per wrist rotation, to be honest. I do prefer X-tipped bits - for me they make it easier to start holes and very rarely bind. Over time I have shifted to faster and quicker hammer hits, focusing on precision rather than power, working from the wrist more efficiently. Sometimes I choke the drill holder strongly, but hold it more loosely at other times, depending on how the rock seems to be responding to pressure. Sometimes a bit of bounce can help to more quickly chip away in the hole interior.

I feel like frequent use of the blow tube helps a lot too, to clear out rock dust otherwise gumming up progress in the drill hole.

I try to do a lot of surfacing work before committing to a hole placement to increase the likelihood that the subsequent drilling work is worth the effort.

Otherwise... I feel like just finding good stances, and especially aided stances with hooks, has been significant in providing me with options for pushing up harder and more vertical projects. Better technique with and awareness of the rock for hook placements has opened up a lot of options that I wouldn't otherwise be able to even consider.

[briham89]

He lets go of the grip (on the holder) and repositions his hand/wrist for the next 120 degrees of rotation, once the drill is in far enough to stay in the hole.

Interesting. That would make for three grip changes per rotation where as I am doing four. And is it 10-12 hits per 120 degree rotation, or 10-12 hits per 360 rotation? (which would be 3-4 hits per 120 degree grip rotation)

I feel like frequent use of the blow tube helps a lot too, to clear out rock dust otherwise gumming up progress in the drill hole.

This has helped me quite a bit. It seems if you don't do it, progress really slows.

and especially aided stances with hooks, has been significant in providing me with options for pushing up harder and more vertical projects

I'm clearly a believer here!  

[clink]

 Now that you have asked, I will document the process rather than guess, then get back to you.

 If you let the bit bounce a little, it can puff out some of the dust. ml Many holes I blow out only the once at 3/4 depth.
Depends on the flute depth also.

 JC, go over. Now you and I still the same, pretty much. With all the replacement work you have done, the Park should be handing out JC bobbleheads.