Most domestic use diamond core cutters will always have a removable guiding drill bit which acts as a pilot hole to guide the core drill. Essentially the speed that you drill at will be dictated to you by the size of hole you are drilling. As a very general rule of thumb, the larger the hole you are drilling and the denser the material you are drilling through, the slower the speed you should drill at. The best tool to use for this is a cable and pipe detector. You simply pass it over the surface of the wall and if any items such as these are found, lights and/or a buzzer indicate their presence. How to Drill a Hole using a Core Drill When hiring or buying a core bit always make sure you have the correct size and type of arbor for not only the core bit your are using but also for the type of drill you have e.g. SDS, spline, straight shank etc.

However, leaving it in will allow you to see when it is about to break through the opposing side of the wall you’re drilling through. More about this and why this is a good thing can be found below.

Unlike carbide drill bits, the teeth on a diamond core bit features diamonds that are embedded in the teeth themselves. As diamonds are extremely hard they grind their way through the surface you’re working on creating a sharp and clean cut.

For example, smaller holes up to 30mm in diameter can be drilled at up to around 3000 rpm whereas large holes around 400mm should be drilled at speeds as low as 300rpm. The high-performance diamond core bit allows you to drill various materials accurately and professionally. The high-quality drill bit has a diamond coating which ensures exceptionally high durability and longevity. Say hello to clean cuts, and goodbye to inconvenient burrs! Even the hardest materials can be drilled safely and efficiently with this core drill. If you keep forcing the core cutter through, when you actually break through you will force a large amount masonry away from the outside of the hole, making a total mess of it all.Although it is not recommended, many use hammer action with these drill bits to increase their cutting speed and ability. This will ultimately wear the core bit out much faster, but as they are generally cheap this is not often seen as a major concern. Before you start any drilling, the first job is to measure and mark the exact spot that you want to drill your hole so there isn’t any mistakes. At this point you will only have around half an inch or so to drill through so take your time and once done you will be left with a nice neat and clean hole. With the drill held straight and true, keep drilling, stopping regularly and withdrawing the bit from the hole to allow it to cool down. When withdrawing a core bit from a hole ensure that it is still rotating. A core drill should always be used with a power drill, at minimum around 800 watts and at maximum somewhere around 1300 watts. Your chosen drill should also have a variable speed function (somewhere between 100 and 300 rpm) and it must also have a safety clutch!

As always at DIY Doctor we advise the use of purpose built tools for DIY use. Safety must always come first. Wear the appropriate safety equipment, gloves, dust masks and eye protection at all times.Before you start your drilling you should always make sure there are no cables or pipes hidden in the wall at the spot you intend to drill your hole. With the above in mind, dry cutting diamond core bits are generally used when working indoors, whereas wet cutting bits are used externally. As this point it’s a good idea to ask someone to stand on the other side of the wall and let you know as soon as the guide drill breaks through and when it does, stop drilling. You can never take it for granted that work hasn’t been done by someone else in this area before and it has not been recorded. As we have already stated but will do so again, never use hammer action when core drilling. The drilling action needs to be as smooth as possible and the jerky action of the hammer can snap expensive diamond teeth very easily. Mark the Exact Drilling Spot