SDS Drill Bits
Use SDS Drill Bits for Heavy Duty Jobs
For those who work in concrete or stone, the SDS drill bit is the tool of choice. This specialized drill bit is used in a precision spring-loaded chuck that allows movement of the bit. The back-and-forth motion, along with the twisting of the bit, gives a hammering effect on the medium being drilled. SDS stands for the German words "Schtek, Drehe, Sitz", or "Stick in, twist, and stay", which was coined by the Robert Bosch Company of Stuttgart, Germany.
The shank of the SDS drill bit is slotted, and the jaws of the chuck have special keys to fit the slots. The slots are closed at each end so the drill bit slides up and down without falling out of the chuck. As this hammering motion continues, the drill bit spins according to the workers input and so hammer drills into the medium.
SDS drill bit sets are available in nearly every standard size, and you can find sets in the metric ranges as well. Mounting guard rails along a concrete step is one of the uses of this type of drill bit. Holes are drilled into the concrete using the appropriate drill size, then the concrete anchor is hammered into place, and the guardrail is mounted with bolts screwed into the anchors.
SDS bits are also used for drilling holes in materials such as granite. They can be diamond-tipped, or have a diamond core for hardness and reliability. Masonry drills are used in conjunction with a liquid cooling system that maintains temperature so as not to fracture the rock or break the drill bit. All types of masonry and stone work can be drilled using these highly specialized bits.
Finding SDS drill bit sets for your masonry or hammer drill is not a problem since nearly every hardware store sells them. They can even be found in certain department stores that sell tools! Prices may vary, according to store policy, but the standard price for SDS drill bits, individually, is around five to eight dollars for the high-temperature steel SDS bits, and much more for the carbide or diamond manufactured bits.
Some of the best brands of SDS drill bits can be found in the above mentioned resources. Bosch is probably the most revered of drill bits, since the company has been around for over a century and has developed drill bits with advancing technology. The materials that Bosch has had time to experiment with has led to many durable and functional drill bits for the next millennium.
Milwaukee Tool is America's finest. This company has been around since the World War I, and their tools have had a special place in the hearts of construction laborers for over a century. Milwaukee Electric tool helped develop the electric motor drill, and the hammer drill was one of the most important designs they invented. To follow would have to be the augmentation of SDS drill bits to satisfy the most demanding customer.
Irwin Tools and even Hilti came into the manufacturing of SDS drill bits. These companies made names for themselves by providing competitive prices along with quality. Specialization is the key to these manufacturers of tools, and their devotion to powerful tool and die accessories is seen in the quality of their product lines.