rebar cutter drill bit

[Michael Sheik]

I have ordered one of these drill bits for a rotary drill (not hammer drill) to be able to drill thru rebar in concrete footing so I can anchor post on new building. It is ordered from McMaster-Carr and is carbide tipped. I know I will have to use regular concrete bit until I hit rebar and then use the rebar cutter bit and then back to regular concrete bit. Has anybody had first hand experience with using rebar cutter bits. This thing cost 40.00 so I want to use it correctly. RPMs?, Down Pressure?, anything else?

 

[oldhousehugger]

have you considered why the rebar is in the footing and how cutting it will effect it's strength?

 

[Anonymous-0]

They drill in concrete all the time. I'm certain that rebar has been drilled through before without causing any problems. Dave

 

[Michael Sheik]

Believe me I hope I miss the rebar on all 20 of the holes I need to drill but I bet I am not that lucky.

 

[Pale Rider]

You'll need alot of pressure. They are sheer misery if you have to use them on a concrete sidewall and nearly impossible overhead, but on the floor where you can really lean on it they work rather well. Use some form of cutting fluid and set the drill on a moderately slow speed. If you go too fast they are history. We always have to chuck them into a rotor hammer and set it on the drill setting. I've never seen one with a simple drill end but I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

 

[Allen57]

What size bit/hole?

I'd much rather use a diamond tipped hole saw. Cost can get out of hand if you don't have a lot of use for the bit. Carbide work fine for small holes and small rebar. Get much over an inch and you can be their a long time.

Carbide bits are fairly forgiving. Biggest problem lies in keeping the bit from sticking. Drill a bit and blow out the hole drill some more and blow again.