Author: Katie P. Chittenden

A sanding belt is an important tool for anyone involved in do-it-yourself projects. The sanding belts are outstanding for refinishing projects, smoothing rough edges, and a large number of other applications. In order to complete your projects successfully, it is important to find good quality sanding supplies including sanding discs. In this article, I will mention few tips that will help you make the right selection.

Sanding belts come in different sizes as they are not universal. It is important to know that most of the sanders do use belts that come in standard sizes. The sanding belts can be comfortably found in your nearest hardware store but make sure you get the right kind of sanding belt and of correct size. There are mainly two materials that are used in manufacturing a sanding belt – Aluminum Oxide and Silicon Carbide.

One thing you will notice with the standard belts, they come in different widths. The typical sander will work with at least two different widths. Most often the type of project determines the width of the sanding belt. For this reason, it is always good to keep in mind how you normally use the sander and shop for belts that will work well with the specific tasks.

Another important thing to consider is the grit type of the belt you are looking for. It ranges from a fine grit to a coarse grit. The projects that require a fine sanding such as making a tabletop for refinishing, going with a fine grit is the best option. For other tasks such as removing paint from metal, the coarse grit will work well.

Make sure to check the warranty of the sanding belt you are going to purchase. For most of the sanding belts, the warranty is not more than thirty to sixty days at the maximum.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/shopping-articles/how-to-get-the-good-quality-sanding-belts-3192542.html

About the Author

Established in 2007, 2sand.com is an online company engaged in offering optimum quality sanding supplies such as sanding belts, sanding discs and sandpaper sheets. They leave no stone unturned to provide their clients a superior range of products.

How to get the Good Quality Sanding Belts? is a post from: Cutting Discs

Author: Richard McKay

As we all know, a floor can only be sanded a certain amount of times, which depends on things like why the floor is sanded (are any deep scratches being sanded out etc) and above all on the depth of the wood above the tongue and groove workings. Thus, it is a good idea to save on the need for sanding, by keeping your floor looking lovely and scratch/damage free, especially when you consider the fact that you may want to sand the floor for cosmetic reasons (change of finish, to brighten it up etc) once or twice. Here are four tips to help you keep essential wood floor sandings to a minimum:

1: Avoid Direct Sunlight

Few things between heaven and earth can dull a wood floor as quickly or as violently as direct sunlight. Therefore it is a good idea to protect your wood floors from it at all times. This doesn’t mean you need to live a sun-free life; you can get special sun-screens, which filter out the harmful rays and let the light in as normal.

2: Pad Furniture Feet:

Ensure all furniture feet have pads on the bottom. This will prevent them from scratching the floor when they are accidentally or deliberately moved. Padded or not, it is still advisable to ensure that furniture is always lifted when being moved in rooms with wooden floors – the pads are mainly to protect against accidental shifts during everyday usage of the furniture.

3: Place Mats At Entrances

It is a good idea to have mats at all entrances, which people are advised to wipe their feet upon. A brush mat outside and a carpet mat inside is a good combination. It is a good idea to have a big mat in the doorway as well to catch any particles that may be blown in while the door is open, and of course, if you can have everyone take their shoes off upon entry this is even better.

4: Clean Floor Regularly

Keeping wood floors clean is always a good idea. It is recommended that you brush the floor with a soft brush at least once per day. Some people advise against using damp clothes or mops on the floor, but as they say; everything is okay in moderation: using a slightly damp cloth over the brush head will do no harm to the floor, and will pick up loose dust particles that remain after brushing.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/construction-articles/four-tips-to-keep-floor-sanding-to-a-minimum-3160058.html

About the Author

Richard McKay is Graduated with an Honours Degree in Quantity Surveying. Currently director of McKay Flooring Limited a UK wood floor company who specialized in Junckers sports flooring, floor sanding and retail. He is specialized in Wood Flooring and technology.

Four Tips to Keep Floor Sanding to a Minimum is a post from: Cutting Discs

Author:

Mark Bruddy

Astonishing advancements have been made in the drilling industry during the past few years allowing drillers to exercise complete control in reaching a specified targeted zone. However, the goal of the drillers rest in achieving a high rate of penetration (ROPs) as higher the rate of penetration the lesser will be their efforts and overall drilling costs. To achieve higher ROPs, every aspect of the drilling operations should be carefully examined and refined. One of these technologies involves the careful selection of the perfect drill for various drill operations. Selecting the right Diamond Drills/Bits for your application is a key to obtaining desired diamond drilling results.

Materials to be Drilled
Materials you are planning to drill have a great impact on the type of diamond drills you are going to use. If you are drilling an ultra hard material such as alumina, and other type of advanced ceramics, precious and natural stone, and high metallic content materials, you must use a metal bonded diamond drill. However, if you are drilling a less expensive and softer material such as tile, glass, composites- diamond drill may be the best and cost-effective solution. You will be amazed to know that harder materials require softer bond to drill faster whereas softer materials require a harder bond to last longer.

Material Cost before Drilling
Material cost plays a crucial role in selecting the right diamond drill or diamond bit for your application. If the material you are planning to drill is precious or expensive, it is suggested to obtain a thin wall diamond core drill minimizing the material loss and deformation. It is always a good idea to keep an estimate of targeted cost and quality per hole to mitigate the risk.

Material Thickness
The thicker the material you are going to drill, the greater the amount of the pressure and coolant is required. It is suggested to run coolants from multiple directions. This will ensure maximum amount of coolant and lubrication reaching your drilling zone. Sometimes special features are unnecessarily specified simply to convince customers of drill technical ability. Most important is correct coolant type and pressure along with suitable speed and feed.

Speed and Feed
Before selecting the right power drilling operations, you must consider the speed of the drill. Speed and feed are dependent on pressure, material type, coolant type, hole depth, condition of the drill and its style. Speed and feeds are the conservative starting point and will be affected by all operating conditions.

There is a perfect drill for every buyer in the market. The catch is how to find it. Today\’s contractors, manufacturers and hobbyists involved in diamond drilling operations encounter wide variety of applications and challenges. The mounting speed of the ever increasing and advanced materials transform the way we look at the diamond drilling. New material requires niche technology and methods. An expensive hit-and trial method can be averted with proper and detailed understanding of your materials and objectives of performing drilling jobs. With proper preparation, and following basic drilling technique you can successfully select the right power drill to make a difference in the success of your drilling operations.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/tools-and-equipment-articles/selecting-the-right-power-drill-for-your-drilling-operations-1927197.html

About the Author

Mark Bruddy work with Premium Blade, a leading US manufacturer and distributor of diamond saw blades, concrete core bits and other specialty diamond cutting and finishing tools for over 20 years.

Selecting The Right Power Drill For Your Drilling Operations is a post from: Cutting Discs

Author: Mark Bruddy

Long gone are the days of traditional core bits, today the diamond core drill bits have revolutionized our ability to penetrate toughest materials on demand. They are widely used for many purposes for cutting into highways, dams and bridges, buildings, parking garages, walls, floors, culverts, drainage pipes and more. They come in a number of varieties and types, and are stronger in performance.

Once you do learn how to use these specialized bits, you will be able to benefit from all of these advantages. Some of the advantages of diamond core bits are as follows-

Cut Through Heavy Duty Materials

Diamond core drill bits are designed for penetrating medium-to-hard formations. They can drill clean holes through masonry, glass, concrete, marbles and other stones. You may not get professional clean cuts with other drill bits, but a diamond drill bit will cut through the toughest material, with no disturbance.

Speed

The bits work best through everything from glass to marble, and perform at incredibly high speed. Leave aside your worry at home, while performing task with these bits, since they can drill hole easily, even while working fast.

Consider Convenience

Not having too much nuisance while working gives you the ability to focus majorly on your drilling job. The speed and the ease by which these diamond drill bits cut through heavy materials, makes for their huge demand. If you prefer bits that create as little noise as possible, then these bits are surely meant for you.

Prevents Cracking

Concrete has a tendency to crack and it is possible to achieve crack-free concrete through the high-quality bits. If you don’t use diamond core drill bits, you can handle the harder materials well. It will cost you more if you will replace your building materials rather than replacing and buying high quality diamond core drill at its first place. Thus cracking can be significantly reduced or controlled when the preventative steps are taken into account.

Metal Embedded Bits

This diamond embedded bit will last longer than your typical drill bit. Although these metal embedded bits can be bit expensive, you will have the advantage of longer lasting core drill bits that can perform well.

Before you begin any drilling project, have a clear vision in your mind of what the final result should look like and all you need to accomplish to achieve that goal. That vision includes carefully assessing the next drilling worksite so that you are well prepared to deal with the unexpected. For example, on your next drilling project, try applying a value-engineering approach to your design process and the selection of diamond core bit. You will often discover that diamond core drill bit is the best choice.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/tools-and-equipment-articles/trouble-free-aspect-of-diamond-core-drill-bits-3713463.html

About the Author

Mark Bruddy is a flooring solution expert working with US leading Diamond Tool manufacturer. Offer a variety of Diamond Core Bits, Core Drill Bits, Concrete Drill Bits, Masonry Core Bits, Wet/Dry Core Bits for your need.

Trouble-Free Aspect of Diamond Core Drill Bits is a post from: Cutting Discs

By Jeremy Stone

I drilled one 1″ hole in a small fall of 8/4 provision 1″ deeply for this purpose. To downwards place the white with the end of stick on your bench and to align the acute needle stem with the small cavity of all in the base of the white. To slip the fall above of metal plate and to give it that a couple of good beats with a mallet to pose the front plate with the white. The pressure of the mallet is distributed on the back of the screw of metal plate and pan of head, not on the threaded collar. Start to form the candlestick to assemble the whole assembly on the lathe and to upwards run the tailstock in the small cavity on the end of the stick.

To start the process by turning the base to the bottom with the 5-3/8″ mark that you made earlier on the face of the base (8). To turn then the round stick to just more than 1″ (9). With the turning turn (I like to turn the latter to approximately 1500 t/mm), to put three marks on the stick: one at the bottom of the cup of candle, one with the top of the pearl lower and one than the bottom of the lower pearl (10). To turn space enters the bottom of the cup of candle and the top of the lower pearl to the bottom to 1″ of diameter (11). To use your median tool then to turn a groove below the lower pearl to the bottom to 1″ also (12). After, to turn the lower sector of pearl to the bottom to 1″.

Again turn now your attention (and your rest of tool) at the base. By the turning piece, to identify a line on the edge of 5/16 bottoms” face (13). The base is frayed on the lower part of this mark to the bottom with the plate before (14), leaving that’s of a lip approximately 1/16″ of top (15). After, to replace the parallel rest of tool with the face of the base and to begin roughing outside profile of dish (16).

About the Author: The author, Jeremy Stone, is a recognized American home improvement expert. More at Glueguns.net – Home Improvement Ideas For The True American Homeowner.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=160345&ca=Arts+and+Crafts

Drilling The Base Of A Candlestick is a post from: Cutting Discs

Author: Maurice

Material Hardness & Abrasiveness

Materials have varying degrees of hardness and abrasiveness.  Additionally, specific man-made and natural materials can differ greatly depending upon the exact physical composition.  For example, glass varies in hardness depending upon color and type, since various metals and minerals are added to achieve the different types and colors.  Glass also has differing degrees of “temper” depending upon the specific manufacturing methods used.  Ceramics, ceramic tile, porcelain and porcelain tile are various forms of vitrified glass like material.  They also have differing hardness and abrasiveness depending upon the type, composition, manufacturer and manufacturing methods used.

The hardness and abrasiveness of natural materials, such as stone, vary by type, but they also vary significantly within a specific type.  Most stones are not pure – they are mixtures of various types of rock.  Granite, for example, contains various combinations of primarily quartz, feldspar, black mica and hornblende.  Therefore, a specific stone type such as granite or marble, will vary significantly in hardness and abrasiveness depending upon the exact mineral composition that varies by quarry location.

Below is a table of the hardness of various materials.  The table uses the standard Knoop Hardness Scale (kg/mm2).  The hardest known material is Diamond, with a Knoop measurement of 7,000.  Tungsten Carbide, used in carbide drill bits, is the hardest natural material next to Diamond.  However, with a measurement of 2,100, Tungsten Carbide is only 30% as hard as Diamond.

Material
Wood – Pine
Copper
Limestone
Marble
Slate
Porcelain Fixtures & China
Glass & Ceramic
Ceramic/Porcelain Wall Tile
Marble Style Floor Tile
Granite Style Floor Tile
Granite
Quartz
Tungsten Carbide
Diamond

Knoop
Hardness Scale
10
120
125 – 150
140 – 180
140 – 250
400 – 500
450 – 600
450 – 650
500 – 650
500 – 650
550 – 650
820
2,100
7,000

Drill Speeds

Diamond drill speeds vary depending upon the manufacturer and type of diamond drill.  Glastar Blunt Nose Diamond Drills, designed for use on glass, can be used at high speeds up to 10,000.  However, Diamond Core Drill Bits, for use on glass, stone and tile should be used at slow to very slow speeds, with the speed decreasing as the hardness and abrasiveness of the material increases.  Also, since the circumference of a bit increases as the bit diameter becomes larger, the drill rpm speed must be reduced on larger bits to offset the increased speed at which the outside cutting edge is moving.

The following table shows recommended drill speeds for Diamond Core Drill Bits.  Drill speeds considerably in excess of these speeds will quickly burn up the diamond bits.  Reduced drill speeds, low drill pressure and use of water for lubrication will extend drill bit life.

Recommended Drill Speeds

Diamond Core Drill Bits

Recommended Drill Speed (rpm)

Material         Bit Size –>

1/2″

1″

2″

3″

4″

Fiberglass

1200

700

350

250

175

Limestone & Marble Stone

900

550

275

180

140

Glass, Ceramic & Porcelain China

800

500

250

160

125

Ceramic/Porcelain Wall Tile

600

450

225

130

100

Stone Style Porcelain Floor Tile

500

375

180

125

90

Granite Stone

400

300

150

100

750

(Not for use on Concrete or Masonry, or with Hammer Drills)

SPEED KILLS:

Reduced drill speeds, low drill pressure and increased use of water lubrication will extend drill bit life considerably.

Since all materials vary in hardness and abrasiveness, it is impossible to determine exact drill speeds.  Additionally, as discussed below, lubrication and drill pressure must also be considered when determining the proper drill speed.  A faster drill speed or increased pressure may reduce the cutting time slightly, but it will also increase the friction significantly and heat up the bit, reducing the bit life considerably and increasing the risk of heat fractures and material breakage.  If used properly, a diamond drill bit should never be more than warm when touched after use.  If a drill bit develops yellow, brown, blue or black ‘burn marks’ around the tip, it is an indication of extreme heat and that the drill speed being used is too fast or the amount of pressure on the drill is too great.

Lubrication

Water or coolant must always be used to cool and lubricate the tip.  The lubrication reduces heat build-up, prolonging drill bit life and helps avoid heat fractures in the material.  Water is most often used as the lubricant, since it works very well and has no cost.  Oil based lubricants do not work well on diamond drill bits.

Good lubrication is critical.  Minimal lubrication will keep the bit from burning up, but very good lubrication techniques will extend bit life by a factor of 5 or even 10.

When drilling in fiberglass, a diamond drill bit can be used dry or with a very small amount of water.  When drilling in glass or ceramic, soft ceramic tile and porcelain, if properly lubricated, the dust from the cut should dissipate into the water.  The drill bit contact with the surface should always be wet and the drill bit tip should never be hot.  If the tip is ever more than just warm, it is generally an indication of too little lubrication (or possibly too much speed or pressure).

When drilling in hard, abrasive materials such as limestone, sandstone, hard ceramic and porcelain tiles, marble or granite, it is critical to have lots of lubrication.  With these hard materials, it is common to drill under water or to have a small amount of water constantly running over the drill bit and bore hole.  In either case, the “pumping” technique described below is needed to assure water reaches the very tip of the bit.

This discussion is presented only as a guide.  It is almost impossible to have ‘too much’ lubrication and the only down side risk is the mess from water being thrown off by the bit.  However, ‘too little’ lubrication will cause many problems.

Lubrication Tips & Techniques

Various kinds of very specialized industrial water feed equipment are available for industrial production type work.  But, when drilling with diamond bits, the primary concern is merely getting enough water lubrication on the cutting edge of the bit, no mater what method is used.

However, all lubrication methods are not equal.  Since good lubrication extends drill bit life considerably, we rated the various methods to help people understand the differences between the various methods.  As a rule of thumb, the relative rating also gives a general indication of the relative drill bit life under various lubrication methods.  For example, the clay dam lubrication method (8 rating) should provide a drill bit life of approximately 4 times that of using a squirt bottle (2 rating).

Drill Bit
Lubrication Method
Squirt Bottle
Hose
Clay Dam
Under Water
Water Feed
Pumping Action

Rating
(1 poor – 10 good)
2
4
8
10
10
10

The most basic method is to use a small hose that runs water onto the surface near the hole and down into the bore hole.  To provide lubrication on a horizontal surface, one trick is to place a plastic jug or bottle with a small hole near the bottom of it, next to the drill hole.  The water leaks out of the bottle and provides continuous lubrication as you drill.  To allow lubrication to reach the drill tip, it is important to use a “pumping” technique described below.  Without the pumping technique, the water rarely reaches the very tip of the drill bit.

Another excellent lubrication technique is to build a “dam” around the drill hole using a small amount of modeling clay or a similar material.  This method is very effective, especially if the water extends above the side tip lubrication hole to allow water to flow into the bit providing good interior lubrication.  “Pumping” the drill will also increase the lubrication at the tip.  The clay can be used many times if it is stored in a plastic sandwich style zip-lock bag to keep it from drying out.

For low volume repetitive work, it is also possible to place the material into a short ‘cake’ style pan (place a thin plastic board underneath so you don’t drill into the pan) and fill the pan with water so that it covers the surface of the material being drilled.  If possible, the water should cover the side lubrication hole on the tip of the diamond drill bit.

When drilling on vertical surfaces, about the only way to apply water is to use some type of hose.  If that is not possible, a marginally effective solution is to have someone constantly “squirting” water into the bore hole using a squirt bottle.  Squirting water will usually keep the bit from burning up, but unless a pumping action is used, the water rarely reaches the very tip of the drill.

No matter what lubrication method is used, a periodic “pumping” action will significantly improve lubrication at the drill tip.  Because of the pressure on the drill tip, water has trouble reaching the very tip of the drill bit.  A “pumping” technique allows lubrication to reach the very tip.  While drilling, merely raise the drill up and down a fraction of an inch once in a while as you drill (maybe every 20 to 30 seconds or so).  This assures that water enters the drill tip area completely and fully lubricates the very tip

Drill Pressure

When using normal drill bits on soft materials such as wood, increasing the pressure causes the bit to drill faster and has little affect upon friction or heat build-up on the bit.  When drilling in harder materials such as hardwoods, it is more important to reduce the pressure and let the bit “drill at its own speed”.  Otherwise, friction will quickly burn up the bit.  When using diamond drill bits, the affect is similar to hardwood drilling, but it is magnified many times due to the extreme hardness and abrasiveness of the material being drilled.

When using diamond drills on glass, ceramic or porcelain tile, limestone, marble and granite, etc, it is very important to have only light to medium pressure on the drill and to let the bit “drill at its own speed”.  Increasing pressure will not speed up the cutting noticeably, but it will increase the friction considerably and quickly cause the bit to overheat.  This not only burns up the bit, but it also heats up the surrounding surface and can cause heat fractures or breakage to occur.

Recommended Drill Head Pressure

Diamond Core Drill Bits
Material

Recommended Drill Head
Pressure (lbs.) *

Fiberglass

10 to 15 lbs.

Limestone & Marble Stone

12 to 18 lbs.

Glass, Ceramic & Porcelain China

12 to 18 lbs.

Ceramic/Porcelain Wall Tile

15 to 20 lbs.

Stone Style Porcelain Floor Tile

18 to 30 lbs.

Granite Stone

18 to 30 lbs.

* WARNING:

Drill press arms leverage hand pressure by a factor of about
6 to 8.  So 2 lbs. of hand pressure on the drill press arm will apply about 14 lbs of pressure to the drill head.

If a drill bit develops yellow, brown, blue or black ‘burn marks’ around the tip, it is an indication of extreme heat caused by the excessive drill speed or by too much pressure on the drill.  Impact type “hammer drills” should never be used with diamond drills as they have no benefit and will cause the tip of the bit to mushroom or split.

If a hole is being drilled completely through a piece of material, it is also important to “lighten up” considerably on the pressure when the drill bit is near the back of the material.  This reduces chipping or fracturing on the back of the material when the bit emerges from the back

Balancing Cutting Speed, Drill Speed, Pressure and Lubrication

The cutting speed and life of a diamond drill bit are affected by the hardness and abrasiveness of the material plus the drill speed, pressure and lubrication.  Experience with a specific material quickly allows a person to determine the optimum drill speed, pressure and lubrication to obtain the fastest cutting speed with the least affect upon bit life and risk of heat fractures or breakage.  However, when experience is lacking, it is best to start out with a very slow drill speed, very low pressure and lots of lubrication.  This starting point reduces risks to a minimum and extends bit life considerably

Pilot Bits on Core Drills

Pilot bits are often seen on standard metal core drill bits or hole saws designed for use on wood and other soft materials.  A pilot bit is a small drill bit located in the center of the hollow core drill bit, that keeps the bit centered while starting a hole.  Pilot bits are especially convenient when using a core drill bit in a hand drill.  When a pilot bit is not present, a core drill bit may tend to “walk” until it seats into a groove.

However, pilot bits are rarely used on diamond core drill bits since there are many drawbacks of a pilot bit with the diamond core drill bit design and drilling in very hard materials.

• A diamond pilot bit adds significant cost to the already expensive diamond core drill bits.
• The diamond pilot bit often wears out before the main core bit.
• Drilling times can be considerable when drilling in very hard materials and a pilot bit increases the drilling time even more.
• A pilot bit eliminates the shaft water-feed lubrication hole and does not allow the use of center water-feed equipment.

A template can easily be used to start a core drill that does not have a pilot bit.  This simple technique is discussed in the following section.

Starting a Core Drill Bit by Using a Template

Core drill bits above 1/2″ work best when used in a drill press rather than in a hand drill.  Starting a core drill bit when using a drill press is simple, since the drill press keeps the drill bit from moving about.  To reduce drill bit slippage or “walking” when using a hand drill, a template can be made to help start the drill bit if necessary.

A template is made by drilling a pilot hole in a piece of soft wood or plastic, using the diamond core drill bit or by cutting a “V” in the edge of a piece of wood or plastic or drilling a hole in it the size of ther core drill.  The hole template works best, however, the “V” template is easier to make and can be used with many sizes of core drill bits.

Templates are often made of 1/8″ plexiglass, 1/8″ pressed wood or even cardboard.  For repetitive drilling, a plastic or plexiglass template works best since water lubrication can be used immediately.  The template is placed on the surface of the material being drilled, with the pilot hole or “V” above the target hole area.  The template will hold the core drill bit in place as it starts.  After just a few revolutions of the drill bit, a groove is created and the template can be removed.

Depth of Bore

Bonded diamond core drill bits are designed to drill to depths of about 1/2″.  When drilling with core drills in material over 1/2″ thick (such as slab marble or stone), it is generally best to drill to a depth of about 1/2″, then carefully chip out the center ‘plug’ with a chisel or screwdriver before continuing to drill.  This process reduces friction and heat build-up caused by the ‘plug’ and will actually reduce the cutting time and increase the life of the bit.

When drilling large diameter holes (say 2″ wide and larger) in some hard materials such as marble or granite, it is sometimes difficult to break-out the plug without drilling several smaller holes into the plug so that it can be removed in sections.

Drilling deep holes with bonded diamond drill bits is generally limited to about 1″ in depth depending upon the specific material being drilled.  Even when removing the core periodically, the friction still increases considerable and limits deep boring.  For deeper holes, a sintered diamond drill bit is normally required.  The more expensive sintered bits have diamonds embedded directly into the metal tip and are most appropriate for deep drilling.

Ceramic and Porcelain Tile

1. While this is a distinct advantage from the stand point of wear, the newer Ceramic tile is often difficult to drill without a diamond drill bit.

Porcelain tile was originally developed as an alternative to Ceramic tile, for use in floor applications where usage and wear was more extreme.  Porcelain tile is made with various mixtures of materials, often including feldspar and quartz, which are two of the major components of natural Granite.  The use of Porcelain floor tile was generally limited to commercial applications, but by the late 1980′s, Porcelain tile use expanded more into residential construction.

In the 1990′s, tile manufacturers began to expand their Porcelain tile product lines to include many different styles and many that closely resembled natural stones.  Because of the natural stone look, Porcelain tile use on walls and counters became more popular.  Finally, in the late 1990′s tile manufacturer’s experimented with new manufacturing techniques that made the Porcelain tile significantly harder.  As with Ceramic tile, this was a major advancement resulting in reduced wear and very long life.  However, many Porcelain tiles are now as hard as Granite and some are even harder.  The newer type of high-quality, “super-hard”, “Class V” Porcelain tile is now almost impossible to drill with the older “spear point” carbide drill bits and generally can only be drilled with a diamond drill bit.

When drilling in the newer super-hard tile, using a diamond drill bit is the only reasonable option.  However, even with a diamond drill bit, the drilling process takes considerable time and the extremely hard material is not very forgiving if inappropriate drilling techniques are used.  It is critical that good drilling techniques be used.  Appropriate drill speeds, low drill pressure and good lubrication are critical.

Glass Block Drilling

Drilling in glass block is basically no different than drilling in normal glass.  If you keep the speed down, use low drill pressure and plenty of water for lubrication, you won’t have any problems.  However, there are a few very important facts and tips that will help people in their task.

There are numerous different types and styles of glass block made by many different manufacturers.  Most have some type of design or pattern, however, for drilling purposes, there are two very important characteristics to be aware.  Glass block varies significantly in the thickness of the glass wall and also by how tempered the glass is.  This information is rarely disclosed on the block itself, but should be considered when buying glass block for crafting purposes.

If you are drilling glass block that has been installed in a wall, you don’t have much choice but to drill whatever is there.  However, for craft projects, it is good to be very selective.  If the glass block is 3/8″ thick, it will take three times as long to drill compared to block with a 1/8″ thick wall.  Additionally, it will triple the drill bit wear per hole, causing the bit life to be only one-third as long.

Tempered glass is sometimes used in glass block to increase the load bearing capability of the block.  Tempered glass has differing degrees of temper, and while it can be drilled, it should be avoided if reasonably possible.  Tempered glass block can increase drilling times by 200% to 500% or even more, when compared to standard untempered glass.  Additionally, depending upon the degree of glass temper, drill bit life can be reduced by 75% to as much as 90%.

Experienced crafters who work with glass block eventually learn to search for different types and styles of glass block to test.  After drilling a sample of each block, it is obvious which block has a thin wall and which block is untempered.  Also, crafters who are drilling lots of glass blocks, normally develop some type of pan drilling method, so that the block can be drilled under water to improve lubrication and extend drill bit life.  The “clay dam” method of lubrication is also very effective for drilling in glass block.  Water lubrication techniques are discussed in more detail in the Lubrication Tips & Tricks section.

Glass block normally has a vacuum inside.  Some of the water and glass dust will always be sucked inside when you break through.  But, it is easy to rinse out the inside of the block with water as long as the dirty water is not allowed to dry out.  The plug from the hole will sometimes be pulled into the block, but it will usually drop out easily when the inside is rinsed.  However, if too much pressure was placed on the drill as the hole breaks through, it can cause the plug to have a flair from the splintering on the rear of the hole.  Normally, you can remove the plug with a pair of needle nose pliers, but the best solution is to reduce the drill pressure to avoid splintering as the drill breaks through.

A Few Final Glass Block Tips

A piece of wire from a regular coat hanger works great for inserting into the hole to “push” the lights around inside the block, so that all the corners are filled with lights.

A hand drill works fine using a starting template and a clay dam – for a few glass blocks.  However, an inexpensive drill press is well worth the cost if you are making lots of blocks.  There are many very nice, inexpensive drill presses available these days and they make glass block drilling fast and easy compared to a hand drill.

A 1/2″ diamond core drill bit works well, is about the right size and seems to be the most popular size for glass block drilling.  However, we prefer a 5/8″ bit, since the slightly larger hole gives a little extra room when inserting the lights, pushing them around or to easily remove them if you change your mind (or need to change a bulb).

Finally, if you ever get a chance to try the “LED” or “Tiny Lights”, give them a try – especially the big strings of 60 or 100 (it takes a few more lights because they are so small). Yes, they cost more, but they create almost no heat, last nearly forever and most importantly – they usually have a “special” random blinking pattern that blinks & twinkles & strobes, etc.  The special lighting affect is really worth the additional cost.

Diamond Drill Bit Life

The life span of all types of drill bits is affected by the hardness and abrasiveness of the material being drilled, the thickness of the material, plus the speed of the power drill, the amount of pressure used and the use of adequate lubrication.  The hardness and abrasiveness of materials can vary significantly.  Even materials which appear similar have varying degrees of hardness and abrasiveness.  Each individual’s drill speed, pressure and amount of lubrication also varies significantly.  As a result it is nearly impossible to estimate the life of a diamond bit.

For example:  On standard 1/8″ glass, an electroplated diamond bit under 3/4″ may last for 200 to 300 holes, or more, depending upon the specific glass and specific drilling techniques used.  Larger bits tend to run about half as long due to a slightly different type of cutting action.  Drilling in 1/4″ glass, being twice as thick, will normally produce only half as many holes over a drill bit’s life, if the glass hardness and drilling techniques are the same.  Tempered glass has differing degrees of temper, and will reduce drill bit life by 75% to more than 90%, compared to standard glass.

Lubrication has a significant affect upon drill bit life.  Using a center water feel lubrication device or drilling under water with the water level above the side tip lubrication hole gives the best lubrication and the best drill bit life.  Using a clay type “dam” gives fairly good lubrication but since the water normally does not reach the side tip lubrication hole, the lubrication inside of the bit is much more limited. As a result, using a dam lubrication method will often reduce drill bit life by 25% to 40%.  Finally, spraying or splashing water onto the bit for lubrication works, but lubrication is very limited and drill bit life can easily be reduced by 40% to 60% compared to using a good water bath.

On the extremely hard and abrasive materials, such as granite or the newer “super-hard” porcelain floor tiles, a bonded diamond bit may only produce 6 to 12 holes in 3/8″ material.  However, the same bit may produce as many as 20 or more holes, all depending upon the specific material, the thickness and the specific drilling techniques used.  Tests on some of the less hard, class III floor tiles have ranged from 40 to 60 holes or more.  Wall tile is often less hard (but not always).  However, being only about 1/8″ to 3/16″ thick, the results in wall tile are normally two to three times greater than drilling in the same material that is 3/8″ thick, all while using the same drilling techniques.

These examples are are all based upon extensive testing in different materials using proper drill speeds, drill head pressure, and lubrication.  Test results were much less, using poor drilling techniques, and extreme tests using improper drilling techniques often resulted in a bit “burning up

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/construction-articles/how-to-use-diamond-core-drill-bitsdrill-glass-ceramic-porcelain-wall-tile-floor-tile-limestone-marble-slate-granite-stone-tile-fiberglass-1782583.html

How To Use Diamond Core Drill Bits? is a post from: Cutting Discs

Author: Mark Bruddy

To drill a satisfactory hole in any material, the correct type of diamond core drill bits should be used. Every Diamond Core bits are designed to suit specific application. Such as, there are bits designed for drilling into brick, stone, tiles or concrete. These diamond core bits outperform the standard carbide glass and tile bits on the market today, both in speed of drilling and the quality of the holes that it can drill per bit. They are easy to use, and can be used with any cordless drill for flexibility and convenience.

There are hundreds of diamond drills with slight different properties on the market. Some are different. Some have different types, bond types, looks, and manufacturing methods. They may have different look as well as growing characteristics and preferences. It is important for operators to understand the difference between diamond core bits and their types and their intended applications and many other factors affecting the performance. Always use a slow rotational speed for drilling into harder materials to avoid overheating the tip, and frequently withdraw the bit to remove dust.

After reading this article, the user will be equipped with the knowledge to make an intelligent diamond drill selection the first time.

When to use Diamond Core Drill Bits?

A core drill with concrete core bits are used for making larger holes through concrete, such as for setting up poles for a clothesline, or for mounting a drain pipe. Make sure that you follow the recommendations of the manufacturer concerning the use of the tool and the concrete core bit that you are using for the project.

How much the speed of Concrete Bits should be?

An increased pressure may reduce the cutting time gradually, and increase the risk of heat fractures and material breakage. If used accurately, a diamond core bit should never be more than warm when touched after use. If a drill bit develops black or yellow marks around the tip, it is a signal of extreme heat and that the drill speed being used is too fast or the amount of pressure on the drill is enormous. Consequently, concrete core bits can become dull fast and may be shattered from the heat and friction that is created by the drilling process.

How to ensure good results with Concrete Core Bits?

It is imperative that the drill should be kept as straight as possible to prevent the bits from getting damaged. If you are going to drill large holes, you may have to use diamond core bits that were specially designed for drilling concrete core holes. There are small size core bits that can be connected to a regular rotary hammer or hammer drill but if you are going to use large concrete core bits, you will have to use a core drill.

When drilling holes through concrete using core bits, you should always wear safety goggles or glasses. A shattered bit will be risky and call for an immediate medical operation to remove such fragments.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/tools-and-equipment-articles/drill-a-satisfactory-hole-with-diamond-core-drill-bits-3330720.html

About the Author

Mark Bruddy is a flooring solution expert working with US leading Diamond Core Bits manufacturer. They provide complete Concrete Flooring Tools, Concrete Core Bits, Diamond Drill Bits and Wholesale Diamond Blades.

Drill A Satisfactory Hole With Diamond Core Drill Bits is a post from: Cutting Discs

Author: Cruise

Core drilling can be a comparatively easy and unfussy task, provided that you have the right core drilling equipment for the given application. Diamond core drilling equipments enable to perform core drilling applications easily and efficiently. There are a wide range of diamond core drilling equipments available in the market. Diamond core drilling equipments are easy to use and enable for fast drilling of brick, block, stone and reinforced concrete.

Lightweight portable diamond core drilling machines and rigs are some of the diamond core drilling equipments that are perfect for drilling holes in walls, floors, ceilings, and all concrete systems. The different types of diamond core drilling machines are Electric, Hydraulic and Pneumatic Diamond Core Drilling Machines available for wet or dry drilling applications. Rotary core diamond drilling equipment and Wireline diamond core drilling equipment are some of the other diamond core drilling equipments.

The different models in Electric Diamond Core Drilling Machines are Hand-Held Electric Mini Diamond Drilling Machines, Hand-Held Electric Core Drilling Machines, Hand-Held & Rig Mounted Electric Core Drilling Machines and Rig Mounted Electric Diamond Core Drilling Machines. Hand-Held Electric Mini Diamond Drilling Machines can be used to drill perfect holes in tile, natural stone and concrete within seconds. They are the best for granite, gravestones, countertops, plumbing and other masonry applications. They can be used to perform drilling operation eliminating cracks and blow-out without any shock. Hand-Held Electric Core Drilling Machines can be used to drill holes in concrete and natural stone much faster than with rotary hammers. They are perfect for anchors and rebar installation. They can be used to perform drilling operation without shock, dust and vibration. They have a Quick-change system that allows fast removal of the center core. Hand-Held & Rig Mounted Electric Core Drilling Machines are powerful and lightweight. They can be used to drill up to 5″ holes in brick, cinder blocks, limestone and other abrasive materials. They are ideal for drilling holes in walls, floors, ceilings and all concrete anchoring systems. They can be used to perform drilling operation quickly and efficiently.

The different types of Hydraulic Diamond Core Drilling Machines are Hand-Held & Rig Mounted Hydraulic Core Drilling Machines. The Hydraulic diamond Core Drilling machines implement both mechanical and electronic protection means. They are convenient to take, easy to move, cost-effective, durable, safe and reliable.

The different types of Pneumatic Diamond Core Drilling Machines are Hand-Held & Rig Mounted Pneumatic Core Drilling Machines. Hand-Held & Rig Mounted Pneumatic Core Drilling Machines are perfect for drilling holes in walls, ceilings, floors, refractory brick and all concrete anchoring systems. Two models of Hand-Held & Rig Mounted Pneumatic Core Drilling Machines available are 2.1 or 3.8 HP.

Diamond core drilling equipments produce smooth accurate hole through brickwork, stone and reinforced concrete. They are used to drill smooth holes with accurate size at high efficiency and with no dust in operation. Diamond core drilling equipments can be used for construction installation applications, earthwork quality inspection applications, water system applications, electrical system applications, heating system applications, gas supply system applications, and railway, bridge, and tunnel installation jobs.

Many companies like Red Band offers a widespread range of hand held and rig mounted, wet and dry cutting diamond core drilling equipments that are most suitable for standard core drilling applications to be performed with easily and efficiently.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/various-drilling-equipments-in-diamond-core-drilling-941359.html

About the Author

Tom Cruise is an eminent analyst and writer in mineral exploration related topics. He has authored many books on diamond drilling guide for Core Drilling Machine and Canadian Drilling Companies. Find more packages at www.diamondcoredrilling.com.

Various drilling equipments in diamond core drilling is a post from: Cutting Discs

What Makes Them Cut Faster and Last Longer? is a post from: Cutting Discs

What Is Involved In Concrete Cutting And Demolition is a post from: Cutting Discs