Core Drill Questions

[PoolGate]

I have decided to go ahead and core drill my own deck to save the $900 my local pool store wants to do this. I am looking at core drills and it seems the cheap $115 one at Amazon has really bad reviews some of them saying it won't even last for 1-2 holes. So I am looking for a better one. I will be drilling 4 holes (for 2 rails). I found some used Hilti models on ebay (Hilti seems to be high end) for around $300 used (well used) and might go that route. I would look at other brands but know nothing about core drills. Can anyone recommend any other brands that I can look at that is decent? I also looked at renting one but they are over $100 day to rent, which might end up being the route I go.

 

[AftonJeeper]

My cousin does radon mitigation that will sometimes require drilling a 3" hole in the floor to suck the gas out. He uses only Hilti. I've borrowed his big one to drill a 5" hole in my basement wall, they work well.

In your situation I would rent one. I believe the bit will cost you over $100

 

[JoyfulNoise]

If you’ve never core drilled concrete before I suggest you practice a bit. It’s not as easy as it looks. A professional rig with a guide will enable you to achieve a properly vertical plunge line; handheld drills can be very tricky to control on large diameter bores. I also suggest you have a bag of concrete patch mix available to fix any “mistakes”...

Is this a metal hand rail? If so you need to tie the anchors into the deck mesh or rebar for electrical bonding safety. If they’re fiberglass, bonding isn’t necessary.

Good luck, take some video, upload it to YouTube and post it.

 

[Jimrahbe]

pg,

I would think you could just hire a core drilling guy.. I suspect that is what your pool company would do and then tack on there normal 2 x fee...

Worth getting a quote anyway...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[needsajet]

The comment above that it's tricky is worth considering. If you're accustomed to that sort of stuff, no worries. I'm guessing your posts have some sort of finish flange, but busting out the lip is a risk. Measure everything 3 or 4 times, maybe more, haha! I wouldn't buy used bits; someone might have used them horizontally without adequate water or who knows what else (same can be said for online reviews). Bolted anchors might be an option.

I don't know about over there, but pool/balcony fencers here would do four holes for around $400, but you'd have to fit in for them.

 

[PoolGate]

pg,

I would think you could just hire a core drilling guy.. I suspect that is what your pool company would do and then tack on there normal 2 x fee...

Worth getting a quote anyway...

Thanks,

Jim R.

The pool company wants $800 to drill and set the 2 anchors. I feel quite certain that this is well within my capabilities to do myself. Finding a core drill is the only issue. I can rent a Hilti for $110/day from Home Depot or I can buy a lower quality one for around $240 (Bluerock) or I can buy a used Hilti for around $300. Any option other than them doing it requires me to purchase the bit which is around $60 or so. My inclination is to buy the new Bluerock as I think I may add another rail to the other side of the pool for the deep end walkout.

If I get lucky and hit the bonding wire (I know @ where it is) then I will bond the anchor and buy a stainless steel rail. Not that SS is any better but I know the plastic coated ones are jacked up 100% more than SS since people have to buy them if they can't bond the SS rails (post installations).

 

[Jimrahbe]

pg,

I hope the in-concrete anchors have some room for "slop" because the above ground units that I installed had zero room for error. It would have been impossible for me to install them if I had not already had the railing...

So how does this work? I assume you core drill a hole larger than the anchor, and then drop the anchor in the hole. I assume new concrete holds the anchor in the hole, but what do you plan to use to align and space the two anchors?

Good luck with your project...

Jim R.

 

[PoolGate]

pg,

I hope the in-concrete anchors have some room for "slop" because the above ground units that I installed had zero room for error. It would have been impossible for me to install them if I had not already had the railing...

So how does this work? I assume you core drill a hole larger than the anchor, and then drop the anchor in the hole. I assume new concrete holds the anchor in the hole, but what do you plan to use to align and space the two anchors?

Good luck with your project...

Jim R.

You can get a template for both anchors. The hole is drilled, it is suggested to "mushroom" out the bottom of the hole, then it is filled with hydraulic cement.

Here is one with a jig.

https://www.amazon.com/Pool-Handrail-Aluminum-Anchors-Jig/dp/B003ZTO08G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1515454327&sr=8-2&keywords=pool+rail+anchor

 

[Jimrahbe]

pg,

That is something that I would have to get for sure..

Thanks for the feedback.. I learn something new here almost everyday..

Jim R.

 

[PoolGate]

pg,

That is something that I would have to get for sure..

Thanks for the feedback.. I learn something new here almost everyday..

Jim R.

Do you know if I can get the set I listed above (metal) and install it even if I don't hit the bonding wire as long as I use the plastic coated rails?

 

[PoolguyinCT]

The metal “cups” require bonding, regardless of rail material.