Rock Drilling

Rock drilling can be an essential part of a construction project. Whether you’re a professional contractor or a DIY enthusiast, rock drilling can help you save time and money on your projects. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the benefits of rock drilling and how it can be used to improve your construction process. 

 

What is Rock Drilling? 

 

Rock drilling is the process of using a mechanical device to drill into rocks or other hard surfaces. This type of drilling requires specialized tools that are designed to penetrate through tough materials like stone, concrete, asphalt, and soil. Rock drills come in various shapes and sizes, depending on the job at hand. The most common type of rock drill is the pneumatic hammer drill which uses compressed air to break apart rocks. The rotary-percussion drilling method applies a hammer tool to produce percussion on a rock formation. A top hammer system transfers approximately 84% of the energy to the drill bit, while a down-the-hole (DTH) hammer is more efficient in this regard—almost 100% of the energy is being transferred.

 

The Benefits of Rock Drilling 

 

Rock drilling comes with several benefits that make it an invaluable tool for any construction job. One major benefit is its speed—a task that may take days with traditional tools can be done in minutes with a rock drill. It also saves time by eliminating the need for manual labor when breaking apart large chunks of stone or concrete. Furthermore, rock drills are incredibly durable and require very little maintenance over their lifespan, making them cost-effective solutions for all sorts of construction projects. Another great advantage is that they are relatively easy to use compared to other power tools which require more skill and expertise to operate safely and effectively. Finally, they produce minimal noise levels compared to other equipment like jackhammers which makes them ideal for jobs in densely populated areas where noise pollution needs to be kept at a minimum level.  

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There are numerous things to consider when drilling in hard rock with a PSI threshold above 10,000 such as hard limestone, granite and skirt. The pilot bore begins by pushing and rotating drill pipe following a predetermined pass from the entry point to exit point.  The tooling from drill pipe, bits, housings, and back reamers should be designed specifically for rock applications.  The drilling fluid you should use in rock will depend on the tooling and drill set up you choose. You want to go with a mix that is thick enough to float cuttings from the drill path while providing adequate cooling and lubrication to the drill bit.  Due to the difficulty of rock ground conditions contractors need to modify their expectations on daily footage goals while operators should modify their steering and how they manage the established bore path such as positioning the bent sub for steering. The right tooling is also critical for pull back in hard rock formations.
 

As you can see there were numerous considerations for boring in hard rock  and choosing the right contractor for your project is paramount to success.  At  CB HDD Trenchless Civil Construction Ltd,  we have the experience and expertise to make sure your project is done right.  Our team of professionals can work with rock drills to quickly and efficiently create the perfect hole for any construction job.  Contact us today to learn more about how our services can benefit you! 

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