Installing plumbing pipework through a concrete wall is an average DIY activity for the hands-on kind of homeowner.

Drilling holes through the wall is a pre-requisite for this activity and it's the first thing you'll need to do. Discussed in this article are a few things that you should have in mind as you prepare to for the drilling exercise.

Rig-Mounted Drills Are A Better Choice

You'll need to hire a diamond core drill (also referred to as diamond hole saws) for the drilling exercise. Diamond drills can either be wet-type or they can be dry-type. Wet-type drills use water for cooling/lubrication during the drilling exercise.

Both types of drills are either hand-held or they're mounted on a rig. Regardless of whether you choose a wet or dry-type drill, one that's mounted on a rig is likely to give you an easier time and greater precision. A rig-mounted drill won't vibrate as much as one that's held by hand. Thus, you'll be able to stick to the required diameter of the hole with greater ease. With a hand-held drill, you might be forced to use physical anchors in order to achieve the desired level of precision.

You Should Use An Ammeter With An Electric Dril

Electric diamond core drills are the most commonly used by DIY-minded homeowners. It's important that you maintain the recommended drilling speed for an efficient drilling exercise. This speed will often be indicated as 'revolutions per minute' in the instruction manual that comes with the drill.

Maintaining the recommended speed requires that the right amount of power is delivered to the drill.

An ammeter is required to ensure that the amount of power delivered to the drill does not exceed its maximum amperage rating. If this rating is exceeded, internal components of the drill are likely to overheat, and the drill's motor will likely get bogged down.

The drill will exhibit less-than-optimum performance and the excess heat can cause permanent damage to its internal components. 

An ammeter/amp meter will allow you to monitor the amount of current being delivered to your drill.

The Question Of Pressure

Contrary to what you might think, diamond core drills don't rely on pressure to cut through concrete. In the ideal situation, you should apply the least pressure possible and let the diamond drill bits do their job.

If you apply excessive pressure when drilling, the diamond bits will chip or fall away from the drill and you're likely to induce cracks on the concrete wall.

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