I don't think Travis was the one looking for advice. Thread has taken a couple of left turns lol...
He owns a hammer drill and rarely does this type of work. Why spend $180 (Amazon) when he can just buy a good quality bit?
Plus, if he were to buy a corded rotary hammer, the DeWalt has better specs and is $10 less.
Moze-my advice to the original poster was a professional gift. I speak from experience when it comes to drilling rocks and concrete. This forum is for the sign professionals, I assume the OP is a professional or is working toward being one. There are a few different Bull Dogs made so not sure about the spec comparison with a Dewalt, but, if you can get advice from a sign professional about an installation tool that he currently uses and likes, seems to me it would be worth the 10 bucks he would save. My posts are not just for the OP, they are meant to help the new(er) sign person who may be reading just for curiosity and may run into the same problem later.
I personally have seen instances where the hammer drill won't drill a wall or block due to it's apparent hardness. It just keeps cooking bits, once you run through all the bits on the job you have brought with you, you now have to stop and run for more, if the closest place is the place you just bought bits from then you need to go even farther away. IF YOU BUY THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN.
Now that the OP has seen how the wrong tool is failing, he needs to decide if he will get the right tool or just keep cooking bits and throwing the money that way. I was simply trying to steer the new guy toward professionalism. I used my Bulldog yesterday to punch a dozen holes in the nastiest white brick they make, The Bulldog made it child's play, has a detachable drill stop, and a nice metal hook for the bucket to hang it up while your not using it, comes in handy 35 feet high.
Why buy a corded rotary hammer drill? Because one of the sign professionals chimed in on the post who knows how to get the job done, said that is what you will need to finish the jobs like this.
First off I currently work at a small franchise sign shop. Technically my job is graphic designer but there is only 2-3 employees including my boss so needless to say I fill a lot of roles. I've been there over 2.5 years and over the past year I've become very unhappy with the way the company is run. My boss doesnt care to grow the company which leaves makes for little in the way of future opportunities.
That being said I'm seriously considering starting my own company, focusing on vehicle wraps. I'm trying to do as much research as I can but one thing I'm unsure of is the area of plotters. I feel I a plotter for 15" punched vinyl will suffice but dont know which to buy. I currently use a Gerber Envision and its a great machine but I'd like to know if there are cheaper options out there. I'm willing to pay for a quality machine but would like to keep my startup cost low. My other concern along the same lines is the software needed. I currently use Composer at work but again its quite expensive. I'd really like to stick to all Apple computer. It seems that the MagiSign Plugin for Illustrator will solve that problem but I wouldnt mind hearing other's opinions.
thanks
What is wrong with buying from China. Other countries buy from us, we buy from them, that is called a free market.
Nope I was just pointing out the Hypocrisy on this site. Sorry for hi-jacking the thread.
Do you only buy american made products if there is an option, regardless of cost?
Do you only buy american made products if there is an option, regardless of cost?
Absolutely!!!!!
This is what we have and it kicks the crap out of all the others we have used:
HITACHI DH38YE Rotary Hammer Drill
One of the best damn tools we own.
This is what we have and it kicks the crap out of all the others we have used:
HITACHI DH38YE Rotary Hammer Drill
One of the best damn tools we own.
Kind of small for 3/16" holes...:Big Laugh