Is it a masonry bit to drill live rock?

[Joshua]

I forget which bit for drilling live rock, masonry right? I'm making an attempt at an actual structure and want to drill some holes to use plastic dowels and/or zip ties and don't want my rock falling apart.

[LoneStar]

Yeah I have seen many people use masonary bits online to drill their rock. Do you have a hammer drill? I'd test a piece of base rock first perhaps to see how well it may work!

[Joshua]

What the heck is a hammer drill???

[LoneStar]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammer_drill

:)

You use a hammer drill for drilling masonary and rock.

[Joshua]

I see, no mine is just a regular drill but I've drilled concrete in the past with the concrete bits and it worked OK. I'll test it out on some ugly or small pieces and see how it goes, probably will need to go really slow to avoid cracks I'd guess.

[LoneStar]

Let us know how it turns out!

[Joshua]

Well I just tried to order 300 lbs of rock and they said they're out until next year... That leaves me with about 120 or so I guess so I'm gonna have to be really creative and that tank is gonna have an incredibly open structure to it.

[caferacermike]

My understanding is that live rock is so soft that using a masonry tipped drill, not a true SDS bit, does a great job in a regular twist drill. Be it that I use a heavy duty SDS hammer drill on a daily basis, I can tell you that you might crack your rock in 2 if not extremely careful.

[RICKY81]

I USE A 6" LONG X 5/16" DIAMETER Hammer Drill Bit with a regular Drill, Brand is BOSCH with "On-Center" diamond ground carbide tip for drillingin hard materials (Granite, stone, tile etc.) --about $4-$6 per bit at Lowes..... i drill a hole through the rock and insert a fiberglass rod that is the same thinkness (5/16") and helps to stabilize the rock. these rods u can find and are approx 3 ft long for about <$2.00 at Lowes and are found in the section where they have the "FOR SALE" signs, reflectors and address labels/numbers for homes.

[SoLiD]

Don't use a hammer drill if you don't want Rock Rubble. It will be to excessive in force for most of the live rock we use. You're better off with a regular drill and a masonry hammer drill bit like Ricky suggested. Bosch are the bits I use, too. It chews through live rock like butter.

Blue Granite Hammer Drill Bit 5/8 In. X 10 In. X 12 In.
http://www.homedepot.ca/wcsstore/HomeDepotCanada/images/catalog/HCBG215_8in+BG+HR_477054_3.jpg