concrete: Gun or hammer drill?

[yamaha_1fan]

I am attaching some walls to the ground and have some other various things I need to attach to the foundation. I tried drilling today with a tapcon bit and cordless drill. It didnt work too well. The drill lasted long enough, but by the third or fourth hole, I couldnt get the bit in, and I actually melted the tip of it off.

I am considering buying a hammer drill (I used to have one and cant find it ) or a powder gun like the ramset or hilti.

Looking for pros and cons.

Every now and then I find myself needing something like this so this is a long term investment. I know I could liquid nail the plate down but am looking for something more sturdier, plus I dont have time tomorrow for liquid nail to dry.

I am stick framing and need the bottom plate to be secure to the ground to attach my studs to.

 

[humble1]

hammerdrill and bolt it. hilti makes a good one. so does bosch.

 

[DAB007]

I've worked as project manager for a basement remodelor. Our framer Hilti's the Depot greenboard 2x4s directly to the floor to create his bottom plate. Bomber!

 

[I N Hail]

Well shooting it down (Ram set) would be easier,faster,if you build your walls then stand them up. Trying to nail the studs into the plate's(Pressure treated 2x4),Will just knock your plates lose.

So to bolt them just get "Double fluted masonry bit's". Drill slowly and keep the bit
COOL/WET

PeaceINH

 

[disfunktional]

definitely hilti the holes and 3/8" x 3" red head anchors. and DAB007 if you're a project manager and on this site then a i realy hope that you dont implement a drug testing policy on your workers.

 

[PharmaCan]

I like to use a ramset. It's quicker and easier. If you use treated wood for the bottom plate, try to pick some wood that's hard and heavy so that it won't split so easily. If you want to build the wall on the ground (laying flat), the easiest way to build it, use a double plate on the top. Secure the top plate to the ceiling joists, build the wall to fit the space between the top plate and the floor, lift the framed wall to where it's vertical then slide it into the space. Nail one top plate into the other top plate, plumb the wall then attach the bottom plate with a ramset. If you fuck up and the new wall doesn't fit snug, cut 2x4's to fit between the studs, nail one block to the bottom plate in every other space then nail the studs into the blocks.

PC

 

[FrankRizzo]

Not to sure about the exact job you are doing, but I do know ramset's are fun to use.

 

[vicious bee]

I like ramsets. I have one. But it's not a versatile as a hammer drill. Unless you're going to use it a lot get a hammer drill. If you get the right model it will drill, chip, and hammer drill. Best bang for the buck.

 

[yamaha_1fan]

I am building the wall in place, I believe its called stick framing? I attached my top plate to the joists above, and bottom plate to the floor. I did get a couple tapcon anchors in. Then I cut each stud and toe nailed to the top and bottom.

Doing it this way was easier IMO because I had to frame around AC ducts, pipes etc. This is in an unfinished basement. This allowed me to cut the top plate and go around stuff.

I had no problem with the bottom plate moving when toe nailing the studs. I was using a framing nailer on a compressor.

I still have the other room to do, plus I want to attach strips of 2x4 around the bottom of the room to hold the panda film against the foundation. I have used tape in the past and it wasnt that good.

None of the wood is pressure treated.

I am off to HD this morning and see what I can come up with. I may just rent something

 

[who me]

building the wall in place is called balloon framing...that said the ramset/.22 cal stud guns dont work to well on old cured concrete hammer drill for me. ps a lot of the new top end cordless drills are hammer drills (Milwaukee,bosch.dewalt etc...)

 

[caljim]

Hammer drill all the way. Versatile and wont spall the concrete like the hilti could. My 18v cordless dewalt set the bottom plates for my room in a single charge. That drill has paid for itself over and over. That and some tapcon anchors, easy in, easy out.

 

[yamaha_1fan]

well I bought a Ramset pistol gun with the yellow charge (highest charge) and 3" nails. Worked like a champ. House is 4 years old so i assume thats plenty cured.

I tried drilling with a cordless and that went nowhere fast. Maybe I was going too fast and ruined the bit? If you take a look, concrete bits have a spade on the tip. My bit had a notch in it and that spade was missing after the last hole. I guess that gets welded in when its made and I broke/melted it?

I did buy a Ryobi hammer drill and new bits in case the ramset didnt work but it worked great. I am returning the drill and bit unused.

Thanks

 

[ogatec]

what about liquid nails?

edit-oops i see you already discussed that.

 

[PharmaCan]

well I bought a Ramset pistol gun with the yellow charge (highest charge) and 3" nails. Worked like a champ. House is 4 years old so i assume thats plenty cured.

Glad to see you got it done, Yamaha. Just FYI, concrete actually keeps curing for many years. Try shooting into a 20-30 year old slab sometime and you'll see a big difference in penetration.


About three years ago I was doing a remodel on my sister's house and had to shoot some plates - fired off maybe half a dozen shots one right after the other. Very soon thereafter there was a knock on the door and it was the police, with their guns drawn. It seems someone had reported shots fired inside a residence. It scared the hell out of me because my then five-year-old son was with me at the time. The house had the strong odor of burnt gunpowder inside and the cops could smell it as soon as I opened the door, maybe even before I opened it, so they were on high alert. As soon as I opened the door I could see cops all over the yard, so I called my son over, told him, "Honey, these nice policemen want to show you their policecar." The cops saw I was trying to get a child out of harms way so one officer nicely took him out to a squad car while several others stormed into the house. It only took a couple of minutes to show them my ramset, the empty casings on the floor and the nails in the plate. In retrospect it was kinda funny, but at first it was a little scary because the cops knew from the smell that a gun had been fired inside the house and they were jumpy as hell. (Can't blame leo - they were doing their job and I'd be jumpy too if I thought I might be about to get shot at.)

PC

 

[sirripalot]

i just built my room in my basement area, and i picked up a ramset. drive a nail every 8" or so. my walls feel strong. definitely strong enough for any load they're going to be receiving.

one thing, i suggest NOT ignoring the suggested hearing protection if you're in a basement. it's just like firing a .22 pistol in your basement. hurts real bad..lol

 

[yamaha_1fan]

Glad to see you got it done, Yamaha. Just FYI, concrete actually keeps curing for many years. Try shooting into a 20-30 year old slab sometime and you'll see a big difference in penetration.


About three years ago I was doing a remodel on my sister's house and had to shoot some plates - fired off maybe half a dozen shots one right after the other. Very soon thereafter there was a knock on the door and it was the police, with their guns drawn. It seems someone had reported shots fired inside a residence. It scared the hell out of me because my then five-year-old son was with me at the time. The house had the strong odor of burnt gunpowder inside and the cops could smell it as soon as I opened the door, maybe even before I opened it, so they were on high alert. As soon as I opened the door I could see cops all over the yard, so I called my son over, told him, "Honey, these nice policemen want to show you their policecar." The cops saw I was trying to get a child out of harms way so one officer nicely took him out to a squad car while several others stormed into the house. It only took a couple of minutes to show them my ramset, the empty casings on the floor and the nails in the plate. In retrospect it was kinda funny, but at first it was a little scary because the cops knew from the smell that a gun had been fired inside the house and they were jumpy as hell. (Can't blame leo - they were doing their job and I'd be jumpy too if I thought I might be about to get shot at.)

PC

I knew concrete got harder as time went on. Isnt the hoover damn still curing?? Didnt know it would get so much harder that it would affect the ramset though

I never thought about that. While nothing illegal has happened yet, I do have all my grow equipment there so my spot would have been ruined. That would have sucked. Your story is funny in hindsight and thankfully it all worked out. You are right, cant blame them in that situation.


I put in 3 nails per 10 feet. The walls are just holding up panda film and a door.

I also used the gun to shoot 2x4s into the foundation to hold the panda tight against the wall. Worked great. Alot better than drilling and driving screws

 

[sirripalot]

Glad to see you got it done, Yamaha. Just FYI, concrete actually keeps curing for many years. Try shooting into a 20-30 year old slab sometime and you'll see a big difference in penetration.


About three years ago I was doing a remodel on my sister's house and had to shoot some plates - fired off maybe half a dozen shots one right after the other. Very soon thereafter there was a knock on the door and it was the police, with their guns drawn. It seems someone had reported shots fired inside a residence. It scared the hell out of me because my then five-year-old son was with me at the time. The house had the strong odor of burnt gunpowder inside and the cops could smell it as soon as I opened the door, maybe even before I opened it, so they were on high alert. As soon as I opened the door I could see cops all over the yard, so I called my son over, told him, "Honey, these nice policemen want to show you their policecar." The cops saw I was trying to get a child out of harms way so one officer nicely took him out to a squad car while several others stormed into the house. It only took a couple of minutes to show them my ramset, the empty casings on the floor and the nails in the plate. In retrospect it was kinda funny, but at first it was a little scary because the cops knew from the smell that a gun had been fired inside the house and they were jumpy as hell. (Can't blame leo - they were doing their job and I'd be jumpy too if I thought I might be about to get shot at.)

PC

shit man, you know i would have been DONE if po showed up when i was using my ramset. damn bro, that's intense.