Electric Tools

["Simon Brown" <moonsong@zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz>]

Hi Geri,

Stone carvers do not generally make quiet neighbours!

I recommend an electric masonry drill with an SDS+ chuck. Some images of
SDS+ drill bits are here:
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/DrillBits/SDSBits/d110/sd1310
A jaws chuck will not last very long on a hammer setting.

A good quality drill will have a pneumatic booster as well as the electric
torque drive. Check at your local power tool shop, and buy the drill with
the biggest wattage (provides the most power) and the longest warranty. Some
images here:
http://www.justoffbase-tools.co.uk/tools.asp?parent=1206
Other useful features are: variable speed, rotation stop, chisel bits.

This one looks good too:
http://www.lawson-his.co.uk/scripts/details.php?cat=SDS%20Chisel%20Drills&product=628

Don't be tempted to repair your drill when it breaks. I have always tried to
kill my electric tools in the warranty period - if they last the distance, I
buy another and keep the old one as a spare. If they die, I get them
resurrected under warranty. I have made expensive mistakes trying to rebuild
favourite drills outside the warranty period.

Years ago, I bought some drill points manufactured by Hilti. They fitted my
SDS+ chuck, and tapered to a point. I used them on the rotary hammer setting
on sandstone and limestone, and found them excellent because they were
self-sharpening, that is the shoulder of the point was continually worn
away, exposing the sharp tip.

Other disadvantages of trying to work stone with electric tools (as well as
the dust in the machine mentioned by John) include the weight of the motor
you are carrying all the time, and the awkward length of the tool.

Simon