Drills
- Thread starter huwg
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2xw
Well-known member
I've just bought a DCH072 and used it underground for stuff - it's super light and gets about 15-20x 8mm*15cm holes out of a battery, however I think it uses smaller batteries than the normal DeWalt ones - maybe a bigger drill from the range might suit.
It seems fairly robust and managed to stay in one piece being dragged through a very long rocky crawl with just some bits of foam matts protecting it
It seems fairly robust and managed to stay in one piece being dragged through a very long rocky crawl with just some bits of foam matts protecting it
I had a DCH072 too - it was excellent. Light and small. Robust too*
The only down side for me was that it didn't have hammer only mode for use with a flat chisel. May not be an issue for you but worth considering.
* Although I wrecked it using a core drill forcing it at angles and pressures that they are aren't designed for! My own fault!
The only down side for me was that it didn't have hammer only mode for use with a flat chisel. May not be an issue for you but worth considering.
* Although I wrecked it using a core drill forcing it at angles and pressures that they are aren't designed for! My own fault!
PeteHall
Moderator
I'm sure it's been said before in other threads, but a heavier duty drill is preferable for widening caves, where you are likely to want longer, larger diameter holes (subject to choice of widening technique). These heavier drills are more likely to have a hammer only function.
For bolt climbing or exploratory rigging, something much lighter is usually preferable, as it's easier to handle and you'll generally only be drilling short 8mm holes. The hammer only function isn't usually an option with these lighter drills, but that's not really what you'd want to use them for anyway.
Horses for courses.
For bolt climbing or exploratory rigging, something much lighter is usually preferable, as it's easier to handle and you'll generally only be drilling short 8mm holes. The hammer only function isn't usually an option with these lighter drills, but that's not really what you'd want to use them for anyway.
Horses for courses.
Jester
Member
My digging group has a little Dewalt DCH172, mainly used for bolting or P&F, but it has been used to finish 1000mm x 12mm shot holes if the bigger Hilti's batteries don't quite get the job done. It works well and we've not broken it yet.
We've also got a slightly bigger 18v Dewalt (not sure exactly which one) with a hammer only setting, which is currently broken. Not sure what exactly is broken yet, but it's seen some tough use in pretty horrible muddy places.
We've also got a slightly bigger 18v Dewalt (not sure exactly which one) with a hammer only setting, which is currently broken. Not sure what exactly is broken yet, but it's seen some tough use in pretty horrible muddy places.
cap n chris
Well-known member
Personally I find the Dewalt drill batteries are an absolute sod, bordering on impossible, to swap out while caving whereas Bosch are lemon squeezy peasy.
Babyhagrid
Well-known member
Capping only needs a small 8mm hole , the same as small through bolts. A smaller drill should be able to manage this.
An 8mm hole requires 1/3rd the amount of rock removal as a 14 mm hole for plugs and feathers.
Cantclimbtom
Well-known member
Be aware while Makita is generally good for the larger drills and other tools. But... if you were considering a small drill driver as lightweight drill for small holes while climbing etc (so accepting a weaker rotary hammer) then be aware most of them have a tendency to get stuck in rotary hammer mode no matter whether you select screw, drill or rotary hammer. That bit of their gearbox is a real Achilles heal. If you've got DeWalt batteries don't be tempted by any really good deals you see to get a small Makita.
AlexR
Active member
Not really worth a separate post, but may be of interest to someone:
The lightest full-SDS drill I could find and settled on some years ago is the Milwaukee M12CH Fuel (brushless), which clocks in at 1.4kg. To be fair the Dewalt DCH072 is only marginally heavier, about the same as the Makita DHR171. This was after breaking 2 Uneos, one in a very unfortunate place.
All my small work tools are M12 Milwaukee, so plenty of batteries around.
By far my most common use case is bolt climbing, so the lighter the better. That being said, the M12CH does perfectly fine with deeper capping holes. Realistically, unless you're often drilling for glue ins, stemples, etc. the best SDS drill for caving is the lightest one you can get. Also definitely brushless.
BUT... to my great annoyance Milwaukee is replacing/ has replaced the M12CH with the heavier M12FHAC16, which kind of ruins the whole subcompact thing. There are a couple of locations I'd really rather not have to carry a drill to every bloody time, so the only sensible solution was to buy some more off ebay and stash them; they're gratifyingly cheap in the UK and unexplainably expensive in Germany.
The lightest full-SDS drill I could find and settled on some years ago is the Milwaukee M12CH Fuel (brushless), which clocks in at 1.4kg. To be fair the Dewalt DCH072 is only marginally heavier, about the same as the Makita DHR171. This was after breaking 2 Uneos, one in a very unfortunate place.
All my small work tools are M12 Milwaukee, so plenty of batteries around.
By far my most common use case is bolt climbing, so the lighter the better. That being said, the M12CH does perfectly fine with deeper capping holes. Realistically, unless you're often drilling for glue ins, stemples, etc. the best SDS drill for caving is the lightest one you can get. Also definitely brushless.
BUT... to my great annoyance Milwaukee is replacing/ has replaced the M12CH with the heavier M12FHAC16, which kind of ruins the whole subcompact thing. There are a couple of locations I'd really rather not have to carry a drill to every bloody time, so the only sensible solution was to buy some more off ebay and stash them; they're gratifyingly cheap in the UK and unexplainably expensive in Germany.
Rob
Well-known member
Mostly agree, apart from one use case which is in very wet/sumped caves, when i've been very happy to be able to fit my old style Bosch Uneo into a Daren Drum. It's extremely tight, but it just goes. Plus you then have a reliably waterproof and tough container for all your other gubbins too. Much better for hard caves than a dry bag or bigger Peli case.
All the bolt climbing in SMMC was with my 20 year old Uneo. It's not fast, but it's ok. I think the newer Uneo model doesn't fit, although i've never tried...
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