What is Diamond Drilling? 
Diamond Drilling is a form of core drilling which uses a rotary drill with a diamond drill bit attached in order to create precisely measured holes. As diamond is the hardest naturally occurring material in the world, it is ideal for creating openings in a range of materials including concrete, metal and glass.
A diamond drill is a precision instrument, creating clean, accurate holes with diameters of between 8mm to more than 1500mm. As it is a non-percussive technique, structural integrity is maintained around when drilling. Every diamond drill runs water through the driving shaft to ensure that the workspace remains free of dust. They can be operated in either a vertical or horizontal direction depending on the requirements.
When can it be used?
Although diamond drills are primarily used on concrete, it is a versatile tool that can be deployed on virtually any material including glass, metal, stone, asphalt and tile. Diamond Drilling is utilised in any situation where precise holes are required including creating large openings for ducts, smaller holes for pipes or wiring, creating holes for the placement or anchoring bolts, or even for concrete sample analysis. Holes can be created to an almost unlimited depth.
Type/size of projects
Whether it’s a simple building project or an intricate civil engineering assignment, Corecut has experience in delivering solutions across a variety of projects.
Corecut has worked on a range of projects from new build houses to Nuclear Decommissioning programmes. We have applied our specialist skills on some iconic structures, creating holes for The Kelpies in Falkirk, as part of upgrade of the Forth Road Bridge, and for the structure of the SSE Hydro entertainment venue in Glasgow – the second busiest entertainment arena in the world.
Equipment, tools, machines
Corecut use a versatile range of equipment to perfectly meet the needs to each project including:
- Hand held rigs
- Mounted rigs
- Self-contained trailer rigs
- High-performance automated rigs
In addition, a range of power sources can be used including compressed air, hydraulic and electricity.
Advantages of Diamond Drilling
Diamond Drilling offers a number of significant advantages over conventional drilling. Cutting is more accurate than percussive techniques which means that there is less chance of damage which could affect structural integrity. The equipment is lightweight and highly portable and can be used in situations where space is at a premium. As the procedure is relatively quiet, it can be done in virtually any location without fear of creating excess noise. Very little dust is produced with Diamond Drilling so it creates little mess or disruption.
Click here to find out more about the advantages of Diamond Drilling.
Stitch Drilling
Where there is a requirement for an opening of greater than 1500mm, we can adopt a technique called Stitch Drilling, which creates a series of overlapping holes allowing openings of virtually any shape or size to be created.
Underwater Diamond Drilling
At times, it will be necessary to carry out drilling underwater. Diamond Drilling is the most efficient way to carry out drilling underwater. As these drills are portable, they are easy to manoeuvre in water. Often when carrying out this kind of work, multiple drills are used simultaneously in order to improve efficiency.
Click here to find out more about underwater Diamond Drilling.