Drilling through 50mm Indian stone : with anything larger than a toothpick

[ToughButterCup]

It's getting expensive now - any ideas how to do so without smashing the stone?

I need to fasten some fence baseplates  through capping stone ( Indian 'stone flags'  50mm 600 by 600) 

 

So far I've 

• used a 6mm SDS with hammer action - might as well have used a pick axe
• used it without hammer - I want to finish the job sometime this year
• splashed a bit of water on the slab - better but still iffy....

 

Ideas please .....

 

[BotusBuild]

Diamond drill bit?

 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-hex-shank-diamond-tile-drill-bit-6mm-x-67mm/51908

[mistake_not]

Core drills are often diamond tipped if you want to drill a big hole.

[ToughButterCup]

Thanks folks, on my way to Screwy's as we speak 

[BotusBuild]

Did it work?

[ToughButterCup]

18 hours ago, BotusBuild said:

Did it work?

 

Yes. 

 

I used one of those hollow diamond-tipped drills with wax in the internal 'hollow'. I dribbled splashes of water to help form a grinding paste - interesting to watch the water on and in the surrounding stone evaporate after a few moments - cue for another splash of water.

 

I find myself increasingly using AI to solve little problems like this. Annoyingly, I also find that AI (Gemini in this case) just plain wrong. Hence the check-question to BH.

Thanks everyone for your help.

[ToughButterCup]

For the sake of completeness, I thought I'd list the 'issues' I came across while doing the drilling;

 

Here's one - 

 

I used AI to see if I could find an answer to the problem ( remove the broken stone stub ) . The answers - tap, poke, fiddle didn't work. Since I don't have a pillar drill any more, this ( below ) is what I'm going to try next ( 48 holes yet  to be drilled ) 

 

 

The aperture of this drill is a good bit bigger, and there's a slot for a screwdriver to wiggle  broken bits of stone out of the core. The narrower one above has no slot. 

 

I'm thinking of using the type of core 'drill' that attaches to a grinder (threaded shank)  rather than a drill chuck - because I will be able to exert more pressure. But I'll have less control perhaps (?)  

Anyone have any advice?

Edited 4 hours ago by ToughButterCup

[Onoff]

When using these...

 

https://rockbottomnorthampton.co.uk/products/draper-tungsten-carbide-grit-hole-saw-20mm-34866?

 

I first smear a dab of copper or aluminium anti seize on the thread of the drill arbour.

 

I constantly spray water on the drill. Periodically I hold the core drill with a bfo pair of moles or an adjustable spanner across the flats of the slots and reverse the drill to remove. Then knock the accumulated, compacted crud out with a bit of stud or rod. Go again, repeat. 

[Onoff]

 

[ToughButterCup]

Grinder (shank bit) or drill @Onoff ?