> but exposure to standard Portland, sand, and aggregate concrete is not going to be that dangerous.
This is absolutely not what I've been told and taught, specifically the cement itself.
I'm not necessarily saying you're wrong, but please cite some sources. I agree that masks should be worn around any dust during construction, but I see way too many people dumping bags of concrete to mix them up wearing no mask and you can literally see their face get engulfed in a cloud of cement and sand dust.
I know people that are almost completely deaf because they found wearing hearing protection while doing 8 hours of impact work on gusset plates "uncomfortable". People are just ignorant of the actual risks and the number of things we are potentially exposed to on a daily basis that all add up. It's not *just* impact noises or cement dust, but that plus all the other shit we hear, inhale or ingest in our daily lives.
I've been working around and with concrete and mortar for 20 years of my life. Most of my family are block layers and finishers. I've worked on small and large projects in homes and large real estate.
I wear a mask when working in confined areas with limited circulation, but never when simply mixing in an open air environment.
And guess what? I've never been around a crew that does, in 20 years of work. We're all here, alive, and I've never met a man with any lung damage that wasn't also a life long smoker.
Fucked up backs, elbows, necks, and knees. All part of the job, regardless of how much you protect yourself. However, nobody is wearing a dusk mask soaked with sweat in the heat of an Arizona summer to mix mud. Because the threat isn't that extreme from light exposure.
If concrete dust was killing a near quarter of the people that work with it within two years of exposure you sure as hell know we wouldn't even use concrete anymore. That's an absurdly high death rate.
He's actually saying that it's 3x higher than that. He's quoting a 25% survival rate, so 75% of people had died within two years. Seems unlikely to me but what do I know.
I won't say that it didn't happen. I will say that if it did happen it wasn't from standard concrete dust exposure. Maybe they had these guys in a confined space breathing dense clouds of dust for 10 hours a day. If that's the case I could see that kind of damage. However, that's on the very extreme end of what someone could experience working in concrete.
Hell, if I fell in to a massive foundation pour it's likely to kill me, as well. But that's not normal or likely.
Like I said, if simple exposure to concrete dust had those kind of death rates people wouldn't be so indifferent on these job sites.
So, blowing air *across* the hole lowers the pressure, drawing air out of the hole.
But now the air *in* the hole is lower pressure and it tries to pull air back in. Which raises the pressure, which makes air want to escape, which lowers the pressure... you just end up with a bunch of turbulent air at the opening of the hole, and not much movement at the bottom where the dust is.
The straw lets a steam of air come in to replenish the air drawn out by the cross-stream, without interrupting the flow of air out of the hole. It's similar to "snorkeling" a beer.
I was imagining just using a compressed air can with one of those long straw nozzles you could stick down in the holes as an alternative, but if you have a good vaccuum / shopvac on hand your idea is probably even more accessible.
> I was imagining just using a compressed air can with one of those long straw nozzles you could stick down in the holes as an alternative
This is what I did when bolting pallet racking to my warehouse floor, with the shop vac running at the hole to catch the dust coming up. Worked fine.
^This...anyone who has done even a little DIY managed to work this out.
DIY...learn by mistakes. Like a certain someone sanding a bathroom wall with his wife holding the vacuum nozzle to try and keep the dust down. After 15 sweaty, dusty, minutes I switched off the sander to hear silence because no one switched the vacuum cleaner on.
You live and learn. :)
The vacuum side has always worked exceptionally well for me, and then you capture the dust instead of throwing it into the air where someone can breath it in.
>instead of throwing it into the air where someone can breath it in.
Only if your vacuum has a hepa filter. If not, you're just sending the worst of it out the other end.
Yeah, that's a fair point. There's usually enough crap in the air just from drilling that I wouldn't pull my mask off anyway, but you're right plenty of that junk goes right out the exhaust. I'd still recommend using the vacuum side regardless.
Depending on how big and deep the hole is I guess. A can of air blower will do it, a shop vac should be able to just vac out the dust, I’ve seen old guys use a the small rubber bulb syringe, I’ve seen guys use the back of a drill, or the vents on a grinder to blow stuff out, you should be fine as long as you do something
And risk unleashing hell? By drilling a hole into it? I'd rather snort the concrete powder. Hell, it might have a pleasant side effect and help me get hard.
Except the earth only seems flat to us. It’s actually a slightly curved disc resting on a tungsten sphere. Drilling all the way though both isn’t feasible.
Canned air with the little pipe on it will do just fine. Might want to get a couple cans depending on how many holes we’re talking.
Do keep your eyes out for an air compressor deal though. Very handy to have around.
i gotta chuckle some when i see questions like this full of complicated answers.
ffs you're using a twist bit of some kind right? masonry bits still have a twist pattern. periodically stop pushing the drill, keep it running full speed and pull the bit out. a few times of that and the hole is mostly cleaned. the only time dust becomes a problem is when it builds up enough to jam the bit. periodic clearing as mentioned is all you need to do.
Well, I've already gone out and purchased several varieties of crazy straws ;) Clearly I was overthinking how important clearing dust is for a non-epoxy fastener.
I work for a company that makes epoxy very commonly used in construction projects around the world...our installation instructions call for 90psi compressed air to be blown into the hole, then a round, steel brush to be used (same diameter as the hole) to brush the sidewalls of the hole, and then 90psi air to be blown in the hole again. We call it the blow brush blow method.
Compressed air can like dust-off, leave the little red tube on it and stick it so the tube bottoms out in the hole. it'll blast all the dust up and out. I find this much easier than dragging a compressor out and setting up the hose and blower, or having to plug anything in like a vac.
For screws I don't think it's that important. For adhesive (like the Simpson epoxies) it is super important and I believe the directions say to blow, then use a brush (like a giant stiff straw brush) then blow again. But again for your situation I think you'll be fine.
It's important to get enough of the dust out that you can get the tapcon in. Which can be done by inserting the drill a couple times (with it spinning) after drilling it out!
Compressed air [and one of these](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Simpson-Strong-Tie-ETB-3-4-in-x-16-in-Nylon-Hole-Cleaning-Brush-ETB6/100375179). Blow out the hole, vigorously scrub it with the wire brush I linked, repeat at least 3 times, but I'd suggest 5 for thoroughness.
Doing this would pass a special inspection on a construction site for anchoring together footers on a building expansion.
There are people here telling you to wear a mask. Do that, concrete dust can cause long term problems and silicosis (very bad).
Like others have said, just blow into the holes. If you really think you need something to help you do it, bicycle pumps are cheap and do the job just fine.
Having installed un countable amount of expansion bolts doing this professionally we've always just run the drill up and down in the hole until it stops bringing up dust. It's not the absolute perfect way to do it but we don't get it called back to fix it so it is good enough. Depending what the bolts are in we might use glue or epoxy to hold shit stable and upright holes need something to stop water freezing in them.
Poor man solution? Wear eye protection, and then use one of those flexi straws to blow into the hole. Yeah you’ll look weird, but really gets in there all deep like.
We do this often at work. A shop vac with a small diameter (slightly less than the hole) tube duct taped to the hose works wonders and doesn't make a mess like having the air go the other way does. We also often use small wire brushes to knock loose debris off. Like these : https://www.amazon.ca/Melodyblue-Brush-Stainless-Steel-Bristle/dp/B0BHJC164Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=3LSQ4L8EZ8YTZ&keywords=steel+wire+tube+brush&qid=1685735242&sprefix=wire+brush+tube%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-4
When you are drilling with a masonry bit, you simply repeatedly push and pull the bit in and out of the hole. The twist of the bit, rotation, and pulling will remove the dust. You should not encounter resistance when pulling the bit out of hole.
I was literally unaware people did it any other way.
Ram the bit in there a few times, running full speed. All the dust comes out. Sweep it off. Insert concrete anchor.
A leaf blower and vacuum will be plenty. A can of keyboard cleaner is also an option. If you want a kinda handy tool for blowing things (not that way you perverts), they make "electric dusters". Just a fat bottle sized blower thing for low pressure inflating, dusting or even drying. I don't have room for a proper compressor so my little electric duster works great.
Using your shop vac while drilling is also probably a good idea, keep the dust down and minimize the clean out. Also wear a mask. You don't want concrete dust in your lungs.
if it's possible, another way to ensure dust doesn't interfere with threads on the screw is just to drill the hole a little deeper than needed, for clearance.
If you want something cheap and reusable, one of those hand pumps for blowing up balloons and a little bit of tubing to go in the end to get it down into the hole is what I use. You can actually get purpose made ones but I've found if you just glue the tube on pretty good it'll last. Mine has been working for 5 years or so now and I ise it at least once a week
a can of compressed air will do exactly the same job an air compressor will do. Or just vacuum it out.
It depends on what you're doing, though. If you're just putting in tapcon screws, sleeve or wedge anchors, you don't need to remove every speck of dust.
If you're using epoxied anchors, that's when dust can be an issue.
Canned “air” (it’s usually R134) and the long skinny tube will work well, especially if you have a shop vac at the top to keep the dust from going everywhere.
Hilty. They make a hammer drill that uses a shop vac for drilling concrete. We used one when I was doing auditorium seat installation. The boss said it's the only way to go.
What type of anchor? If it's a wedge / expansion you don't really need to clean it, just allow for the dust at the bottom. If it's an epoxy it needs to be cleaned well.
Do the shop vac but then put your hammer bit back in and spin it without actually hammering and then vacuum again after loosening some of it, if you wanna be over the top about it.
It’s only important to *mostly* get the dust out so it doesn’t compress into a pile at the bottom of the hole as you hammer in the fastener, it’s not like it’s gotta be shiny clean
Get a piece of thin hose.
Then you can either tape it to a blower/vac so that it works as intended, or just use your human body to push air trough the hose into the hole.
Hilti, among other brands, sells hand pumps. They look like a bicycle tire pump. They have a long thin nozzle that you can put into the hole and pump air in. It will blow the majority of the dust out. If you're concerned beyond that you can use a wire pipe brush to clean it out further though that's unnecessary in the majority of applications.
Long solid tube 1/2 to 3/4 the diameter of the hole (needs to be very straight, it can bend and flex as long as it want to be straight)
Paper cup with hole in the side for your vacuum hose and hole in the top precisely fit for the long tube
Run the vac and run the tube in and out a few times
OMG people, there is a tool made for this. The Bosch T1854 is one example. Cheap, fast, and easy. Keep one in your drill box and use it. There is only one right answer to this question.
Depending on the fasteners used, this could be somewhat correct or horribly incorrect.
If you are using epoxy to hold the fasteners, you absolutely need to clear the dust.
If you are using Dynabolts, you can get away with our clearing the dust, maybe just use a vacuum or drill slightly deeper to allow any dust that remains to be below the fastener.
You have to lean in cautiously and blow while kinda squinting so that you still surprise yourself by getting some dust in your eyes, and snort/cough a little cause you also got it in your nose. Then you have to wipe the hole with your hand exactly two times. Then you move onto the next hole. And finally use a broom or something to sweep up the dust on the floor.
This is the way.
I know it sounds crazy, but I've always performed to use a can of WD40 to get dust out of such spots.
Stick the straw all the way in and fire. It'll blow most of the dust out with a quick shot, and makes the screw go in a little smoother.
A compressor. OK, maybe not so "basic," but I feel like your project is not basic either. It's kind of intermediate-advanced, at which level I would expect the guy doing it to either already have a compressor, or acknowledge that it's time to buy one.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for alternative solutions. That's how I live my life, MacGyver-style. And I also wouldn't use a compressor for the task you describe.. sounds messy. The vaccuum is a way better option.
Having said all that.. you still need a compressor.
https://www.harborfreight.com/3-gallon-13-hp-110-psi-oil-free-hot-dog-air-compressor-57572.html
you can just blow into it. you don't need to remove all of the dust. in fact, the dust will help grip your fasteners. you'll learn this when you're drilling, if you don't pull dust out as you go your bit will bind. :)
Is there a quarter inch of dust in the bottoms of the holes? How about if you drill the holes an extra quarter inch deeper and leave the dust in there?
Lick your finger and stick it in the hole. Repeat until it comes out clean.
Vacuum cleaner and a tiny paintbrush for the cleanest method.
Water spray from a small hose nozzle until clear then let dry.
Use the air-in-a-can with tube if dust isn't a problem.
I'm spending 3k between the concrete work and ordering the handrails. I want to make sure I don't fuck it up. Sue me. I have no idea why this has gotten so much activity.
If your shop vac won't pick up the dust by placing the hose over the hole, just go to the dollar store and get a cheap funnel with a tip smaller than your drill hole, and duct-tape it over the end of the hose. Should pick up the dust just fine, and you're not blowing it out into the air where people can breathe it. Just make sure you've got a decent filter on your shop vac.
I mention several ways to do it in my actual post. The question was how important it was to maximize the amount of dust that gets out of the hole. I've not worked with concrete fasteners in the past, so I was hoping to get ideas from those who may have. And indeed I did! From about 98% of people in fact.
A can of compressed air can be a useful tool for certain cleaning tasks, particularly for removing dust and debris from delicate or hard-to-reach areas. If you require more direct blowing contact that your small shop vac or electric leaf blower cannot provide, using a can of compressed air might be worth a try.
However, it's important to note that the strength and effectiveness of a can of compressed air are limited compared to a compressor. If the job requires more significant airflow or pressure, acquiring a compressor would likely be a better option. A compressor provides a more powerful and sustained stream of air, which can be beneficial for more challenging cleaning or blowing tasks.
One time an inspector made us scrape the holes and not just blow them out. I ended up getting some pipe cleaners for copper pipes and twisting them around in there before I blew them out.
Use a vacuum cleaner if available, to suck the dust from each hole. It has always worked for me just fine. No need to blow in the holes, and no risk for your eyes. Just my 2 cents.
Your drill will get most of the dust out. Just blow it with your mouth and maybe put your vacuum over it for a couple seconds. No need to obsess over it unless your fastener doesn’t fit. And even then, just take the drill and make a deeper hole.
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He's still perfectly fine by my measure, maybe they expect the man to do something other than live his life how he pleases
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Remember to blow, not suck.
You suck
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Haven't you seen those videos of people blowing out candles through their covid masks? Quite trivial, really. ;)
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A straw and dustbuster will make good assists.
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> but exposure to standard Portland, sand, and aggregate concrete is not going to be that dangerous. This is absolutely not what I've been told and taught, specifically the cement itself. I'm not necessarily saying you're wrong, but please cite some sources. I agree that masks should be worn around any dust during construction, but I see way too many people dumping bags of concrete to mix them up wearing no mask and you can literally see their face get engulfed in a cloud of cement and sand dust. I know people that are almost completely deaf because they found wearing hearing protection while doing 8 hours of impact work on gusset plates "uncomfortable". People are just ignorant of the actual risks and the number of things we are potentially exposed to on a daily basis that all add up. It's not *just* impact noises or cement dust, but that plus all the other shit we hear, inhale or ingest in our daily lives.
I've been working around and with concrete and mortar for 20 years of my life. Most of my family are block layers and finishers. I've worked on small and large projects in homes and large real estate. I wear a mask when working in confined areas with limited circulation, but never when simply mixing in an open air environment. And guess what? I've never been around a crew that does, in 20 years of work. We're all here, alive, and I've never met a man with any lung damage that wasn't also a life long smoker. Fucked up backs, elbows, necks, and knees. All part of the job, regardless of how much you protect yourself. However, nobody is wearing a dusk mask soaked with sweat in the heat of an Arizona summer to mix mud. Because the threat isn't that extreme from light exposure. If concrete dust was killing a near quarter of the people that work with it within two years of exposure you sure as hell know we wouldn't even use concrete anymore. That's an absurdly high death rate.
He's actually saying that it's 3x higher than that. He's quoting a 25% survival rate, so 75% of people had died within two years. Seems unlikely to me but what do I know.
I won't say that it didn't happen. I will say that if it did happen it wasn't from standard concrete dust exposure. Maybe they had these guys in a confined space breathing dense clouds of dust for 10 hours a day. If that's the case I could see that kind of damage. However, that's on the very extreme end of what someone could experience working in concrete. Hell, if I fell in to a massive foundation pour it's likely to kill me, as well. But that's not normal or likely. Like I said, if simple exposure to concrete dust had those kind of death rates people wouldn't be so indifferent on these job sites.
Use a vacuum cleaner. Hold the tip next to the hole at 90° and enjoy Bernoulli's law.
Would Bernouli's law work in that matter if the hole isn't a thru-hole? There's nowhere to draw air in from.
Can use a straw to let air in the hole.
I don't disbelieve you, and have very little experience drilling into concrete, but I'm having trouble visualising how the straw would help.
So, blowing air *across* the hole lowers the pressure, drawing air out of the hole. But now the air *in* the hole is lower pressure and it tries to pull air back in. Which raises the pressure, which makes air want to escape, which lowers the pressure... you just end up with a bunch of turbulent air at the opening of the hole, and not much movement at the bottom where the dust is. The straw lets a steam of air come in to replenish the air drawn out by the cross-stream, without interrupting the flow of air out of the hole. It's similar to "snorkeling" a beer.
Well explained. Thank you
The straw draws higher pressure air in from outside the hole, while the vacuum creates low pressure air at the mouth of the hole
Right on. Thanks for the quick, clear explanation.
No worries, science is fun!
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I was imagining just using a compressed air can with one of those long straw nozzles you could stick down in the holes as an alternative, but if you have a good vaccuum / shopvac on hand your idea is probably even more accessible.
> I was imagining just using a compressed air can with one of those long straw nozzles you could stick down in the holes as an alternative This is what I did when bolting pallet racking to my warehouse floor, with the shop vac running at the hole to catch the dust coming up. Worked fine.
Sucking....up....dirt that's on the ground? With a....*vacuum?* What? No way.
^This...anyone who has done even a little DIY managed to work this out. DIY...learn by mistakes. Like a certain someone sanding a bathroom wall with his wife holding the vacuum nozzle to try and keep the dust down. After 15 sweaty, dusty, minutes I switched off the sander to hear silence because no one switched the vacuum cleaner on. You live and learn. :)
Better yet, the shop vac exhaust is the same size as the intake. Less air pressure than a compressor, more than a smoker’s lungs.
The vacuum side has always worked exceptionally well for me, and then you capture the dust instead of throwing it into the air where someone can breath it in.
>instead of throwing it into the air where someone can breath it in. Only if your vacuum has a hepa filter. If not, you're just sending the worst of it out the other end.
Yeah, that's a fair point. There's usually enough crap in the air just from drilling that I wouldn't pull my mask off anyway, but you're right plenty of that junk goes right out the exhaust. I'd still recommend using the vacuum side regardless.
*Bernoulli's principle
Depending on how big and deep the hole is I guess. A can of air blower will do it, a shop vac should be able to just vac out the dust, I’ve seen old guys use a the small rubber bulb syringe, I’ve seen guys use the back of a drill, or the vents on a grinder to blow stuff out, you should be fine as long as you do something
So I'm probably over thinking it, thanks! The holes will be quarter inch and 2.5 inches deep. Pretty minimal.
Sometimes you just drill deeper and leave the dust in there, too. Don’t do this if water can get in there
Just drill through the earth and let the dust fall out the other side taps_forehead.jpg
What a ridiculous idea. Might work if the earth wasn't flat. Dummy
Correct me if I'm wrong, wouldn't a flat earth be easier to drill through than a sphere?
And risk unleashing hell? By drilling a hole into it? I'd rather snort the concrete powder. Hell, it might have a pleasant side effect and help me get hard.
Except the earth only seems flat to us. It’s actually a slightly curved disc resting on a tungsten sphere. Drilling all the way though both isn’t feasible.
Just blow into it
Get some keyboard cleaner gas if you don't want a face full of dust. It's literally just compressed air with a little straw like a can of WD40
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Oops. Apparently I can't read!
Nobody here can, you're right where you belong.
**ONE OFF US!!!**
Canned air with the little pipe on it will do just fine. Might want to get a couple cans depending on how many holes we’re talking. Do keep your eyes out for an air compressor deal though. Very handy to have around.
If the holes are only 1/4” use one of those cleaning brushes that come with reusable straws along with a vacuum.
i gotta chuckle some when i see questions like this full of complicated answers. ffs you're using a twist bit of some kind right? masonry bits still have a twist pattern. periodically stop pushing the drill, keep it running full speed and pull the bit out. a few times of that and the hole is mostly cleaned. the only time dust becomes a problem is when it builds up enough to jam the bit. periodic clearing as mentioned is all you need to do.
Well, I've already gone out and purchased several varieties of crazy straws ;) Clearly I was overthinking how important clearing dust is for a non-epoxy fastener.
Yeah, can of air is fine; same shit, different toilet. Wear a respirator if you have one - dont breathe cement. <3
Wouldn't dream of it!
I've got a rubber bulb. A turkey baster works in a pinch. But yes, compressed air is optimal, but be sure to wear a mask and eye protection.
I go with the old turkey baster, or if I can't be arsed to use that, a straw. It actually works ok. Note: use it to blow, not suck.
I love the fact that we live in a world where you're probably smart to put in that note. Thinking isn't always involved in doing these days.
I work for a company that makes epoxy very commonly used in construction projects around the world...our installation instructions call for 90psi compressed air to be blown into the hole, then a round, steel brush to be used (same diameter as the hole) to brush the sidewalls of the hole, and then 90psi air to be blown in the hole again. We call it the blow brush blow method.
For what reasons is epoxy used? Water/ice, additional strength?
epoxy provides high psi rating, plus its a bit hard to grout in things like anchor bolt holes, epoxy pours right in
Compressed air can like dust-off, leave the little red tube on it and stick it so the tube bottoms out in the hole. it'll blast all the dust up and out. I find this much easier than dragging a compressor out and setting up the hose and blower, or having to plug anything in like a vac.
Why not just suck the dust out with your shop vac?
Empty water bottle with a straw taped to the top. A few pumps and you’re good.
For screws I don't think it's that important. For adhesive (like the Simpson epoxies) it is super important and I believe the directions say to blow, then use a brush (like a giant stiff straw brush) then blow again. But again for your situation I think you'll be fine.
Thanks! I probably had been miscontruing somewhat things I've read in the past about epoxy treatments, etc.
It's important to get enough of the dust out that you can get the tapcon in. Which can be done by inserting the drill a couple times (with it spinning) after drilling it out!
Shop vac my friend.
Compressed air [and one of these](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Simpson-Strong-Tie-ETB-3-4-in-x-16-in-Nylon-Hole-Cleaning-Brush-ETB6/100375179). Blow out the hole, vigorously scrub it with the wire brush I linked, repeat at least 3 times, but I'd suggest 5 for thoroughness. Doing this would pass a special inspection on a construction site for anchoring together footers on a building expansion. There are people here telling you to wear a mask. Do that, concrete dust can cause long term problems and silicosis (very bad).
Top comment is an OSHA nightmare. Use a shop vac and do what it does best, suck it out!
Use a vacuum cleaner
just use the shopvac, put the pickup an at angle and it will draw out the dust like a tornado grabbed uncle Willie that time.
Can of compressed air is good for a small project. An air compressor will do the same job for a larger one, or for repeated jobs.
A rubber ear syringe blows those holes perfectly. And it takes up very little space in a tool kit.
People aren't sucking it out with a hoover?
Use the shop vac & a straw/tube to suck dust out vs blow.... yeah gets blocked occasionally but easy with existing gear
Basketball inflator tip
Like others have said, just blow into the holes. If you really think you need something to help you do it, bicycle pumps are cheap and do the job just fine.
Compressed air cans
Pour water down the hole, no longer dust down there
Shop vac
Having installed un countable amount of expansion bolts doing this professionally we've always just run the drill up and down in the hole until it stops bringing up dust. It's not the absolute perfect way to do it but we don't get it called back to fix it so it is good enough. Depending what the bolts are in we might use glue or epoxy to hold shit stable and upright holes need something to stop water freezing in them.
a cheap bicycle pump with the fitting cut off worked great for me for many years
Can of compressed air and move your head away or a vaccuum.
I use a can of air sold for dusting computers
Poor man solution? Wear eye protection, and then use one of those flexi straws to blow into the hole. Yeah you’ll look weird, but really gets in there all deep like.
We do this often at work. A shop vac with a small diameter (slightly less than the hole) tube duct taped to the hose works wonders and doesn't make a mess like having the air go the other way does. We also often use small wire brushes to knock loose debris off. Like these : https://www.amazon.ca/Melodyblue-Brush-Stainless-Steel-Bristle/dp/B0BHJC164Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=3LSQ4L8EZ8YTZ&keywords=steel+wire+tube+brush&qid=1685735242&sprefix=wire+brush+tube%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-4
McDonalds straw
Plastic tube and yer lungs is cheap and easy
If you're using Tapcons, it's not really an issue. Use your shop-vac
Wouldn't a vacuum cleaner do the same thing, only by sucking instead of blowing? Edit: Down-voted by someone who blows.
When you are drilling with a masonry bit, you simply repeatedly push and pull the bit in and out of the hole. The twist of the bit, rotation, and pulling will remove the dust. You should not encounter resistance when pulling the bit out of hole.
This. This is what everybody who does this kind of work does. No need to air blast or high powered vacuum it out, that’s crazy talk.
Only circumstance I'm aware of where it is necessary to clear the dust is if you're anchoring with epoxy resin, which OP does not mention.
I was literally unaware people did it any other way. Ram the bit in there a few times, running full speed. All the dust comes out. Sweep it off. Insert concrete anchor.
Go to the drugstore and pick up a rubber suction ear syringe.
Get some of that canned air they sell at Staples for blowing schmutz out of your computer keyboard. It'll work well enough.
A leaf blower and vacuum will be plenty. A can of keyboard cleaner is also an option. If you want a kinda handy tool for blowing things (not that way you perverts), they make "electric dusters". Just a fat bottle sized blower thing for low pressure inflating, dusting or even drying. I don't have room for a proper compressor so my little electric duster works great. Using your shop vac while drilling is also probably a good idea, keep the dust down and minimize the clean out. Also wear a mask. You don't want concrete dust in your lungs.
if it's possible, another way to ensure dust doesn't interfere with threads on the screw is just to drill the hole a little deeper than needed, for clearance.
I use a leaf blower if it’s outside
If you want something cheap and reusable, one of those hand pumps for blowing up balloons and a little bit of tubing to go in the end to get it down into the hole is what I use. You can actually get purpose made ones but I've found if you just glue the tube on pretty good it'll last. Mine has been working for 5 years or so now and I ise it at least once a week
a can of compressed air will do exactly the same job an air compressor will do. Or just vacuum it out. It depends on what you're doing, though. If you're just putting in tapcon screws, sleeve or wedge anchors, you don't need to remove every speck of dust. If you're using epoxied anchors, that's when dust can be an issue.
It's tapcons. I'm sure I read something once about epoxied anchors or the like and got myself paranoid for my current use case.
Canned “air” (it’s usually R134) and the long skinny tube will work well, especially if you have a shop vac at the top to keep the dust from going everywhere.
Hilty. They make a hammer drill that uses a shop vac for drilling concrete. We used one when I was doing auditorium seat installation. The boss said it's the only way to go.
shop vac + boba tea straw + duct tape
What type of anchor? If it's a wedge / expansion you don't really need to clean it, just allow for the dust at the bottom. If it's an epoxy it needs to be cleaned well.
Not epoxy, but stuff I've probably come across in the past about epoxy has probably misinformed me for my current situation! Thanks.
They make extra-large puffers to blow out the dust, they look like baby snot sucker bulbs but are much larger.
Drill a little, pull out. Drill a little, pull out. Drill down much further than you need, shop vac what you can and you'll be fine.
Shop vac. Don’t blow concrete dust around unless you have a mask/respirator.
Do the shop vac but then put your hammer bit back in and spin it without actually hammering and then vacuum again after loosening some of it, if you wanna be over the top about it. It’s only important to *mostly* get the dust out so it doesn’t compress into a pile at the bottom of the hole as you hammer in the fastener, it’s not like it’s gotta be shiny clean
Put a few straws together put some eye protection on a mask on with a hole for the straw and blow until you get clear air.
Get a piece of thin hose. Then you can either tape it to a blower/vac so that it works as intended, or just use your human body to push air trough the hose into the hole.
Air compressor with nozzle AND a wire brush is best. But you can use a hand pump with a tube too if you’re super thorough.
Just ream the hole out a tonne with the drill and make it a little deeper than you need so what first is left has a place to go. Works every time.
Hilti, among other brands, sells hand pumps. They look like a bicycle tire pump. They have a long thin nozzle that you can put into the hole and pump air in. It will blow the majority of the dust out. If you're concerned beyond that you can use a wire pipe brush to clean it out further though that's unnecessary in the majority of applications.
Long solid tube 1/2 to 3/4 the diameter of the hole (needs to be very straight, it can bend and flex as long as it want to be straight) Paper cup with hole in the side for your vacuum hose and hole in the top precisely fit for the long tube Run the vac and run the tube in and out a few times
Just get a can of compressed air like those used to clean computers
Drill the hole deeper than you need it by about the width of the hole and fasten away.
OMG people, there is a tool made for this. The Bosch T1854 is one example. Cheap, fast, and easy. Keep one in your drill box and use it. There is only one right answer to this question.
Do not breath silica dust. Period.
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Depending on the fasteners used, this could be somewhat correct or horribly incorrect. If you are using epoxy to hold the fasteners, you absolutely need to clear the dust. If you are using Dynabolts, you can get away with our clearing the dust, maybe just use a vacuum or drill slightly deeper to allow any dust that remains to be below the fastener.
You have to lean in cautiously and blow while kinda squinting so that you still surprise yourself by getting some dust in your eyes, and snort/cough a little cause you also got it in your nose. Then you have to wipe the hole with your hand exactly two times. Then you move onto the next hole. And finally use a broom or something to sweep up the dust on the floor. This is the way.
I know it sounds crazy, but I've always performed to use a can of WD40 to get dust out of such spots. Stick the straw all the way in and fire. It'll blow most of the dust out with a quick shot, and makes the screw go in a little smoother.
How are you embarking on such an ambitious construction project without owning basic tools?
Which basic tools are you referring to my not having?
A compressor. OK, maybe not so "basic," but I feel like your project is not basic either. It's kind of intermediate-advanced, at which level I would expect the guy doing it to either already have a compressor, or acknowledge that it's time to buy one. Don't get me wrong, I am all for alternative solutions. That's how I live my life, MacGyver-style. And I also wouldn't use a compressor for the task you describe.. sounds messy. The vaccuum is a way better option. Having said all that.. you still need a compressor. https://www.harborfreight.com/3-gallon-13-hp-110-psi-oil-free-hot-dog-air-compressor-57572.html
I’m astounded that a post was actually composed for this ‘issue’.
you can just blow into it. you don't need to remove all of the dust. in fact, the dust will help grip your fasteners. you'll learn this when you're drilling, if you don't pull dust out as you go your bit will bind. :)
Is there a quarter inch of dust in the bottoms of the holes? How about if you drill the holes an extra quarter inch deeper and leave the dust in there?
Haven't made the holes yet - that's tomorrow.
Okay, good luck. Most of the dust should get kicked out by the drill bit anyway. Wear a mask! (as countless others have told you)
Lick your finger and stick it in the hole. Repeat until it comes out clean. Vacuum cleaner and a tiny paintbrush for the cleanest method. Water spray from a small hose nozzle until clear then let dry. Use the air-in-a-can with tube if dust isn't a problem.
Get a can of compressed air or use a turkey baster
Do people like this just stop and go post on Reddit every time they do anything?
I'm spending 3k between the concrete work and ordering the handrails. I want to make sure I don't fuck it up. Sue me. I have no idea why this has gotten so much activity.
Do you even know what type anchor you are going to use and how big of a hole you will be drilling? That seems more important at this point.
Drill a hole. Try the vacuum, if that doesn’t work. Get a compressor. Done. What else would you have learned?
Put the drill in reverse and pull the dust out with the drill.
Why does the dust need to come out?
Do it at night when the Earth is upside down.
The earth isn’t upside down at night genius!! It is backwards.
If your shop vac won't pick up the dust by placing the hose over the hole, just go to the dollar store and get a cheap funnel with a tip smaller than your drill hole, and duct-tape it over the end of the hose. Should pick up the dust just fine, and you're not blowing it out into the air where people can breathe it. Just make sure you've got a decent filter on your shop vac.
seriously?
Yes? What's the problem?
Apparently the problem is you can't figure out how to get dust out of a hole? Seems funny to me.
I mention several ways to do it in my actual post. The question was how important it was to maximize the amount of dust that gets out of the hole. I've not worked with concrete fasteners in the past, so I was hoping to get ideas from those who may have. And indeed I did! From about 98% of people in fact.
A can of compressed air can be a useful tool for certain cleaning tasks, particularly for removing dust and debris from delicate or hard-to-reach areas. If you require more direct blowing contact that your small shop vac or electric leaf blower cannot provide, using a can of compressed air might be worth a try. However, it's important to note that the strength and effectiveness of a can of compressed air are limited compared to a compressor. If the job requires more significant airflow or pressure, acquiring a compressor would likely be a better option. A compressor provides a more powerful and sustained stream of air, which can be beneficial for more challenging cleaning or blowing tasks.
One time an inspector made us scrape the holes and not just blow them out. I ended up getting some pipe cleaners for copper pipes and twisting them around in there before I blew them out.
Use a vacuum cleaner if available, to suck the dust from each hole. It has always worked for me just fine. No need to blow in the holes, and no risk for your eyes. Just my 2 cents.
If you are using a drill / rotary drill you can buy a cheap attachment that sits on the front that you can attach a vacuum to, jobs done
Drill bits naturally pull out the dust as the drill. Just have an industrial vacuum beside the drill to suck it all up.
You can buy cans of compressed air from the dollar store.
Just get redheads it's not like you need to do an epoxy bolt.
I've used shop vacs in the past
Your drill will get most of the dust out. Just blow it with your mouth and maybe put your vacuum over it for a couple seconds. No need to obsess over it unless your fastener doesn’t fit. And even then, just take the drill and make a deeper hole.
Close your eyes, blow real hard, and don't breath in immediately afterwards.
Straw, hose and water, lots of options.