Swore by percussion drilling until a county inspector's visit went sideways.

I thought percussion was the best method for our rocky area. During an inspection, the rig got stuck and we had to explain it to the inspector while covered in mud. Now I consider rotary for tough spots.

3 comments

3 Comments

dianahayes9d ago

Read that rotary drills work better in hard rock.

adam_patel9d ago

That bit about rotary just for "tough spots" is interesting. In really rocky ground, rotary is usually the primary method from the start (it chips and grinds through rock). Percussion is great for breaking up boulders or getting through a specific hard layer, but it can get jammed. Rotary is just way more consistent for the main drilling in those conditions.

nelson.daniel9d ago

Take my word for it with a grain of salt, @adam_patel, my drilling knowledge is about as reliable as a jammed percussion bit.