Rock climbing is a very dangerous endeavor. Even the most experienced climbers face dangers when they attempt to climb a rock face. Rock climbers often use bolts so they can secure themselves when climbing. Climbers use drills and hammers to anchor the bolts for the climb. The combination hammer drill does the work of two tools while you climb.BOLT USAGE
Using bolts to help assure a safe climb is controversial. One you install a bolt in the rock's surface, it is there until it breaks off. Therein lies the controversy. If you come across a bolt while you are climbing, you have no idea how long it has been there and no idea if it is safe or it will break off the moment you put all your body weight on it. The American Safe Climbing Association can't guarantee that any bolt that has been put in the side of a rock face is safe. The ASCA states that climbing bolts may not be up to the standard of construction bolts that are used in building. As a result, there is risk in using bolts, no matter how efficient your hammer drill is at installing them.
PROCESS
When you are going to use your hammer drill when climbing, the first thing you do is drill the hole where the bolt will be placed. After the hole is drilled in the rock face, you use a plastic tube to blow out the rock dust that has accumulated during the drilling process. Place the bolt in the hole and use the pulsing aspect of the hammer drill to drive the bolt into the hole firmly and completely. This should take no more than a few taps. Then use your bolt wrench to tighten the bolt. This should take two to four turns.
PROPER LOCATIONS
Look for a suitable location to place the bolts and anchor them into the rock. You should look for any natural cracks in the rock. You must also make sure the rock is strong enough. You can't place the bolt in crumbling rock. You can pound the rock with your fist and if you hear an echo, that is indicative of crumbled rock that is not suitable for installing bolts with your drill and hammer.
HAND HAMMER DRILLS
Hand hammer drills are made by a wide variety of manufacturers, and at the time of publication ranged in price from $60 to $300. Manufacturers include Hitachi, DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Chicago Pneumatic and Rockwell. Most of the hand hammer drills used for climbing weigh 4 pounds or less. The drill use a battery-powered motor. A specialty drill made by Alpinist had a suggested retail price of $1,500 at that time.
Posted in: Climbing