A down-the-hole drill, usually called DTH Drilling Rig, is basically a mini jackhammer screwed on the bottom of a drill string. The speedy hammer activity breaks hard stone into little flakes and dust and can be dismissed evident by the air exhaust in the DTH hammer.
[pdf] In this video we assemble a DIY micro drill rig (tiny DC motor + drill bit + frame) and a submersible water pump, then test drilling a small “well” and pumping water through tubing. I explain the mechanism, torque limits, and 3 upgrades for better performance.
[pdf] DTH is short for “down-the-hole”. Since the DTH method was originally developed to drill large-diameter holes downwards in surface-drilling applications, its name originated from the fact that the percussion mechanism followed the bit down into the hole. Applications were later found for the DTH method underground, where the direction of drilling is generally upwards instead of downwards.
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