Method and apparatus for limiting equipment burden when penetrating a mixed or composite material structure including metal utilizing a hammer-drill

A method of drilling comprising:

• identifying a task requiring rock drilling with a hammer-drill in a location where a likelihood exists of encountering a portion of metal and where it is desirable to carry only a single drill;
• providing a metal-cutting bit comprising a cylindrical body formed with a first and second cylindrical sections, wherein the first section comprises a shank section, wherein the second section comprises a cutting section of a selected diameter to bore a desired diameter hole;
• coupling a minimum of one protuberance to the first section at a first section coupling point a first distance from a longitudinal end of the first section opposite and facing away from the second section, wherein the first distance is selected so as to prevent full insertion of the first section into a chuck section of the hammer-drill, and wherein the first distance is further selected to prevent a hammer section in the hammer-drill from striking the longitudinal end of the first section while the hammer section of the hammer-drill is in operation;
• providing said hammer-drill wherein the hammer-drill's hammer or percussive feature is continuously operating;
• selecting a masonry bit with a diameter determined to create a desired bore in a rock;
• securing the masonry bit in the hammer-drill and commencing rock drilling to establish a bore hole;
• continuing drilling operations until the portion of metal is encountered;
• removing the masonry bit and the hammer-drill from the bore hole and decoupling the masonry bit from the hammer-drill;
• inserting the first section of the metal-cutting bit into the hammer drill chuck section until the protuberance comes into contact with the chuck section, then securing the metal-cutting bit in the hammer-drill and inserting the second section of the metal-cutting bit into the bore hole until contacting the portion of metal;
• resuming drilling operations until the portion of metal is fully penetrated;
• removing the metal-cutting bit and the hammer-drill from the bore hole and decoupling the metal-cutting bit from the hammer-drill;
• and
• securing the masonry bit in the hammer-drill and inserting the masonry bit into the bore hole and continuing drilling operations until a selected depth of bore is achieved.