Why Your DTH / Top Hammer Bit Wears Fast — A Real Case From Central Asia
In the drilling industry, fast bit wear is often blamed on the bit itself.
But in many cases, the real reason is hidden in the drilling parameters — especially insufficient air pressure.
Here is a real case we handled recently in Kazakhstan:
Case Study: Bit Life Doubled After Correcting Air Pressure
Location: Granite site, Kazakhstan
Bit used: T51 – 76mm Top Hammer Button Bit
Reported issues:
Very slow penetration
Buttons breaking easily
Bit life only 25–30 meters
The customer suspected a bit quality issue.
After reviewing their drilling parameters, we found the key problem:
👉 Air pressure during drilling was only 8 Bar (115 PSI).
For this formation, the recommended pressure is 10–12 Bar (150–170 PSI).
Results After Adjustment
Once the air pressure was corrected:
✔ Drilling speed increased by 2×
✔ Bit life improved to 70–90 meters
✔ Button breakage reduced by 80%
✔ Fuel & operational cost reduced significantly
The customer realized the problem was never the bit — it was the drilling setup.
Why This Matters
In many sites across Central Asia, Africa, and South America, the same pattern appears:
Low air pressure
Water content too high
Wrong rotation speed
Incorrect feed force
Worn coupling sleeves or rods
These issues dramatically reduce bit life, no matter which brand you use.
What We Offer
We help customers optimize their drilling performance by:
Bit selection based on rock hardness
Air pressure & drilling parameter check
Failure analysis (broken buttons, flats, cracks)
Cost-per-meter optimization
Supply of DTH / Top Hammer bits & rods
Sometimes, a small adjustment saves thousands of dollars.
If you want to improve your drilling performance
We can provide free parameter evaluation based on your site:
Rock type
Bit size
Compressor specs
Hammer model
Air pressure / feed force / rotation
Just send me a message — I’ll be happy to help.
