Reverse Circulation

Complete RC systems from Bit and Hammer to Top Head Drive to outfit your Rig
RC drilling lowers operating costs and hassle compared to conventional drilling. In RC drilling the cuttings are exhausted up the center of the bit and drill pipe which allows for several ground-breaking advantages:
  • Removal of cuttings allows faster drilling (~2-8X faster than conventional drilling)

  • Lower drilling friction causes less wear, making tooling and buttons last longer

  • Uses less air and can take out bigger, heavier, rocks

  • Reduces the chances of rocks falling in the hole and getting the bit, hammer, or casing stuck

  • Drills more sensitize formations with less chance of borehole wall cave-in

  • Control of cuttings exhaust means less mess, a smaller affected area, less dust, and allows drilling in public places

  • Cuttings discharge often used for exploratory mineral sampling or just to route waste for easy hauling

  • Exhaust side check valves and water flow via the cuttings path lead to less drowning out of the hammer

  • Grout Through technology allows back filling of the hole as the drill retracts

  • No need for expensive and environmentally regulated lubricating foams for deeper jobs

  • Holte’s RC Down Hole Hammers allow easy access to key parts making them faster and easier to maintain

Matched RC Systems

Holte RC tooling works effectively by itself, but the secret to our customers’ repeated successes is the careful pairing of a Bit, Hammer, Drill Pipe and Top Head drive to use air flow efficiently throughout the system. A proper design ensures cuttings are easily removed in large pieces while wear is minimized from the Bit face to the discharge system on the surface.

A Relentless Standard

Over 45 years has led to ingrained RC expertise. Our founder, Art Holte, remains one of the most gifted innovators and experts in the field of RC Drilling technology. Art’s emphasis on comprehension of the complete RC drilling system, and a relentless standard to make high quality tooling, have pervaded the company. We grow with the needs of the industry—not shareholders. Our sales and design teams have literally machined, assembled, and used RC drills. We’ve modified drill rigs to work with RC. Our offices are still on the manufacturing floor where we can hear the sweet sounds of CNCs and testing hammers; where machinists, sales, and designers can interact to make sure our drilling tools lead the industry.