I live in a building that has 4 bank vaults in it. I have been storing my gear in the smallest one, and have recently started a few plants in it as well. I plan on using the largest vault as a flowering room, The vaults are all concrete, with huge, thick steel doors as the one in the attatched photo has. I imagine that these vaults were built around the 1950's, I am looking for someone with concrete knowledge that could point me in the direction of how to make a 6" diameter hole in the ceiling for ventilation purposes. Being that these are bank vaults, I wouldn't think they would be made from normal concrete, I'm thinking it's going to be a hardened concrete.
Anyone have any experience in this area?

I thought I added some pictures to this post, I nkow I uploaded them, I will add them as soon as I figure out what I need to do, brb
SOOOOOO I haven't figured out how to add an image yet. I uploaded several when making the thread, I don't know where they went or how to add them. What's the secret? lol

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You sure have the security part of the grow down with having vaults, wow!

The military order a concrete mix with metal particles to strengthen the bunkers.

Some vaults have stainless steel mesh in the concrete where only a plasma arc will cut it.

For you, you need a concert hole cutter brought out to do a 6" core cut.

May cost more if they need to order a harder cutter.

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Yep core drill will do it but I am sure that this crete is very well reinforced so cutting a hole through it may be a problem...... C-4 works!

One way or another, there is going to have to be at least 1 hole cut into the ceiling of all 4 vaults. I don't care if I have to sit there with a chisel and a hammer and chip it away, and use a torch to cut through any reinforcement bar, there WILL be holes!
Where does one get a coring drill from?

this is the cheapest coring drill I have seen so far that can make a 6" diameter hole, Flex BSW3023C Core Drill Motor 1-1/2" to 14" Capacity I do't think I'll be buying one of those anytime soon! After buying the drill, one would still need a 6" bit!
I wonder if you could rent one? If not, It seems I'll be up in the rafters with a hammer and chisel after all! lol It is old concrete too, has had a bunch of years to cure! I bet it'll be fun to remove!

Check your local yellow pages for an industrial rental location. You might be able to rent one without too much hassle.

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Have someone come out and do the complete thing, or better yet leave the vault door open 24/7 and run it out that way

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I have 5 small plants in the vault so far and it stinks up 1500 square feet of living space. I need to control the odor, especially once I'm running at full speed, I'm sure it will be REALLY smelly by then, I want to build an activated carbon air scrubber, BUT I have to get the holes in the vault roof.

Breaking OUT of a bank vault. Hmmmm,...Interesting!

I'm sure you will get this taken care of. Be sure to let us know how things go.

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Charlie

I'm wondering what you expect to find when you drill that hole. Do you expect it to vent thru a roof or out the side of the building? The roof section will be mostly steel so, drilling it will take a diamond core saw and you'll need a lot of water for cooling the bit. A very expensive proposition. Good luck...

I don't expect to find anything in there but concrete and maybe some rebar.
there is 10' or more between the top of the vault and the roof of the building. I intend to make holes in the ceiling of the vault that I could run ductwork through that would lead to activated carbon filters, then from there it could be vented elsewhere in the building or out through the roof. It has a 2 foot thick concrete roof, so once again, it would be rough to vent it outside. But I have garage space on the one entire side of the building. it is 20' wide and like 200' deep, I bet I could exhaust scrubbed air to that area and let it go wherever it wants from there. Seems to me like it would be exhausting warm air, so it would be like getting free heat for the garage as a by-product of my grow. ;)

2' concrete roof... Wow...Big core drills work with gravity because they need constant water on the bit. Can you get a floor machine up on the roof and drill down?

The roof of the building itself is a 2' thick concrete roof, but I am not seeing any reason to have to go through that to exhaust, as I can exhaust to a large garage area after the air was properly scrubbed. But the ceiling and walls of the vaults that I am growing in is made from concrete. God only knows how thick it is, and what sorts of structural steel I may find inside of it. These are the roof areas that need a hole to ventilate through.
Each of the vaults has a system set up on it that will blow air into the vault if you activate it, (in case you are stuck inside) So I'm sure they are completely air tight at this point. I have a feeling this is going to be the hardest part of setting up this grow!
I don't even know what type of company to call to see about having a hole bored into each vault. And what would I tell the person I wanted the holes for?

Yellow Pages, look under Core drilling, heavy construction, and engineer. Tell'm you are drilling for a 6" emt conduit. Peace.

this will be rather interesting, do you own this building? if so you could tell them your tryin to set up and air conditioning system to make it more habitable.

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they call me ishmael, and mobys music sucks. smile if you get it.

Hey K,I have been in construction for 30 years.You said it was builded in the 50's.Is it a old fed reserve or just a state bank.Any which it will have alot of steel in it.All different kinda of steel mats.If you rent a core drill you will have to buy the core drill bit,most rental place charge you for the cost of the bit and they cost.They will cut through steel and all. They are diamond tipped drills.There's a company call Speedy Bore and there in all 50 states.The concrete they used is not any different than what they build with today.Yes it's alittle harder but in the 50's they didnt have additives the crete we have today.But you can rent one and do it yourself if the cost isnt to much for you. Peace

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Anything I may say or do is stickly for entertainment only.This is all make believe and is not To believe by me or anyonehttp:\\www.greenpassion.org/f73/over-grow-government-ogg-2009-what-8722/

I don't own the building, But my employer does. He is fully aware of what I am doing, and has given me the OK to make any modifications I need to make to have this work.
I was told that the longer concrete sits, the more it cures. The older it gets, the harder it is.
I will be calling speedy bore if they have a local franchise, I'm curious as to what they would quote me per hole.

This Is Going To Have To Be Done By A Professional Core Company, That Has A Core Drill On Tracks With Hydraulics, It Is Going To Be From $1,200 To $2,000 A Hole If They Will Even Take The Job. Also It's Going To Make A Major Mess..

If You Have Never Ran Any Kinda Job Or Core Drill Of This Kind???,,This Is Not A Job Just To Start On, It Will Cost You A Fortune In Bit's Alone..& If You Think You Can Hammer & Chisel A Hole Through The Ceiling?????LOL!!!,,I Don't Mean To Laugh, But Bro I Won't What Your Smoke'in!!

They Are Called A Vault For A Reason, I'm Not Saying It Can't & Won't Be Done, But For The 4 - 6" Holes In The Ceiling Could Easily Run You $8,000..

Keep Use Posted, Best Of Luck, Wishes & Karma...

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I just called a local place that does core drilling, am waiting on them to call me back with the estimate. He says they have done bank vaults in the oast and it is very do-able.
But then again, pretty much anything is doable if your pockets are dep enough.

I'm thinking it's easier to go around and up. You're going to need to frame a wall and fit a door ( to replace the vault door ) you then mount a return grill up next to the ceiling. You can run a plenum exhaust to each room in flex duct. Same with a fresh air makeup duct. Then duct your exhaust in into the overhead dead area. Should be a lot cheaper and cleaner.