Underground mines in SA and Zimbabwe still rely heavily on hand‑held airleg/jackleg drilling, where small‑hole, percussive tools must balance penetration rate, bit life, and cost. A 34 mm taper bit sits in the “sweet spot” for narrow‑reef development and stoping—big enough for effective blasting patterns, yet small enough for fast, controllable drilling with standard 22 mm hex steels.

This article outlines how Kenella drifter drill steel paired with R32 threaded bits is used to manage vibration, protect threads, and sustain consistent drilling performance in harsh African operating conditions.