Be Excellent To Each Other

Hullo,

I was wondering if anyone had a drill they’d recommend, to get through masonry.

We have a cheap drill, but we get through a centimetre of plaster in the new house and can get no further. We’re not hitting metal boxing or anything like that as it’s literally everywhere, so we can’t hang coat hooks, shelving, secure furniture or hang up curtain rails, and I’d really like some curtains up in the bedroom soon.

I just got this. It’s not too expensive considering how powerful it is (fine for odd-jobs and home DIY, I wouldn’t recommend it for daily use). It uses SDS/SDS Plus bits though (they are interchangeable, just don’t get the SDS Max bits as they won’t fit). Make sure you get masonry ones.

https://www.homebase.co.uk/bosch-pbh-2100-re-_p574269

I had a Black and Decker £50 job before and the chuck just kept coming loose and eventually a screw fell out from inside it, so I don’t recommend those. For some reason the walls in Nottingham houses from 1930-1960 are made of what seems like molten slag and are very tough to get through, so should fit your purpose.

Cordless? Don't look at anything under 18v

https://www.screwfix.com/p/mac-allister ... rill/317fx

That's a good starting point for home use. They go UP from there

Mimi, are you using masonry bits? Is there a hammer action you could switch to on your current drill? That will make all the difference.

Also, buy this book, as it's a handy thing to have about.

He's right you know. I remember trying to drill through ceramic tile with the wrong bit and just endlessly spinning. With the right bit, straight through

If their walls are like mine that won’t be powerful enough. And cordless you pay more for the same power, so depends if you need the convenience I guess. I don’t drill often enough to make it worthwhile.

The Bosch I linked to above cut through my walls like butter, I was well impressed.

I have a similar Black and Decker 18v and I've not had any problems drilling into masonry. Even external walls.

Obv. corded is better for heavy work.

We do have masonry bits but even they seem to struggle with whatever is behind the plaster. It's a corded drill with a hammer action, but it was a cheap Argos one so we're hoping that whatever it is behind the plaster isn't diamond and is just because the drill we have isn't strong enough.

I agree, but R&M have specifically said their standard drill is not working, so I’ve suggested something a bit more hardcore. If they were starting with nothing, I’d have suggested something similar to you.

Is it middle of the wall your drilling, not above doorway / window that you might be hitting a lintel? I’ve struggled before fitting blinds (switched to metal bits and did it that way).

Don’t let him talk about your drill like that, DavPaz!

He’s shit and so’s his drill

I hate to disagree with my husband on this, but I’d forego putting my coat hooks up if I could have walls made of diamond.

But yes, we’ve tried masonry bits on a hammer action drill, and it’s going nowhere. Both drill and the bits it came with are as cheap as it comes, though. Worked fine in the flat, but just not touching these walls beneath the plaster.

Yes, we’ve tried three different walls in three different rooms (because of the various jobs we have to do) and it’s the same everywhere.

There has been past drilling (actually right where I want to put the coat rack, ours is just a little wider) so it must be possible, just not with the drill we have.

Yes, we’ve tried three different walls in three different rooms (because of the various jobs we have to do) and it’s the same everywhere.

There has been past drilling (actually right where I want to put the coat rack, ours is just a little wider) so it must be possible, just not with the drill we have.

Myp is right (I know).
That will go through your walls like butter (in a good way).

Quite tempted. my cordless died a few months ago

I thought this thread was about me at first glance.

I'm just surprised no ones recommended this yet:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Microsoft-RKH- ... 005HHTK70/

It spins quite fast.

Thanks (mostly) all. We’ll get the one Myp pointed to and see how buttery these walls are.

That looks like a good choice. The quality of the drill bits will make a big difference as well, so get a decent branded set. It's sometimes easier to do a small pilot hole then enlarge it with a second bit if it's really solid.

Sounds like they may be engineering bricks that you've got, which are quite a bit harder than the standard red brick used in modern houses.

The house will never fall down, yay!

We got a set of Bosch SDS Plus drill bits to go with it because we've heard of Bosch and it's the same make as the drill so makes sense?

Thank you all for the help, hopefully we'll be able to drill some holes and hang some stuff soon.

And if the drill still doesn't work, just glue everything to the wall.

Russell has that book I think my Ma may have bought it for him for Christmas

I do!

Soon to be out with the old.

If you want American style, then I guess you start with Cheef Keef. For British style, maybe Harlem Spartans

You want a corded drill, preferably SDS. Your house may be built from engineering bricks like mine. Even my £300 18v DeWalt cordless hammer drill doesn’t like these walls.

DBS has EVERYONE on mute

Thanks, Snappa . We’ve got an SDS drill coming tomorrow. Fingers crossed it works

Nah, he’s a professional, so nice to hear him chip in (and tell me I’m right)

If I’d known this 13(!) years ago when I bought my first house I wouldn’t have destroyed two drills in the process.

Reassuring, thank you.

I know! I said thank you!

Have you considered softer bricks?

Or drill more test holes till you hit the mortar x

Yes, I appreciated it! But it’s reassuring when someone as handy as Monsieur Snappeur comes in and says much the same.

We definitely don’t need a new @dimrill

The one we’ve got is perfect.

If you want drill recommendations, I’d suggest you start with some Skepta, Chief Keef and Pop Smoke.

We got this drill delivered and it did exactly as everyone said, so thank you all for the help and recommendations. We now have some coat racks up and will set about the next jobs over the following few days. It is surprisingly quieter than our old drill.

Just to echo that, thank you so much for the recommendations and links.

You're welcome.

We all did our bit.

Thanks chuck