Drilling perfectly perpendicularly

[stealthwolf]

Swmbo wanted me to put up some tiebacks for our new curtains. Two lots of curtains, hence four tieback hooks. Simple enough job - drill into wall with masonary bit (small size first) and cordless on hammer setting. Got the drill bit as square as I could to the wall. Stuck in wall plug and screwed in the tieback hook.

The hooks have a base that's about the size of a 1p coin. Most of them were near enough flush (you could get a sheet of A4 paper under the bottom of the hook but the top was against the wall). One of them you could probably get a fingernail underneath, which SWMBO wasn't happy about.

I ended up redrilling a little bit up and wrapping some masking tape around the wall plug. Managed to get a straight fit.

Any tips for drilling more square? Or any recommended jigs or tools?

 

[Burnerman]

Those tie back hooks are rarely square unto themselves, unfortunately....usually tightening them that bit more lets them dig in to close any gap.
As for drilling square, getting someone to 'sight' your drill as you hold it is often the best way - with a little practice!
John

 

[Tigercubrider]

drilling with a hammer drill can make the thing go off skew.
I drill using non hammer, get a narrow hole, and open it up using hammer. The small pilot guides it.
I have ryobi drills that have a spirit level built in

 

[stealthwolf]

drilling with a hammer drill can make the thing go off skew.
I drill using non hammer, get a narrow hole, and open it up using hammer. The small pilot guides it.
I have ryobi drills that have a spirit level built in

I use Bosch multi-construction bits for drilling into brick walls. I normally use the 5mm bit first, then open up using the 7mm bit. But I've never been able to drill through brick without hammer mode on. I have the Makita DHP480 cordless drill. No spirit level!

 

[rsgaz]

Drill guide for corded drills...

https://www.uktoolcentre.co.uk/products/kwb-drillingmilling-guide.html

...and one for cordless drills...

 

[SammyInnit]

The problem with drilling masonry and applying the laws of drilling wood or steel ignores the way masonry drill bits are made.

Your typical HSS or even cobalt bits for steel, those similar for wood are very hard and rigid to stay true.

However for masonry drills to be effective without shattering they're made to be softer, much like impact sockets. So therefore you will get a lot of flex and movement in them, inturn making it harder to stay true.

My advice would be to get a square cut piece of hardwood to use as a guide to start your hole square, using masonry bits that are as short as possible to reduce the flex and movement to as little as possible.

 

[EddieM]

or put a penny washer over the shank of the drill bit. Drilling up washer moves backwards and vice versa.

 

[EddieM]

or put a penny washer over the shank of the drill bit. Drilling up washer moves backwards and vice versa.