drilling

I'm a complete newbie here, so I'm not sure if the tool is the problem or I am. I want to put up some shelves on an internal kitchen wall. I'm trying to drill 8mm holes about an inch deep. The wall is brick with plaster over it, and I've used a stud finder to confirm there's no metal in the...

I've read a few related threads here but not quite answered my question. I have pretty limited knowledge about this stuff. I have a DPM that was put in on a first floor wall (not wholly certain I wasn't taken for a ride) and then plastered over. It's not decorated yet though so that's something...

Hello all, DIY Journeyman here I have recently gotten the hang of the art of drilling into masonry and mounting things on walls, it feels like a whole new world is open to me. I can hang shelves, curtains, anything! I've already hung some curtains Now, for a stylistic choice, i have an idea for...

Hi everyone! I've been putting up floating shelves for book display on both sides of our fireplace. My plan is to put one more long shelf all the way across the doorway (see blue line in first photo). I think it'll look nice filled with books and will balance out the other side, where I've...

Hi, I’ve been attempting to hang a curtain rail up for nice blackout curtains that are triple layered. However I cannot seem to drill any further than 1-2cm into the wall above sliding patio doors. Idk whether I need a stronger drill bit, or whether to not drill above as there are radiator...

Hi all I have started drilling into the wall above our French doors downstairs to try and fit a curtain pole, and appear to have hit an I-Beam/RSJ. No idea when it was installed - the house is early 1900s, so any time after then. At this juncture, I’m wondering what the risks are of me...

I need to put up 3 curtain brackets (Left, Right, Centre) above a floor to ceiling new build window. Unfortunately previous owner drilled pretty big holes using Redidrive screws. The holes must have widened over time and I also want to use different brackets. The existing holes are about 8mm...

I'm looking for the most robust method of screwing the newel post to the stretcher. Would it be better to drill a large pilot hole through the side of the newel post so that screw threads only grip the stretcher, thereby pulling the post closer to the stretcher? Or pilot drill through both so...

HI, I am looking into drilling 4mm holes in my garden hose water adapator to add some screws to it. Its zinc alloy die cast maerial. Would a regular hand drill with drill bits that can drill holes through stainless steel do the job?

I bought a house which has a lot of cladding around the back. I hope that's the right term. Personally I find it ugly and wish it still had just the red brick underneath but it is what it is. I don't know exactly what you call this - I don't think it's pebbledash as I don't think they're any...

Hello, this is a house in UK, built in the early '70s. Some parts of the outer walls are made of concrete blocks. I suppose they are one of the common types: e.g., aggregate, lightweight or aircrete, but I'm not sure which one. I would like to know in order to buy the appropriate...

Hi, I bought Reolink security cameras which I would like to fix outside my house. I everything will be straight forward, I will get the cable through the wall, and it's done. However, when my cameras arrived, I noticed that end of the cable is 20mm thick where ethernet cable connects. If I...

Hi, I'm fitting a blind and I've managed to drill most of the 6x35mm holes for the supplied wall plugs and screws. However, there are a couple of holes that just won't drill beyond 20mm. I think i have 2 options: 1. Use smaller wall plugs and screws (4x20mm) and pack the 6mm holes with...

I am trying to put up some new curtain rails. I have successfully managed to drill holes and put in the usual plastic wall anchors everywhere except one side of one window. The walls are plaster on brick (house is a 1950s brick semi-detached). I thought it was my anaemic cordless drill...

Im fitting a bookcase which require lots of holes drilling into a wall at various points. The wall is very inconsistent in density varying from easy drilling to almost impossible. I have blunted flat 3No. 7mm SDS drill bits now. Its a bungalow. Using a corded 110V SDS with good quality Dewalt...

I live in an 1950s ex local authority house with walls that are made of what appears to be aggregate mixed with concrete and I need advice on drilling. It’s not smooth pebblecrete as I would call it as it is lumpy stones of approx 20mm+ across loosely glued together with a sheen on concrete...

Exterior walls of the house are red brick with a render finish on top (Weber monocouche, basically same as K-Rend). One wall is sandstone that's been levelled and rendered to match the rest of the house. Render on that wall is quite thick. Need to fix some exterior wall lights and a mailbox and...

Hi everyone, I REALLY need some advice on drilling in my house. We live in an ex council house which has absolutely nightmareish walls. Basically they are made up of concrete and big stones and rocks so when you drill into them, if you hit a stone you can't go any further or the drill veers...

Hi, I know that the first thing that comes to mind is not to do it – if can be avoided. However I don’t think it can… I’m planning to do as per attached drawing, in a photo the connection to the main waste stack is slightly different as I realized it will need a hole in the joist outside...

Hi, I'd like fit a shower rail riser bracket to a tiled bathroom wall. I understand I should use a masonry drill bit. My question is what size drill bit do I need to use for the wall plugs? Its a standard bristan shower rail riser.