It's always best to use masonry drill bits or concrete diamond point screws. Both are designed to grind and bite into the material. A regular drill will require more force to push through the concrete or brick and all-purpose drill bits are more prone to snap under that pressure.
Hammer drill: Starting with the main tool, you'll need to buy or hire a hammer drill. These are specialised power tools used to drill into hard material (making it perfect for brick!). They feature a piston-like mechanism that creates a rapid back-and-forth motion, enabling smoother penetration of the material.
A regular drill can still drill holes in bricks without the hammer motion. However, it is slower and requires the use of masonry drill bits. Masonry bits feature an arrow-like form and larger tips than the remainder of the bit and are designed to cut through solid materials like bricks.
Masonry drill bits will provide neat, precise holes without cracking the brick work, but they need to be used at much slower speeds than standard HSS drill bits. This is because they heat up much quicker.
4 Answers 4 Assuming the drill you have is working properly, you may have dull or worn bits. A masonry bit does not last long, especially in concrete or brick. Cheap bits are no bargain. Start with a new bit, when the speed of boring slows to about half or less, time for a new bit.
Hammer drills, also known as impact drills or percussion drills, are a powerful option suitable for drilling hard surfaces like concrete and masonry. A hammer drill is perfect for those more heavy-duty jobs around the home, from putting up shelves to securing gutters in place.
When drilling with a masonry bit, you should be making slow progress even if the drill is not in hammer mode. You should be able to drill into it without too much effort.
It's always best to use masonry drill bits or concrete diamond point screws. Both are designed to grind and bite into the material. A regular drill will require more force to push through the concrete or brick and all-purpose drill bits are more prone to snap under that pressure.
If your cordless drill is equipped with a hammer drill setting, you'll also see a hammer icon. This setting will engage the hammer mechanism inside the drill which will deliver concussive blows behind the drill bit to assist in drilling into brick and masonry.
When drilling a tough material such as brick, your drill needs more power. A smaller battery will not last very long when it is working hard. Choosing a drill with a bigger, more powerful battery will make it easier. A small drill made for DIY and other basic tasks may not have the power or battery life.
What colour drill bit for brick? There is no particular colour for a drill bit used for brick. Instead, you should use a masonry drill bit specifically designed for this type of task. Masonry drill bits are typically made from high-speed steel (HSS) with a tungsten carbide cutting lip.
Wall plugs are required for hollow walls like plasterboard, and solid walls such as brick or concrete. In general, screws can be inserted directly into wood without the use of plugs.
Type of Material: If you are drilling into hard materials like poured concrete, stone, and dense masonry the Rotary Hammer is the best choice. While the Hammer Drill is suitable for softer masonry materials like brick and mortar, or for light-duty drilling in concrete blocks.
Masonry drill bits are specifically designed to cut into hard materials. They're typically made from steel and have an arrow-shaped cutting tip made from an extremely strong material called tungsten carbide.
If the brick shows signs of old age through spalling and flaws, drilling into the mortar will be better. It's also tricky to match the color of your brick when filling holes. Mortar is easier to drill through because it's a softer substance than brick and is also easier to patch or repair.
For anything heavier, which needs a larger hole, you'll need a rotary hammer drill. This gives you a bit more force, making drilling into tough compact materials much easier. With brickwork, you'll need a masonry drill bit. With an arrow-shaped head, it can drive into the wall and give you the power required.
Masonry Drill bits
Masonry drills bits feature a arrowhead-shaped tip and are used for drilling holes into tough materials such as brick, stone and concrete. They are typically made from steel and used with a hammer drill, which hammers the bit into the surface as the drill bit rotates.
Apply the Appropriate Pressure: Operating a hammer drill is easy enough, provided you allow the power tool to do most of the work for you. Apply too little or too much force is a sure way of causing the drill to slip. Find your groove and apply a medium amount of pressure to maintain control.
Screwing and drilling into brick is one of the most common activities in DIY. However, there are some important steps that you should follow when drilling into brick to ensure a smooth and safe installation. Brick can be a sensitive material to drill into and therefore the types of tools used should be considered.
Sleeve anchors are versatile and can be used in solid brick, brick with holes or the mortar joint. Sleeve anchors provide the widest variety of head styles and they come in round slotted head, flat Phillips countersunk, acorn head or the standard hex nut.
Never drill too deep into the brick. You can cause the brick to have less integrity to support the anchor or screw. You may also get the drill bit stuck inside, which will require you to dig it out before inserting the anchor.