Talk to me about drills

[ASauvignonADay]

I am a fairly novice DIY-er so could do with some advice. I'm struggling to drill through my solid walls (Victorian terrace). I have a 14.4v combi drill (i think this is what it's called - can use it as a screwdriver and has a drill/hammer drill setting). Even with the hammer drill setting I can't get it more than an inch into the walls. I want to put things like shelves up but can't.

I'm wondering, do I need a different type of drill? Do I need a 'better' drill (this one only cost about £45), or is it just my technique?

Put on hammer setting and apply some pressure on it as you drill. You may have to exert quite a bit of pressure by pushing the drill onto the wall - depending on how hard the wall is.

Also, please use a masonry drill bit, not the 'normal' type.

My DH reckons you need a proper mains powered hammer drill!

Main question 1:
are you drilling above a windowframe or door, where there is likely to be a steel or reinforced concrete lintel?

Main question 2:
Are you using masonry bits (drills)?

They are generally silver, not black, and if you look at the tips closely, you with see there is a squareish piece of material welded into the steel.

Ordinary bits (drills) intended for wood or metal are usually black, and at the blunt end will be stamped with their size and "HSS"

14volt is a little bit low.

Depending what you want to spend, yes, it's true that for the same or less money, you can get a more powerful and durable mains hammer drill than battery powered. You will probably use it less often, because cordless is so convenient, but if you have a lot of holes, or big ones, or hard material, you will appreciate it. If you have plenty of money you can get some very good ones.

Are the holes you're making above head height? A heavy drill is tiring.

Thanks all.

Nope not drilling around window etc - in the middle of others walls. It's the same issue when I've tried different walls

And yes using masonry bits. I'll have a look at mains powered ones.
I want to build some shelves which I think I could manage IF I can actually drill far enough into the wall.

if it's a Victorian house and you can only penetrate an inch, you are probably just getting through the lime plaster (makes light grey, soft dist, not usually gritty) which does not have strength.

If your drills are sharp, they should be able to make some impression on the bricks. Depending on your location, these might be soft red or soft yellow, but, in interior walls that were never going to be seen, they were probably made of seconds or reject bricks, often purple or black if overfired, can be porous or very hard. You may get a clue from the colour of dust on the tip of the drill.

A useful, low-cost mains hammer drill for light DIY work would be something like these 600W - 700W drills. You may as well buy the cheaper Wickes Own-Brand if it has a good guarantee. On light occasional DIY use you are not going to wear it out.

Don't get a 110volt version by mistake.

Check the weight before you buy one. you don't want one so heavy that it will be tiring or difficult to hold steady. If you have a Lidl near you, see if they have one similar. Might be in their "special offer random piles" bins.

Sometimes DIY tools come with a useful plastic case and selection of bits, most of which you will never use but will save you buying a box.

Thank you @PigletJohn, that is really helpful. It is black dust on the end of the drill when it won't go any further, so that makes sense!

something like this if you haven't got a set. They're expensive to buy individually. You will probably find that you break the small sizes, and wear out or lose the sizes you need most, but you can buy (say) a dozen or half a dozen, all one size, from engineering suppliers on ebay, to replenish your kit, just for those sizes, at low cost.

DIY shops catering to beginners are the ones most likely to offer or include a set of bits with your drill purchase.