Better drill or better drill bits?

[Jane Doe]

I'm drilling into some very old brick and it's so hard I thought I'd hit a metal stud. (But I've confirmed I haven't). I don't have a lot of DIY experience. I thought I had a good drill. It's a Stanley "FatMax" and it says 850W and 3100 RPM on the box. It also has a hammer action. But all I really know is that it seems big to inexperienced me and that it isn't an SDS drill.

But maybe it isn't a good drill or maybe I need better drill bits? I really haven't a clue but new drill bits are certainly cheaper! Advice please?

EDIT: The drill bits I'm using right now are a set I bought from Home Base a while ago. They say "Titanium" on the side.

 

[EddieM]

Not used a fat max drill, but I would strongly imagine the bits are the problem. After checking the drill isn't in reverse (!) try some Dewalt extreme 2 masonry bits (other good quality brands are available)

 

[Burnerman]

If you are still struggling Jane, head down to your local hire shop.....they'll fix you up with a corded, slow speed drill with a proper hammer action. The bits are available too.
John

 

[EddieM]

If you are still struggling Jane, head down to your local hire shop.....they'll fix you up with a corded, slow speed drill with a proper hammer action. The bits are available too.
John

An 850w drill, I would have thought that would be corded?

 

[Burnerman]

Aye, fair comment Eddie
I find these DIY things just revolve too fast and the hammer action just isn't man enough for tough bricks. I have an ancient Hilti TE12 bought in 1983 (cost around £350 then) and it stops at nothing - and the bits are still there too. Its percussion system involves a pneumatic piston that smacks the drill with compressed air.
Blue bricks, granite, marble - doesn't make any difference.
John

 

[EddieM]

Aye, fair comment Eddie
I find these DIY things just revolve too fast and the hammer action just isn't man enough for tough bricks. I have an ancient Hilti TE12 bought in 1983 (cost around £350 then) and it stops at nothing - and the bits are still there too. Its percussion system involves a pneumatic piston that smacks the drill with compressed air.
Blue bricks, granite, marble - doesn't make any difference.
John

Always wanted a Hilti, but as my drill collection stands at 10, I think I'd be toasted if I got one

 

[SammyInnit]

Always wanted a Hilti, but as my drill collection stands at 10, I think I'd be toasted if I got one

The more modern ones are very expensive. I've had a couple of cordless ones, the last being a TE7A costing over a grand for the kit when it was new. As nice as it was, it wasn't worth the money.

 

[SFK]

Jane,
If on a budget and not planing on drilling lots of new holes, first buy some better quality new Drill bits (that do not say titanium, that is usually a bad sign for drill bits)
For example these: https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-5-piece-masonry-drill-bit-set/96162
SFK

 

[Jane Doe]

Not used a fat max drill, but I would strongly imagine the bits are the problem. After checking the drill isn't in reverse (!) try some Dewalt extreme 2 masonry bits (other good quality brands are available)

The drill definitely isn't in reverse. I always check that.

(After that time I had the drill in reverse, anyway).

An 850w drill, I would have thought that would be corded?

Yes. Big thick cord.

Jane,
If on a budget and not planing on drilling lots of new holes, first buy some better quality new Drill bits (that do not say titanium, that is usually a bad sign for drill bits)
For example these: https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-5-piece-masonry-drill-bit-set/96162
SFK

I'm getting quite into this DIY now and I could see myself doing quite a bit in future (God help my house!). So if you have a recommendation for a good drill, I'm interested. I'm not that big so it can't be some giant thing. I'll pick up those drill bits first and try them though. Thanks for linking to exactly what I need - there's a screwfix near me so I'll pick up some at lunch time.

Thanks everyone!

 

[SFK]

Jane,
I am a DIYer, but not happy to recommend drill as I tend to buy cheap tools and expensive bits.
For me SDS Drills are great, but they are very (too) heavy most of the time and can be a bit of an overkill for DIY use (unless you have nightmare hard walls t dill into or a whole wall of plaster to remove).

Will not fix your current problem, but if getting into DIY would suggest getting a good name (DeWalt, Maketa, Bosch, Hitachi) battery drill for between £99 and £150 with two batteries from somewhere like Screwfix (they have a very good returns policy if you do not like it). Battery drills are immensely useful and you will find you use it ALL the time. For example I always use drill to put in screws, rarely a screwdriver.
https://www.screwfix.com/c/tools/drills/cat830704#category=cat830832&page_size=20&sort_by=price

For me I use:
Battery Drill...... 93% of time
Corded Hammer Drill...... 5% of time (on walls, and drilling metal)
SDS Drill...... 2% of time (mainly on chisel setting for removing plaster and concrete).

SFK

 

[Diver Fred]

I can only agree with SFK in #10.

Do buy the best bits you can afford - find a Tool dealer to go to rather than one of the 'DIY Barns' or builders merchants unless they have a 'proper' tool department. You don't give any indication on where you live so unable to recomnd a 'local' shop (e.g. in Suffolk 'Elmers hardware' or 'Ipswich Plastics') (nationally D&M tools).

To drill into brick (or any masonary) you need 'Tipped' bits; 'Titainium bits are not suitable even if they say will drill into any thing. Start the hole not on hammer action including through the plaster, once into the 'hard' stuff then switch the hammer action on, that stops the drill from wandering and making the hole off line from where you want it.

If you have not started your tool collection yet then also look at Erbauer tools from Screwfix - a Screwfix own brand but additional batteries are cheaper and the quality may suit you. Also 'Ryobi' with their 'One+' range.
If you need a SDS drill then for the price the one from Aldi's is a good as any for the use you will give it.

Enjoy...

 

[SFK]

WGT, With thanks :>
I personal stay away from Aldi tools, only because the Tool Station and Screwfix have been so much better with returns when something has failed (or has simply not been to my expectation when I got it home).
And when Screwfix are selling (a relatively) lightweight SDS for £30, I would definatley avoid Aldi. (But as said, buy a battery drill first)
https://www.screwfix.com/p/energer-enb569drl-2-6kg-corded-sds-plus-drill-230-240v/15456
<<<< Ignore that, that is a drill for which they have no stock .... I hate it when SF do that, and they do it quite often.
SFK

 

[Jane Doe]

Jane,
I am a DIYer, but not happy to recommend drill as I tend to buy cheap tools and expensive bits.
For me SDS Drills are great, but they are very (too) heavy most of the time and can be a bit of an overkill for DIY use (unless you have nightmare hard walls t dill into or a whole wall of plaster to remove).

Will not fix your current problem, but if getting into DIY would suggest getting a good name (DeWalt, Maketa, Bosch, Hitachi) battery drill for between £99 and £150 with two batteries from somewhere like Screwfix (they have a very good returns policy if you do not like it). Battery drills are immensely useful and you will find you use it ALL the time. For example I always use drill to put in screws, rarely a screwdriver.
https://www.screwfix.com/c/tools/drills/cat830704#category=cat830832&page_size=20&sort_by=price

For me I use:
Battery Drill...... 93% of time
Corded Hammer Drill...... 5% of time (on walls, and drilling metal)
SDS Drill...... 2% of time (mainly on chisel setting for removing plaster and concrete).

SFK

It was the drill bits! I tried to get some of the DeWalt ones you linked earlier but SF said they were next day only so I got the next up which were an Erbauer set. £4 more but I figured if they were pricy they must be good. Of course that only works so long as most people know what they're doing and aren't just going by price like me! Worked a treat though. The difference is amazing (to me!). I wouldn't say it was like butter but maybe a mature cheddar. Holes drilled, coat rack mounted, me happy.

I might have to get some screwdriver bits for it. I have a little electric screwdriver and the screwdriver tip SNAPPED just now when I was putting up the coatrack. Sheared diagonally right down the centre. Don't know where it flew off to! It's built into the screw driver so that's a bit of a blow! Lesson learned!​

I can only agree with SFK in #10.

Do buy the best bits you can afford - find a Tool dealer to go to rather than one of the 'DIY Barns' or builders merchants unless they have a 'proper' tool department. You don't give any indication on where you live so unable to recomnd a 'local' shop (e.g. in Suffolk 'Elmers hardware' or 'Ipswich Plastics') (nationally D&M tools).

To drill into brick (or any masonary) you need 'Tipped' bits; 'Titainium bits are not suitable even if they say will drill into any thing. Start the hole not on hammer action including through the plaster, once into the 'hard' stuff then switch the hammer action on, that stops the drill from wandering and making the hole off line from where you want it.

If you have not started your tool collection yet then also look at Erbauer tools from Screwfix - a Screwfix own brand but additional batteries are cheaper and the quality may suit you. Also 'Ryobi' with their 'One+' range.
If you need a SDS drill then for the price the one from Aldi's is a good as any for the use you will give it.

Enjoy...

Erbauer did the trick. And yes, the ones that were no good do say brick on the side of the container. Lying container!

Thanks all!

 

[JayJay1978]

I have about 20 drills in total, mainly makita, bosch and hilti.
Everytime my girlfriend buys a handbag she says "its only like you with your drills"