Do breezeblocks need a special drill?

[d000hg]

I want to drill a few holes in my garage - 6mm holes for a few rawlplugs, nothing fancy at all. My old drill is bust so I borrowed a friend's, it is hand-held but not exactly the wimpiest of drills. It flat-out won't drill a simple concrete block making my garage wall. Drills a little bit then just stops and spins. I try a different bit, same result. I try a much smaller drill to try and get a guide-hole, same result.

I didn't think concrete blocks were especially hard to drill, I used to live in a granite house and that was a REAL pain so is the problem my drill or my bit?

Why is nothing ever simple?!

 

[footprints]

Concrete varies a lot, but as a rule you need a very good mains hammer drill or better still an SDS drill and bit which will go though it without any effort.

 

[d000hg]

Balls. I just want a few bloody holes, what use is a drill that can't drill in a wall

Thanks though!

 

[footprints]

Can't you drill into the mortar lines?

 

[d000hg]

I've got some electrical fittings to attach which have 4 screw-points. I guess if I only used 3 I could position each one on the corner of a block... but would that be weaker than the block itself?

 

[footprints]

Unless the item is very heavy should be ok as long as the pointing does not simply crumble as you drill. Something like a socket or fuse unit does not put much strain in the wallplug.

I often do it, I would not hang a big radiator or well loaded shelf that way but most things are fine.

I would try it and give it a good tug to see should be hunky dory.

 

[Aunsh]

Are you using a good quality masonry drill bit in a hammer drill, with the hammer engaged? If you do not have the hammer engaged, it will be easy to burn the tip of the drill.

 

[d000hg]

Footprints you are my hero, drilling the mortar works just great.

Thanks!

 

[footprints]

Glad to hear it!
Thanks for letting me know

 

[foxhole]

My old drill is bust so I borrowed a friend's, it is hand-held but not exactly the wimpiest of drills.
Hand -held as apposed to what?

 

[d000hg]

My old drill is bust so I borrowed a friend's, it is hand-held but not exactly the wimpiest of drills.
Hand -held as apposed to what?

Sorry I meant battery rather than mains