Drilling advice

[kprm77]

I need to drill some holes to put up some curtains in one of the bedrooms.

I've drilled in there before - the drill goes in about 2/3 of the required depth, then stops. I don't know if I'm hitting an RSJ or what, no idea.

Any advice on what I need to be doing / looking out for? I'm just using a masonary(sp) drill bit. Should I be drilling into the RSJ in any case? Do I just need to get a drill bit that can go through metal?

[kprm77]

m3jappa said:

May well be a steel lintel. Does it feel or sound like metal?

Maybe drill a pilot hole about 1/3 the size of the required screw and then screw straight in. (Self tapper screw).

It does feel like metal as I just can't drill any deeper. I don't get you when you say screw staight in - do you mean screw straight into the lintel / RSJ or whatever it is without a raw plug?

[kprm77]

Sorry for being thick, but is the pilot hole in the lintel itself?

For example, I need to drill 30mm - first 20mm no bother through plaster. Do I then drill a pilot hole into the lintel through my original hole through the plaster?

Thanks for all the replies

[kprm77]

Gingerbread Man said:

kprm77 said:

Sorry for being thick, but is the pilot hole in the lintel itself?

For example, I need to drill 30mm - first 20mm no bother through plaster. Do I then drill a pilot hole into the lintel through my original hole through the plaster?

Thanks for all the replies

Yep, pilot hole in the lintel, then increase drill size gradually till you reach your 7mm plug size.

Excellent - thanks for that. Looks like I need to buy some metal drill bits