Time to upgrade my drill (drilling into brick etc)

[UTH]

Guessing this would do the jobs I need?

https://www.toolstation.com/dewalt-dwd024k-701w-im...

[Mr Pointy]

UTH said:

Simpo Two said:

For drilling small holes in brick, eg for rawlpugs, I use a normal hammer drill. Fordrilling proper holes right through, like for a water pipe or extractor duct, I use something like this:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-6-3kg-electric-sd...

It goes through brick like a normal drill goes through wood, and is relatively cheap.

I imagine 90% of what I'll need it for is rawlplugs, don't imagine I'll ever be making big holes

That one you linked certainly seems like a bargain, might be the winner!

There's a refurbished option which is just £60:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/refurb-titan-6-3kg-elec...

If you're just doing wall plugs DO NOT lean on the drill in SDS mode unless you want to come out the other side of the wall.

[Baldchap]

SDS drills are absolutely amazing and I love my 36v Makita one and it gets a lot of use doing lots of jobs, not just drilling.

However... When I'm doing things like Rawl plugs for back boxes for sockets where I only get one go (having used the SDS and a back box tool for the square recess), I swap to my hammer drill as the SDS can be excessively aggressive and, certainly on older bricks, leaves a smashed brick that you're never screwing anything into, rather than a nice 7mm hole.

The multi material blue Bosch drill bits are spectacular through brick on a normal hammer drill.

[UTH]

Baldchap said:

SDS drills are absolutely amazing and I love my 36v Makita one and it gets a lot of use doing lots of jobs, not just drilling.

However... When I'm doing things like Rawl plugs for back boxes for sockets where I only get one go (having used the SDS and a back box tool for the square recess), I swap to my hammer drill as the SDS can be excessively aggressive and, certainly on older bricks, leaves a smashed brick that you're never screwing anything into, rather than a nice 7mm hole.

The multi material blue Bosch drill bits are spectacular through brick on a normal hammer drill.

Never owned a Dewalt, so this is tempting me. https://www.toolstation.com/dewalt-dwd024k-701w-im...

[sherman]

agent006 said:

First recommendation is don't buy anything from B&Q, it's all utter st. Sadly Screwfix aren't far behind them now.

They are owned by the same company.

[Baldchap]

UTH said:

Never owned a Dewalt, so this is tempting me. https://www.toolstation.com/dewalt-dwd024k-701w-im...

Certainly all Dewalt's hand tools and things like impact driver bits I've used have been really good quality (can't say the same for the red brand), as are their clothing and knee pads. I'm not in their battery system so can't comment on their electric tools.

[boyse7en]

Echoing some others on here about the power of an SDS drill. When i wanted a load of 10mm holes in concrete it is perfect, going through easily.

It isn't good for drilling a 7mm hole into the old bricks my house is made of, as you end up with a small crater and lots of broken brick

[Mr Pointy]

UTH said:

Never owned a Dewalt, so this is tempting me. https://www.toolstation.com/dewalt-dwd024k-701w-im...

Do you have any other battery kit? Although you can buy batttery adapters it's easiest to stay in the same ecosystem - I'm Ryobi.

[UTH]

Mr Pointy said:

UTH said:

Never owned a Dewalt, so this is tempting me. https://www.toolstation.com/dewalt-dwd024k-701w-im...

Do you have any other battery kit? Although you can buy batttery adapters it's easiest to stay in the same ecosystem - I'm Ryobi.

Yeah we do have a couple of Einhell things......

[UTH]

Guess I'd be wise to get this then: https://www.screwfix.com/p/einhell-tc-id-18-li-sol...

[Magicmushroom666]

Spend a touch more and get SDS such as:
https://www.toolstation.com/dewalt-d25033k-22mm-71...

The dewalt one you linked is just a normal hammer drill and things have really moved on since those days. SDS needs special drill bits but they are super common and available anywhere, and the hammer action is way more powerful.

I've got that dewalt I've linked and never found it too weak for any DIY jobs, can even fit chisels to it to remove old tiles etc. Got various bits as I've needed them from dewalt, makita, bosch etc.

The titan 6.3kg things are super heavy and only really needed for extra heavy jobs, I wouldn't want to use one of them for drilling normal holes in walls for plugs etc.

Edited by Magicmushroom666 on Monday 11th March 15:25

[UTH]

A few people have said SDS might be a bit too much for what I'd need it for? Lack of finesse...?

[21TonyK]

Personally I'd go for a cheaper end of the market corded SDS on the basis that it will get far less use than a non impact drill and unlikely to be used in awkward spaces. The titan screw fix one is always popular.

Then a cordless makita is my fav. with a Bosch "blue" corded drill for lots of bigger stuff.

Multiple batteries are always a good idea. But no need to spend silly money, few hundred on both.

[UTH]

Given I've already got some batteries for this system, would make sense to go for this perhaps? https://www.einhell.co.uk/p/4513960-tc-id-18-li-so...

[Simpo Two]

UTH said:

Given I've already got some batteries for this system, would make sense to go for this perhaps? https://www.einhell.co.uk/p/4513960-tc-id-18-li-so...

Either that or the other one you linked to would be fine. It's only an 8mm hole at the end of the day, not Eurotunnel.

Re Screwfix etc, products may not be up to Makita standard etc but if it's only going to be once a year it doesn't really matter.

[MattyD803]

UTH said:

Given I've already got some batteries for this system, would make sense to go for this perhaps? https://www.einhell.co.uk/p/4513960-tc-id-18-li-so...

I've got an Einhell cordless mower and strimmer and it seems pretty robust....not sure on the drills. Unlikely to be the best you can buy, but the reviews seem to suggest they are pretty decent for the money? I think they offer a decent warranty, so check that out and you'll probably be OK.

I would genuinely also buy a cheap-ish corded SDS drill if your going to be drilling into Brick often / regularly....it'll really save the cordless over time and makes for a much easier job.

[Ganglandboss]

UTH said:

I don't do a huge amount of drilling, so not sure I need to spend £500 on a drill that is exclusively for drilling into brick walls, so is there something for a couple of hundred ££ that does it all very well? Having said that, my current crappy drill is fine for putting holes in wood etc, but trying to drill into brick walls is a mega pain in the arse, so maybe I do need something specialist?

It does not sound like you need an SDS. It sounds like you just need something better than a crap drill you paid £40 for 15 years ago.

Something that cheap would be particularly crap, and will struggle with a 5.5mm hole into brick for a red plug. A new 18V battery drill, such as a DeWalt, Bosch, or Makita etc. will be perfectly fine for drilling into brick for fixings.

An SDS drill will go into brick like butter, but they are not good all-round drills. You can get an adapter with a conventional chuck for drilling wood and metal etc., but they tend to wobble. They are also heavier and not particularly good ergonomically.

Unless you are wanting to drill straight through walls on a regular basis, or use SDS chisels, something like this will be perfectly fine.

https://www.toolstation.com/dewalt-dcd709d2t-gb-18...

[agent006]

sherman said:

agent006 said:

First recommendation is don't buy anything from B&Q, it's all utter st. Sadly Screwfix aren't far behind them now.

They are owned by the same company.

Exactly, but they've always kept Screwfix a respectful distance away from B&Q but it seems 'the trade' is also happy with any old ste these days so the own brands are flooding through the screwfix catalog now as well.

[UTH]

Ganglandboss said:

UTH said:

I don't do a huge amount of drilling, so not sure I need to spend £500 on a drill that is exclusively for drilling into brick walls, so is there something for a couple of hundred ££ that does it all very well? Having said that, my current crappy drill is fine for putting holes in wood etc, but trying to drill into brick walls is a mega pain in the arse, so maybe I do need something specialist?

It does not sound like you need an SDS. It sounds like you just need something better than a crap drill you paid £40 for 15 years ago.

Something that cheap would be particularly crap, and will struggle with a 5.5mm hole into brick for a red plug. A new 18V battery drill, such as a DeWalt, Bosch, or Makita etc. will be perfectly fine for drilling into brick for fixings.

An SDS drill will go into brick like butter, but they are not good all-round drills. You can get an adapter with a conventional chuck for drilling wood and metal etc., but they tend to wobble. They are also heavier and not particularly good ergonomically.

Unless you are wanting to drill straight through walls on a regular basis, or use SDS chisels, something like this will be perfectly fine.

https://www.toolstation.com/dewalt-dcd709d2t-gb-18...

Cool thank you, you've summed up my requirements pretty well there.

As above, do you think this would do the job, would seem sensible to stick with the same brand I already have batteries for: https://www.einhell.co.uk/p/4513960-tc-id-18-li-so...

[White-Noise]

Mr Pointy said:

There's a refurbished option which is just £60:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/refurb-titan-6-3kg-elec...

If you're just doing wall plugs DO NOT lean on the drill in SDS mode unless you want to come out the other side of the wall.

This is exactly what I have. My Polish builder uses them when it wears out he just gets another as they're priced well and should easily outlast a DIY rather than pro.

I was surprised to read your one was struggling with brick. That baby handles concrete. I had no idea just how much harder it is! You need the right bits though it took me some ruined bits to work out it was concrete above my window not metal, oops!