Accurate Holes in Masonry
Learn how to get better holes in masonry with a slotted drive shaft rotary hammer or hammer drill.
Nobody likes drilling into stone, brick, or block, but using a slotted drive shaft rotary hammer or hammer drill with a carbide bit can make short work of the task. Due to the tool’s hammering action, however, it can be difficult to get the holes to go exactly where you want them. A trick to aid in this is to start your holes using a regular drill with a glass-and-tile bit, which is readily available at home centers. Once you have your hole started exactly where you want it, switch to the rotary hammer to finish it.
— David Schmid; Indianapolis, Ind. Edited by Charles Miller.
From Fine Homebuilding #306
RELATED STORIES
- Hammer-Action Drills vs. Rotary Hammers
- Moldings on Masonry Walls
- Easy Boring in Concrete, Masonry and Stone
Got a Tip?
Do you have any great tips like this one on how to drill holes into brick or stone like a pro? Share your methods, tricks, and jigs with other readers. Tag them @FineHomebuilding on social, email them to us at tips@finehomebuilding.com, or upload them to FineHomebuilding.com/reader-tips. We’ll pay for any we publish.
View Comments
Perhaps if one simply turns off the Hammer option to start a hole, then switch over to Hammer+ Drill once the hole is accurately started.
Just a thought.