Replies

1. 
   davidmeiland | Mar 20, 2011 03:06pm | #1

   Dude!

   Definitely, a diamond hole saw with a water-feed power head. I could show up and drill that hole in a suit and tie and not get a speck of dust on my $900 shoes, much less strain myself by picking up a 5-lb. hammer. 

1. 
   DanH | Mar 20, 2011 03:16pm | #2

   Yes, and the fee you'd charge for that one hole would pay for the shoes.

1. 
   davidmeiland | Mar 21, 2011 11:51am | #13

   Not so

   You would have to loan me the suit, tie, and shoes.

   Seriously, I do have a Makita variable speed wet polisher/grinder and a handful of holes saws for it. If I needed a 4" hole in brick I would likely get the correct hole saw and use that tool. Of course I also have hammer drills and could do it that way, but how big is the trim plate for the fitting?

2. 
   oops | Mar 20, 2011 05:18pm | #3

   exhaust fan thru brick wall

   Remove 4 more bricks ( total 5), install vent, cut and motar brick back. Now wasn't that easy.  :>)

3. 
   calvin | Mar 20, 2011 05:20pm | #4

   There might be one.......

   that you could buy or modify a rectangular boot to the 4 inch round............

   but not worth the effort.  As Dan suggests, drill a circle of holes (not all full depth at one time-drill an inch deep in each once to keep them from wandering and meeting each other.  Drill at a slight cant also - to the outside so your hole will be bigger at the back (slightly) than the outdoor side.  This will help to keep your holes from running into each other and binding the drill.  A rotary hammer is best, but a hammer drill will work.

   Have your boot ready and there so you know "what too big is".

1. 
   Scott | Mar 20, 2011 10:39pm | #10

   To the OP... in case you're wondering about the wisdom of Dan and Cal's suggestions... remember: it's all about the trim ring that will surround the hole. The ugliness of the multi-holes-getting-punched-out will never be seen.

1. 
   DanH | Mar 21, 2011 07:10am | #11

   In fact, you can probably get away with just knocking out a couple of bricks in some cases, if the outside trim will cover the hole.  Just be sure to somehow foam/stuff with fiberglass/whatever the space around the duct.

4. 
   carver | Mar 20, 2011 05:53pm | #5

   WTF? Diamond Drill

   I have tried drilling through the brick with new mortar bits - can't touch it. I do not have a hammer drill so that may be the problem. I just thought I could maybe remove two adjacent bricks and put in a ready made grate.

1. 
   calvin | Mar 20, 2011 06:08pm | #6

   If you don't want to do it the ways suggested.

   Remove one and a half to two brick or more so you can fit the round boot through the wall.  Cut and re-morter the brick to fill the too big hole.  Drilling out the morter will be easier and might be done with the tools you have.

   Cut the brick by using an abrasive cutoff blade made for it in your circurlar saw (dusty)

   or use a brick chisel and score and break.

2. 
   DanH | Mar 20, 2011 07:33pm | #7

   You can buy a halfway decent corded hammer drill for $30 or less, so it's kinda silly to struggle along without one in a situation like this.

   (When I was a kid I remember watching my dad do this exact job with a star drill.  Didn't even have a maul -- he just used a claw hammer.)

3. 
   calvin | Mar 20, 2011 08:32pm | #8

   I don't know of any made up rect. to round for a 4" to ? rect.

   But if you can find one, you'll have to make up the changeover in short distance if this is a wall fan.  If a ceiling, you should have some room to do the change.

5. 
   DanH | Mar 20, 2011 09:14pm | #9

   Prior discussion: http://forums.finehomebuilding.com/breaktime/general-discussion/cutting-holes-brick-veneers

6. 
   Norman | Mar 21, 2011 10:59am | #12

   Rent the tool?

   Is renting the proper drill and bit an option? Simple, quick and easy.

   Good luck.

7. 
   Tim | Mar 22, 2011 02:21pm | #14

   Like View Image

1. 
   calvin | Mar 22, 2011 07:45pm | #15

   Tim

   You might see it, but I (we) can't.   There's a box with some colors in it-but no picture.

   You need to save the example (if copied from another site) and then load the normal picture posting method.  It'll come up as a thumbnail.

   thanks.

1. 
   DanH | Mar 22, 2011 08:19pm | #16

   I thought he was just doing a facebook thing.

   If one wants to reference a picture the simplest approach is to just include the URL and let people click on it.  You can generally send readers straight to the picture by doing right-mouse on the image, selecting "Copy image location", and then pasting that into your message.  Like this:  http://aranet.vo.llnwd.net/o28/resources/100x75/2685_30b1a415-1dfa-484e-9357-807d4fc9c0f0.jpg

1. 
   calvin | Mar 22, 2011 08:51pm | #17

   I understand your link.........

   but what's this facebook thing you speak of?

   "Like" with a box next to it?

8. 
   barmil | Mar 24, 2011 12:28am | #18

   Cutting The Hole

   The Army just came up with a 50 caliber sniper round that can cut such a hole in masonry. Any forts in your area?