The icon is a little different to what I’ve seen on others and I don’t know how to tell otherwise. I have a job that involves drilling through a breeze block wall about 20cm and I don’t want the expense of buying an SDS if I can help it.
This drill was given to me a long time ago, hence not knowing what I have here.
Thanks!
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I think that is a hammer drill setting. Looks like a cordless dewalt. It will get into breeze blocks easily but 20 cm deep may be a challenge. You need SDS pneumatic for proper concrete. Not for breeze blocks or bricks. Depends on diameter too. If you need a hole for a dryer vent, you need a drill with decent power. Wall plug in breeze blocks, any drill will do
I need a 20mm hole to feed a CCTV cable through that has an RJ45 connector so it’s a lot fatter than just a cable. I’d try work up in hole size until I get the right size. But maybe a cheap SDS is the right way to go.
Working up in size doesn’t work all that well in my experience for masonry bits. They don’t cut material, they pulverize it. Trying to run a larger bit through an existing hole is prone to jamming.
Can you get more connectors and a crimper and put on a new connector after running the cable through a smaller hole? That’s better for sealing anyway.
Thanks. It’s a weird cable with 3 ends: RJ45, power barrel connector and reset switch. The RJ45 is the biggest, but the others aren’t too much smaller. I thought about having a junction box on the outside, but I’d like to keep it clean and tidy without.
For your project you need an actual hammer drill. This might work to plow an anchor into some mortar between bricks but I would get the right tool.
Rent it or check to see if you have a local tool library.
But buy a new bit. Fresh bit makes a huge difference.
Thank you
It is but for that depth you’d be better off using a rotary hammer drill. Maybe you could just rent one?
Edit: You could give it a try. Just make sure to use a masonry bit.
I’ve attempted a similar job with one of those. Do yourself a favor and get the better tool.
Yeah, I have a hand held drill with hammer - takes fucking ages and way too easy to damage the drill bit.
A proper pneumatic corded drill is definitely something I would have got in a heartbeat if I could afford it.
Thankfully my dad is a tool nut, so got me one anyway.
You’ve probably got your answer already, and some of this is already covered, but just in case, have some extra (too many) words:
Yes, that is the hammer function on a combi drill.
The functions on the clicky twisty bit are Hammer Drill (masonry), Drill (wood, metal, plastic), then your screwdriver settings, numbered 1-17 or whatever, which are basically to limit the torque at a certain amount. At 1 you can only drive a screw into warm butter, at the highest number, you can sink a screw far too deep into some timber - some middle number will stop it flush with the surface, for example. You can screwdrive on Drill mode if you don’t care for the torque limit.
That drill will maybe do the job, though it’s very dependent on the hole diameter. You mention 20mm (2cm) elsewhere.
Without looking at the full spec, assuming it’s cordless, that drill’s likely good for a 10mm hole in masonry. A bog standard £25 corded hammer drill from Argos will probably do you a 13mm hole (but you’ll need a socket and extension). An SDS drill (corded or cordless) will likely do 25-30mm.
An SDS drill bit should do your 20cm deep hole with little issue. A normal masonry bit will possibly wear out a couple of times, depending on the concrete type/density.
I’d have a poke at it with a size 5/6/7 masonry bit that you don’t mind replacing, and see how easy the material is to go through - some aerated concrete blocks could be drilled through with a sharp pencil :) Give it a 5 second burst, and if you’re all the way in, you’re probably fine. If you’ve barely scratched the surface, you’ll want an SDS drill.
Very helpful, thank you!
I don’t think it will do the trick. There’s usually a hammer symbol if it does.
Is that not what the top symbol is? I’ve seen it looking differently on others
Yes it is - bit of a tool nerd here but I think that is a JCB Combi Drill. That is JCBs slightly unusual “hammer mode”, and should be no problem to drill 20cm into breeze block with a decent bit. There are a vast array of what people call “breeze blocks” from 3.6n Aircrete (one step up from that green stuff florists use) to full concrete blocks with drill blunting pieces of ballast. This drill with a decent drill bit will do all of the above, but it might take a while and need a better drill bit for the harder options.
It must be the symbol for the hammer function, not much else it can be.
If you find the brand name you should be able to find the model and manual.
Also depending on diameter of the hole SDS drills are better, but if it’s only one hole just try and see.
If it starts getting to hot or struggling you know you need a bigger drill 😂
Probably a bolt, not a hammer. Every drill hammer I’ve used has the hammer symbol, the drill symbol and then a combination of both. This lacks the combination, so it’s probably not what OP is looking for.
Fair point, it could be an impact driver.
