# Drilling one hole into a cement-brick wall... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 24, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847 "2013-03-24T20:48:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847/1 "2013-03-24T20:48:52Z")
I have a pretty cheap, basic all-purpose drill (Black and Decker), and I need to drill one single hole, one time, in a cement-brick wall to place a bolt to hold up my fence. (old bolt broke inside the hole, can’t be removed, fence keeps dragging and falling apart as a result- only fix is to hang it right) I have an extremely cheap but competent handy guy to do the work, but all I have is this all-purpose basic drill with basic bits that I know will not work on cement or masonry. Well, I don’t know that, but my handyguy tells me that’s the case. Do I have to get/rent/borrow a completely different, higher-powered special drill or can I probably lay my hands on a bad-ass bit to use in my basic cheapie drill? In other words, do I need a more powerful drill or a tougher bit or do I have to have both? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847/2 "2013-03-24T20:57:52Z")
You do need a masonry bit. Whether you need a bigger drill is questionable, but your typical home drill isn’t good for drilling in concrete. You could try it and see, and if it’s not good enough just rent a heavy duty drill for a few hours rather than buy one. ---
**Author:** ![Kiwi\_Fruit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiwi_fruit/32/12_2.png) [@Kiwi\_Fruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiwi_Fruit)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847/3 "2013-03-24T21:01:29Z")
Use a masonry bit and preferably a hammer drill. The masonry bit has a tungsten carbide cutting head which is needed to drill into your concrete wall. The hammer drill gives hundreds of taps on the drill as it turns, helping to microshatter\* the concrete into dust. - a word I made up cause I can’t think of the cromulent one at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847/4 "2013-03-24T21:05:32Z")
Check with Home Depot’s rental department. They probably rent hammer drills. **update** yes they do rent them > **[The Home Depot - Tool and Truck Rental](https://www.homedepot.com/c/tool_and_truck_rental)** > > Get the tool or truck needed for a project with a Home Depot tool rental or Home Depot truck rental. Whatever the job, we have the tool or truck you need. ---
**Author:** ![sidecar\_jon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@sidecar\_jon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidecar_jon)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847/5 "2013-03-24T21:11:03Z")
A normal bit will skid and get hot and go nowhere, a masonry bit is the least you might get away with. A hammer drill would make it easy, its not really about power but the concussion of the hammer action. A lot of very cheap drills have a hammer action and with a bit off force will drill fine,they just wont drill dozens of holes. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847/6 "2013-03-24T21:15:57Z")
That rental drill is really overkill for what the OP needs. But it will drill a 1/2 inch hole and thats fine for a concrete anchor bolt. I personally like the Red head wedge Anchors. Never had one fail yet. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847/7 "2013-03-24T21:24:12Z")
If it’s really a bolt in the wall and not a bolt anchor, you can try an Easy-Out. Drill a small hole into it, insert the Easy-Out, and slowly back it out. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847/8 "2013-03-24T21:33:51Z")
Just make sure you adequately lubricate the drill bit when drilling. Even a masonry bit can be abused if you don’t drill correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847/9 "2013-03-24T22:40:50Z")
If it’s a [CMU](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.genestconcrete.com/resource/d/35181/CMU.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.genestconcrete.com/masons/genest_concrete_masonry_units/&h=278&w=490&sz=15&tbnid=GjX4LJER2F2qVM:&tbnh=66&tbnw=117&zoom=1&usg=__ZexqkqPEsGlY2RU0BapGS4eOnOI=&docid=Imw-Oa_Pe9nJQM&sa=X&ei=mYBPUYqlPIOoiQL1tICIDA&ved=0CEMQ9QEwAg&dur=2411) wall, your drill and a $3.00 masonry bit from the hardware store will work just fine. Just let the bit do the work and use light pressure. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847/10 "2013-03-24T22:46:40Z")
You can always go old school with a star drill and hammer. (always wanted to use the old school term :-)) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847/11 "2013-03-24T23:37:57Z")
You can do it with a regular drill and a masonry bit, but it will be very slow going and whoever is doing the work isn’t going to enjoy it very much. A hammer drill will make things dramatically faster and easier. Your handy friend could be out there for half an hour or more with a regular drill or less than a minute with a hammer drill. I don’t know what they charge to rent that big monster, but a cheap little $70 hammer drill from Lowes or Home Depot will easily do the trick. Check around with your friends. They aren’t exactly uncommon. Someone you know may have one that you can borrow for the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847/12 "2013-03-25T05:33:38Z")
You have posted questions like this for over ten years. “I have this little problem, and I know the answer, but I will post this and act like I don’t know so I can gain attention from the board”. Why do you do this? ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847/13 "2013-03-25T06:35:57Z")
What is the diameter of the hole? Over 3/8" and your B&D is going to work, but will die shortly after. If you rent from HD - don’t. I rented a hammer drill, got it home, it wouldn’t work except intermittently. There was a razor-thin cut in the power cord - for which I was blamed. By the manager. Find a real tool rental company - they will probably also have better quality anchors as well. Easy-outs are for fasteners threaded into metal - or other real threads - your old bolt is not screwed into the wall. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847/14 "2013-03-25T06:40:32Z")
Your drill will more than likely work for the job. The bits most assuredly will not. But for one hole you could use a cheap one, maybe $5. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847/15 "2013-03-25T06:44:47Z")
> [@Klaatu](#): > > You have posted questions like this for over ten years. “I have this little problem, and I know the answer, but I will post this and act like I don’t know so I can gain attention from the board”. > > Why do you do this? Pardon me? Why would I know the answer to this? Why would you think I know the answer? And if you really believe this is my idea of “attention”, you are clearly confusing me with someone else, although I can’t fathom who, since I don’t think there are many people whose bar for attention is quite so low as that. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847/16 "2013-03-25T11:54:57Z")
Stoid, you don’t need a hammer drill for a cement block wall. A masonry bit and any drill will do it. I recently had about 20 bolts to mount on my fence with 1/2" anchors and my 3/8 black and decker worked fine. Block walls drill much easier than poured concrete. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847/17 "2013-03-25T13:17:31Z")
when you use a masonry bit you want to withdraw the bit frequently to let the dust clear out. with a regular drill you want to use light pressure forward and let the bit cut. with a hammer drill you can press forward with force. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847/18 "2013-03-25T15:29:32Z")
A hammer drill will do this in a few seconds. If you are patient you can do it with a star drill and a small hammer. If it is your first time, it may take you a half hour. Tap,turn,tap,turn lather rinse repeat until the hole is deep enough. Note that strong blows are not required and will cause the drill to dull sooner. the shape of the star drill concentrates the force on a very small area. Each turn should be about half the leg spacing. So if the drill has a four point tip, then turn it about 45 degrees between taps. Also grip it loosely or your hand will end up tingling. [Star drills](https://www.google.com/search?q=star%20drill%20bit&aq=f&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=5WxQUZvBH-PA0AHE-IDQAQ&biw=1599&bih=809&sei=62xQUZTpIe_M0gHVzoGICQ#um=1&hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=star+drill+&oq=star+drill+&gs_l=img.12..0j0i24l9.3007.3367.0.9698.3.3.0.0.0.0.1636.3211.5-1j1j0j1.3.0...0.0...1c.1.7.img.avfyuuUtuyc&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.44158598,d.dmQ&fp=b79aa2de470b6414&biw=1599&bih=809) ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847/19 "2013-03-25T15:38:20Z")
Missed edit window: Don’t use a carpenter’s (“claw”) hammer with a star drill or any other steel tool. Carpenter’s hammers have a hardened face and are made to strike dead soft nails and wood. Striking steel tools with a carpenters hammer can result in the face chipping which can cause injury. Use a ball-peen, cross-peen, or small sledge. These have a softer, beveled face intended to resist chipping. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847/20 "2013-03-25T15:50:09Z")
A two pound drilling hammer would be good. Also handy for anything else that needs a little encouragement. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-one-hole-into-a-cement-brick-wall/653847.md?page=2)