Everything You Need to Know About Drilling into Brick

Drilling into brick requires drill bits that are tough enough to handle hard materials such as masonry. Unlike drill bits for wood, masonry drill bits are designed to be used in drills with a hammer action. This allows you to drill into the material to break it up, rather than drill holes through the material. Besides choosing the right bit, there are many other things you will need to know to start drilling into materials such as brick. In this guide, we share some advice on drilling into brick, to help you get the best results from your projects.

A Guide to Drilling into Brick

Here’s what you need to know about drilling into brick. 

What drill should you use?

You will need a drill that is made specifically for drilling into brick, concrete, stone and other types of masonry. These drills have a hammer function. Using a regular drill will not get the job done and will end up damaging the drill bits and your drill. Hammer mode works by rotating the bit, using short, fast hammer thrusts. This motion breaks into the brick as you drill, enabling the drill bit to get deeper into the material. 

You can use a hammer drill or a drill that has a hammer mode. These versatile drills will allow you to drill other materials for various projects, from wood to metal. 

Which drill bit is best?

Choosing the right drill bit for your project is every bit as important as choosing the right drill. Masonry bits are made for drilling through tough materials. Many have tungsten carbide tips that ensure that they stay sharp. Many have a flute shape that allows debris to be removed as you drill. You want bits that give you need holes, without the risk of cracking materials. You also want the bits to be able to drill more slowly. When drilling masonry, drill bits heat up very quickly. 

At Ruwag, you will find a variety of masonry drill bits to suit every type of project. Our collection includes Industrial Concrete Bits and Turbo Concrete Bits. We also offer Multi-Purpose Bits that can be used for brick and other tough materials. SDS bits are especially good for brick, as they are extremely durable.

Whichever type you choose, make sure that it has the right shank for your drill. If you are using SDS drill bits, you will need to use them in an SDS hammer drill, for example. Along with bits, Ruwag also offers SDS shanks that help adapt your drill to use the right bits.

Tips for Drilling into Masonry

Now that you know which drill and bits to use, here are some tips to keep in mind when drilling into masonry. 

• As a general rule of thumb, softer brick requires the slowest speed without the need for hammer action while harder brick requires a higher speed with hammer action in order to break through brick.
• Start at a slower speed and make a shallow hole to prevent the bit from wandering. You can also use a punch nail to make a starting point. Avoid forcing the action to prevent the bit from heating up too fast. You can also 
• As you work, move the bit back and forth carefully. This clears out debris, keeping your flutes clean as you drill.
• Once you reach the required depth, let the drill spin for a few seconds to remove any lingering dust.

As your trusted source for premium quality masonry drill bits, Ruwag has everything for drilling into brick.