Your drill is one of your most essential tools and many of them are hugely diverse and can be used for a range of projects. However, you have to be mindful of the material you are working with since some drills just aren’t cut out for more heavy duty work.
Drilling into brick can be fraught with difficulties if you don’t take the right approach. That said, by using the right type of drill, the correct drill bit and the right techniques, you’ll be well on your way and drilling brick won’t be as difficult as you may have thought.
The best type of drill for brick is a hammer drill. However, it is also possible to use a regular drill as long as you use a carbide tipped masonry drill bit.
Do keep in mind that using a regular drill won’t be as easy. This is because, unlike a hammer drill which hammers through the brick, you will have to rely on the speed at which the drill turns. While many drills are very powerful, they’re often not powerful enough to get through brick without some serious effort.
If you’re totally new to drilling through brick then rest assured that this guide will have you covered. We will explain everything you need to know to make your project a success. We’ve also got a curated list of the best drills for brick so you don’t have to spend hours trawling the internet for a good tool
What Is A Hammer Drill?
Hammer drills work in a slightly different way to a regular drill. As their name may suggest, they use a hammering action to bore a hole and are great for tougher or more dense materials like brick and concrete.
They work by breaking the aggregate but there are still more choices to consider. You see, there are different types of hammer drill and which you choose will depend on the type of project you are working on.
When you are looking to create slightly smaller holes, that are perhaps less than ½ inch, you’ll want to choose a standard hammer drill. On the other hand, you will need to choose a rotary hammer drill when you’re making holes that are any larger than half an inch. By choosing the right drill and familiarising yourself with the correct techniques for using it, you’ll find drilling through brick is an easy task. What’s more, your holes will be smooth and accurate.
In addition to choosing the right hammer drill, you must also make sure that you’re using the correct drill bit. As we have mentioned, a masonry drill bit is crucial if you want to even begin making an indentation, never mind a fully blown hole. Carbide tipped bits are generally much more robust and will make the job easier.
These drill bits have heads that are shaped like an arrow so make it easier to drill through dense materials. This arrow is also larger than the other parts of the drill bit which also aids in working with this rugged material.
Best Drills For Drilling Into Brick
Now that we know the best drill type for brick, it’s time to choose a tool to get things done. Of course, when you look on the market, you will find a plethora of options and this can make you feel a little overwhelmed.
It’s important to choose a drill according to several factors. Before we introduce you to our favourite drills for brick, we’d like to offer some helpful buying advice. Here come our top tips for choosing a hammer drill.
Choosing A Hammer Drill
Type Of Power
One of the most important things to consider when buying a hammer drill for brick is how it is powered. You will generally have two options; corded or cordless.
The former is a great choice if you’re looking for a more powerful drill as those powered by mains electricity are markedly more powerful. However, you do have to consider that you will be limited as to where you can use it and you’ll need somewhere with access to a power socket. Yes, you could use an extension cable but these can be dangerous.
A cordless hammer drill is great for smaller projects where you don’t need as much power. Don’t think that they’re not powerful enough for the job, they just aren’t quite as powerful as their corded cousins. But the real benefit is that you aren’t tied to the power socket so you’re free to move around. Do bear in mind that you will need to recharge the batteries so unless you have two sets, this could halt your work for a short period of time.
Variable Speed
Almost all modern drills come with a variable speed option but this isn’t the case 100% of the time. Variable speed means that you can adjust the rpm of the drill making it more versatile. While you might be looking for a drill to get through brick, having variable speed will mean that you can easily use the tool for other applications as well.
User Comfort
Drilling into brick is hard work so you’ll want to make sure that you choose a tool that’s safe and comfortable to use. One of the most important features to look out for where this is considered is a side handle. Your drill will have a handle at the back but with an additional one to the side, you can hold it with both hands, meaning better grip and safer operation.
You’ll want the handles to be soft and comfortable to hold, perhaps with a textured pattern which will allow you a better grip.
Moreover, it’s important to look at the trigger. Those that require two finger operation are often far more comfortable and easy to use than those that only require one finger.
Finally, where comfort is concerned, you will want to check how much the drill vibrates. Using tools with high vibration for long periods of time can affect your health. It can cause problems with blood pressure and result in nerve and joint damage. That’s why it is imperative to choose a tool that has an anti vibration function.
Dual Function
If you are buying a drill purely for boring holes into brick then a simple hammer drill will do the trick. However, if you want your tool to be a little more versatile, there are other options. Many drills have a hammer function which can be turned on and off as you need it. For the rest of the time, they work as a regular drill so they’re great if you need an all round tool.
Motor
Most modern drills come with a brushless motor. One of the biggest benefits of this type of motor is how smoothly and quietly they run. What’s more, they’re a lot more energy efficient and there is far less chance of them overheating.
A brushless motor will also have a much longer lifespan. So, if you’re looking for a long lasting drill, this is an important feature to look out for. They also have other benefits such as kickback control and soft start.
LED Light
Not all workspaces will have a good amount of natural light. But if you’re making holes in brick then you’ll need to be able to see what you’re doing. For this reason, we would suggest choosing a hammer drill that has a built in LED light. This allows you greater visibility making the job easier and much safer.
Ryobi P214 One +
Ryobi is one of the most well known and high quality tool brands there is. So, we feel confident in this drill just from the brand. But you can’t base everything on a name so what else does this hammer drill have going for it?
Well, for starters this is an incredibly powerful drill turning at 1600rpm. What’s more, it features variable speed so it’s ideal if you want to use it for several different applications. You can change the way you use the drill from drilling to driving in one touch thanks to the clutch override feature. This just makes it that much more user friendly.
We also love that the Ryobi P214 One + is a cordless drill. You aren’t going to be limited to where you can use it which frees you up. However, you should bear in mind that the rechargeable battery doesn’t come with the drill so you will need to buy this separately.
Otherwise, you get everything you need including a screwdriver bit and a drill that is incredibly well made. Users continually report how durable and robust this drill is as well as how powerful it is. So, once you have your carbide tipped masonry bit, you’ve got a tool that really will do all the hard work for you.
Dewalt 20v Max XR
Another cordless drill, this time from Dewalt which is powerful, strong and reliable. But what impressed us the most about this one was how versatile it is. Yes, it is primarily advertised as a bare tool which means it doesn’t come with the battery; but there are other options. Most notably, you can buy the drill along with a 40 piece drill bit set.
The set doesn’t actually come with a masonry bit but it does come with more than enough to make it worth the investment. Especially if you are going to be using the drill for more than just drilling into brick.
With variable speed up to 2000rpm, the Dewalt drill is certainly a powerful piece of equipment. More so than the Ryobi so if you need something with some real get up and go, we’d recommend this one. What’s more, it has been upgraded so you get a longer running time, great if you’ve got a big project to work on.
Once your drill bit is in place, there’s no worry of it coming loose thanks to the reinforced metal chuck and carbide inserts. This really is a tool for more heavy duty work and with a built in LED light, you can even work into the night without a problem.
Towallmark Rotary Hammer Drill
If you need something mighty and reliable then there isn’t much else that’s as good as the Towalmark rotary hammer drill. Not only is this a super powerful bit of kit but it is designed to be used with brick, concrete and other dense materials. What’s more, there’s even a masonry bit included, among others.
There are several settings on this drill and it’s amazingly diverse. While it can be used for boring holes, it’s also designed for demolition so it’s great if you’re looking for something to use in a professional capacity. However, you have to be careful when using this type of tool for long periods of time as the vibrations could cause health problems. But that won’t be an issue with the Towallmark thanks to the built in anti-vibration function.
The drill is also super easy to use and boasts a quick change chuck so there’s no fiddling about with drill bits in between jobs. This is a corded drill with a power cable measuring two metres. This is somewhat limiting but for the power and efficiency of this drill, it’s a small price to pay in our opinion.
Do You Need A Special Drill Bit For Brick?
Yes. When it comes to drilling through brick, you will need to use a masonry drill bit. These are designed in such a way that it makes it easier to drill holes in this dense material. If you use anything else, you will probably damage the drill bit and not succeed in making a hole.
The tungsten carbide tip is designed to help penetrate brick and other types of masonry. Inside, the drill bit is constructed of steel which makes it much more robust and able to stand up to the challenge of working with tougher materials.
Can You Use A Cordless Drill To Drill Into Brick?
Cordless drills are becoming more and more popular. After all, they don’t tether you to a power socket with a cable so are great when you’re moving about. They have many of the same features as a corded drill but with far more convenience.
The only problem with a cordless drill is that the rechargeable battery simply isn’t able to cook up as much power as a drill that’s connected to the mains. They’re ideal for everyday use but a lot of people worry that they’re not suitable for more heavy duty tasks, like drilling into brick.
But there is a glimmer of hope. A lot of modern cordless drills will be up to the challenge, you just have to choose the right one.
As before, you will need to make sure that you choose a hammer drill. There are some that aren’t 100% hammer drills but do have a hammer option so these are suitable as well. Furthermore, it’s even more important to choose the right drill bit; that carbide tipped masonry bit will soon become your best friend!
What Colour Are Drill Bits For Brick?
When you are shopping for drill bits to drill through brick, you need to look for masonry drill bits. Carbide tipped are the best option but these are just a silvery grey colour like most of your other drill bits. You won’t find that they have a special colour to help you tell them apart. So instead, you will need to look at the packaging to determine exactly what you are purchasing.
Conclusion
Drilling into brick is something that a lot of people recoil in horror at. This is a very dense material that is notoriously difficult to bore into. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, it’s a lot easier to drill through brick than you might have imagined, provided you use the right equipment and take the correct approach.
You will need to make sure that you choose a hammer drill, or at the very least, a regular drill with hammering action. What’s more, it is imperative to choose a carbide tipped masonry bit which will allow you to get through brick and other materials like concrete far easier.
If you’re new to choosing a drill for brick then our top picks will point you in the right direction and help you make the most informed choice.