Drilling Tips and Tricks (and mistakes to avoid)

Описание: Drilling into a wall and using a rawlplug/anchor in order to accommodate a screw for hanging something, is not as difficult as it may seem.

The key, as always is to have the right technique and the right tools.

In order to drill into a wall, you will need: a hammer drill (corded or cordless), the correct masonry drill bit, the correct rawlplug/anchor and the correct screw.

The two most commonly-used masonry bits for drilling a hole in a wall are 6mm (1/4 inch) and 7mm (9/32). In order to get a good fixing in the wall you will need to make sure that your rawlplug/wall anchor fit the hole you have drilled exactly.

If the plug is too small for the hole, then the screw will not grip and if the plug is too small, then obviously it will not fit into the hole!

The whole point when getting a good fixing is to ensure that the hole you have drilled and the plug fit exactly.

This means that when you screw into the centre of the plug, the presence of the screw causes the plug to expand and thus grip on the interior of the hole you have drilled.

The following is a guide to the corresponding drill bits and plugs:

Brown plug = 7mm drill bit
Red plug = 6mm drill bit
Yellow plug = 5mm drill bit.

A 2" 10 gauge screw (or a 50mm 5 gauge metric equivalent) will be good for the 6mm and 7mm holes, whereas you will need a 1/3/4 inch 8 gauge (40mm 4 gauge metric equivalent) for a yellow plug.

Obviously, the larger the object to be hung, the bigger the screw, bit and plug.

Examples:

Hanging a heavy mirror, picture...
7mm drill bit, brown plug, 2.5 inch 10 gauge screw (60mm 5 gauge metric equivalent)

Hanging an average size picture, kitchen cabinets...
6mm bit, red plug, 2 inch 10 gauge screw (50mm 5 gauge metric equivalent)

Hanging small things - bathroom fittings for example...
5mm drill bit, yellow plug, 1.5 inch 8 gauge screw (40mm 4 gauge metric equivalent).

For more DIY advice, visit www.buildingsheriff.com