We are discussing on “how to drill into concrete” in this article. So, you are planning to drill a hole into concrete. And you are planning to do so with a regular drill? Not sure whether you can do it or not? Well, the answer is “Yes”. There is a general perception that you can not drill concrete with a regular drill. Many people say that you need a special drill to drill into concrete.
Yes, the specialized drill does that much faster. But that does not prove that you can not drill concrete with a regular drill. You just need a bit of patience and the right technique to drill concrete with a regular drill. In this article, we will tell you about the technique of drilling concrete with a regular drill.
What Is Concrete?
Concrete is a composite material. Concrete is made up of sand and crushed stone. This mixture is then mixed with cement with predefined proportions. Water is then mixed with this and these materials make a paste. This paste acts as an ingredient to bind the building.
There is an interesting fact about concrete. We know that every structure starts to decay over time. But concrete does not. Concrete gets 80% strength in 40 days. After that, it gets the rest of 20% strength over a very long period. That unique property made concrete such a great material for making structure or superstructure.
Difference between mortar concrete and brick
Concrete is the most used construction material. Concrete is extensively used in buildings, bridges, roads, and dams. There are a few other materials similar to concrete. Those are made in the same way but with some added materials.
Morter has the same primary bonding agent cement. But that is fully like concrete. Morter comes from a mixture of sand, hydrated lime, and cement. There are four types of mortars. They all come from the same ingredients but with a different ratio. Different ratios provide different types of mortar. Mortar mix used for construction and repair works. They are used in repairing brick, block, and stone.
Bricks are our oldest companion. We can see bricks in the building sliding. Brick is made of clay. First clay is formed into a brick. Then that bricks are backed into kin for a long time. Tremendous heat makes the clay block into a brick. People are using this technique for thousands of years.
What is The Best Drill To Drill Into Concrete?
Some drills are made to drill into very strong and solid things. The best is a hammer drill. Other drills also can go through concrete but a hammer drill is the best. Hammer drills are built for heavy materials. You can drill into a brick or concrete with a hammer drill. As it is called a hammer drill it not only drills into the concrete. Hammer drill hammers the drill bit into the concrete.
There are also masonry drill bits. They are much thicker in diameter. They are made of heavy-duty tungsten carbide. That lowers the risk of breakage and damage. The best drills that go through concrete has the following characteristics
- They do not only drill, they hammers.
- High speed
- They come with strong and good grips.
- Masonry drill bits.
So Can You Drill Into Concrete Without A Hammer Drill?
If you do not have a hammer drill then how to drill into concrete? You have an option. Use a regular drill. The regular drill is not efficient drill into concrete.
But when you combine regular drill with masonry drill bits then you can drill into concrete. You will need another thing, Patience. You will have to invest a lot of time to drill into concrete with regular bits. So, be patient.
Things You Should Consider Before Drilling Drill Into Concrete With A Regular Drill
- Bring several different size masonry drill bits– Regular drill bits are no good if you are planning to drill concrete. Regular drill bits are less powerful. So, to penetrate concrete bring some masonry bits.
- Stay focused. Do not worry about time – Do not plan to go through concrete with the power of your drilling machine. Regular drilling machines are not so powerful. So, if you are planning to go through concrete by force then your motor can burn. So, start slow and gradually increase the power. Remember patience is the key here.
- Before starting to know the age of the concrete – Many structures of earlier times were made of pouring concrete. This type of concrete is very thick. The concrete used today is not that thick. So, before you start try to know the type or age of the concrete. If the structure is old enough to build with pouring concrete then do not waste your time. You will need a hammer drill to go through this.
- Use some water through the process – Remember that the tool you are using here is not made to do this task. A regular drilling machine is not made for drilling into concrete. So use water when you are trying to drill the concrete. Use water on the drill bit to make it cool. You also should look after the machine. Because overusing can damage the motor.
How to drill into concrete with a regular drill bit?
As we said earlier you ensure you have masonry drill bits. Regular bits can not penetrate the concrete. Masonry drill bits are made to penetrate tough materials. These bits are made of strong steel. Their tip is coated with tungsten carbides. This provides a tough cutting edge.
Preparation to drill into concrete with a regular drill bit
Before you start you should gather the following things. After having all the stuff you are ready to go.
- Face-mask
- Safety glass
- Pencil
- Regular drill
- Masonry drill bits.
- Water
- Hard nail
Safety Measures
Do not start drilling without safety measures. Wear face mask and google safety. Drilling into the concrete will generate tiny pieces and flying powder. This tiny particle or powder can go through your eyes, nose, or mouth. If those particles go through your respiratory system then that will cause serious harm. So, without proper safety measures do not start drilling.
You should also bring water with you. Water will stop the bit from overheating.
Let’s Get Our Hands Dirty and Drill Into Concrete with A Regular Drill
We are discussing how to drill into concrete with regular drills. We have discussed the drill bit you will require. We have discussed the safety measures you should take. We gave you some tips on what you should do before you start. Now that you know these things. And we believe you have collected all the tools. Let’s start drilling the concrete.
Step 01: Mark the drilling area first
Remember we told you to bring a pencil. Use the pencil to mark the area where you want to drill.
Step 02: Start with a smallest masonry drill bit
We gave you one tip to bring several masonry bits. Do not start with a bigger one straightway. First use the smallest masonry drill bit. Insert the masonry bit into the drilling machine. Power on the machine and start drilling. Do not give extra pressure. Let the drilling machine do the job for you. Do not give extra effort. That will damage the bit. Extra pressure can damage your drilling tool also. So put minimum pressure.
Step 03: Start putting extra pressure now
As the drilling machine starts digging the hole you should put extra pressure to follow the hole. If you feel that the machine is starting to bog down or become slow then ease up the pressure. Do not give extra force. That can break the drilling bit. Worst case this can damage your drilling tool also. So, be careful when you put extra pressure.
Step 04: Start Drilling in and out
Constantly pull the drill bit in and out. Drill into concrete generates lots of dust. This dust will generate a friction force against you. So if the dust stays in your drilling machine will not work efficiently. So for efficient drilling, you must pull the drill bit in and out. You also should use water every minute. Drilling into the concrete will create a large amount of heat. This heat will damage your drill bit. Overheating, the drill bit breaks easily. So use water to cool down the drilling bit.
Step 05: Change the drill bit with a larger one
After you have drilled some area you should change the gear. Now you are ready to drill more. Change the drill bit. Put a larger masonry drilling bit in your drilling machine. Now start drilling again. Use water all the way. Repeat the process we told you to do in step 4.
Step 06: Continue the process unlit the desired hole appears.
Follow the process over and over. At first, you have drawn the area you want to drill. To achieve the desired result change the masonry bit as required. Repeat the process of step 4.
Step 07: Stop drilling when feeling hard
If you find any hard area during drilling then do not put extra pressure. Stop and use the hard nail instead of the drilling machine. Put the drilling bit out and put the hardened nail there. Hammer the hardened nail, give it a few hits. Hopefully, that will break the area. After you are sure that you broke that area use the drilling bit again to continue.
Important:
Patience is the key to drilling into concrete with a regular drilling bit. We know this is a time-consuming task. You may become a bit relentless and start giving extra pressure. But that will not help you. If you push harder, then you are not helping the process. What you are doing is helping the bit to break. If you have bad luck then you can damage the motor of your drilling machine.
So do not lose your patience. Focus on your job. Change the drill bit when you think the hole is complete. Insert a new bit and repeat the process we told you in step 4. If you hurry then all of your hard work can go in vain.
Best Way To Drill Into Concrete
So now we have learned how to drill into concrete with a regular drill. We also learned which drill bit should we use to achieve that. But are you planning to do it on a regular basis? Will you do it often? Then you should reconsider using a regular drilling machine. A regular drilling machine should never be your “go-to” tool to drill into concrete.
You should use the tool designed to do the task. A regular drilling machine is not designed to drill into concrete. You have used a masonry drilling bit in your regular drilling machine. But to get the best out of masonry drilling you should use a hammer drill. A hammer drill is the best tool to successfully use the masonry drilling bit.
The motor of the hammer drilling bit does not overheat. If you use a hammer drill then you won’t need several masonry drilling bits. Use any size bit you want. There is another advantage. You do not worry about breaking the drill bit.
So, a hammer drilling bit is your best option if you are planning to do this often.
Last words on how to drill concrete with a regular drill bit
So, if you followed the instructions described in the article, you may have achieved your goal. This is not an easy job to do. But at the same time, it is not an impossible task also. Maybe you need to drill a hole, but you do not have a hammer drill. Then you can use the technique we described.
When you can not get a hammer drill you can do it with a regular bit.
We have told you about the safety measure. Please follow that instruction carefully. Remember this is not a fun job. This is a serious thing and you are using a light device which is not so ideal. So you will have to be extra cautious to protect yourself and your device.
Drill into concrete with regular drilling might be difficult.But with patience and correct technique you can achieve it.
FAQs
Q: Can I drill into concrete with a regular drill?
A: Yes, you can drill into concrete with a regular drill. However, you will need to use a masonry drill bit and take some additional precautions to ensure that the drill bit doesn’t overheat or break.
Q: What type of drill bit should I use to drill into concrete?
A: You should use a masonry drill bit that is specifically designed for drilling into concrete, brick, or stone. These drill bits have a special carbide tip that is harder and more durable than regular drill bits.
Q: How do I select the right size drill bit for drilling into concrete?
A: The size of the drill bit you need will depend on the size of the hole you want to drill. Make sure to measure the diameter of the hole you want to drill and select a drill bit that is slightly larger than the diameter of the anchor or screw you plan to use.
Q: Do I need to use a special technique when drilling into concrete?
A: Yes, drilling into concrete requires a different technique than drilling into wood or metal. You should start the hole at a low speed and gradually increase the speed as you drill deeper. You should also apply a steady, even pressure to avoid overheating the drill bit.
Q: How do I keep the drill bit from overheating or breaking?
A: To prevent the drill bit from overheating or breaking, you should use a spray bottle or hose to keep the drill bit cool while you’re drilling. You should also avoid pushing too hard or drilling too fast, as this can cause the drill bit to overheat and break.
Q: Should I wear any safety gear when drilling into concrete?
A: Yes, you should wear eye protection and a dust mask to protect yourself from flying debris and concrete dust. You may also want to wear gloves to protect your hands from the heat generated by the drill.
Q: Can I use a regular drill for larger holes?
A: While a regular drill can be used to drill small holes in concrete, it may not be powerful enough to drill larger holes. If you need to drill larger holes, you may want to consider using a hammer drill or rotary hammer drill.
