HELP - My Masonry drill Bit melted when drilling Brick!! How do i drill in brick?

Question

I bought a pack of Tapcon screws that came with a Masonry drill bit so i could use to drill holes in the side of my brick house. The problem is i noticed that on the first drill hole it soon melted the tip and ultimately made a very large unexpected hole opening mess. What happened? Was i suppose to be drenchiung the hole (and the drill bit) with water as i was drilling? Should i have gotten a masonry bit that was coated in titanium or something? I just cant drill holes in my brick.

I am using a HAMMER DRILL.. Sorry for not saying it before

Answer 1

I have drilled many holes in concrete and bricks. It is best to use a hammer dril but a reglar drill will work. Drill slow there is no need for water, I have never used coolent unless sawing which is not needed most of the time either. Get a Dril bit with with a carbide tip in it. You do not need a coated bit. Yes the bit will drill the hole a little larger than what you expected. It always happens. While driling the hole you will want to pull back out of the hole to allow the dust to come out or you will get a lot of heating. and a messy hole.

You can do it..

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
HELP - My Masonry drill Bit melted when drilling Brick!! How do i drill in brick?
I bought a pack of Tapcon screws that came with a Masonry drill bit so i could use to drill holes in the side of my brick house. The problem is i noticed that on the first drill hole it soon melted the tip and ultimately made a very large unexpected hole opening mess. What happened? Was i suppose...

Answer 3

Got the same problem, I needed new holes, new lead anchors, and new lag bolts to mount a flag stand on the front of the house. Needed a new masonry bit too once I got started...observed the point almost gone, Hardware store sold me a cheaply made Chinese bit for $5 that they got for $.65 maybe. That didn't even break the glaze on the brick. Went back got another cheaply made Chinese bit for $6 with a carbide tip. After 5 minutes of in and out slow drilling, I got a 1/4 inch deep hole using a variable speed 3/8" regular drill. Do I need a diamond tip drill bit, now? Or a hammer drill? Or both?

Answer 4

I would drill at a slower speed with a good masonry bit, or even a diamond tipped bit. Water will help a little - but patience wins out. Ask yourself, though, wouldn't it be better to drill into the mortar between the bricks? Once you break into the 'crust' of a brick, it starts to degrade and, as the inside is exposed to the elements, becomes brittle - cracking or disintegrating with time.

Answer 5

Cement Drill Bit

Answer 6

As a telephone installer, we were directed to never drill into the brick. We always drilled into the cement, inserted a metal anchor into the hole and used a screw. I would suggest that if I was mounting something very heavy that would create a severe load on the brick and mortar that I would try to locate a stud in the wall and drill my hole in the cement and put a lag bolt through the brick and into the stud. Brick walls are not made to carry any load other than their own weight. The bricks work well in compression but the cement is not as good in compression nor in shear, so it may cause problems, if the load away from the wall is too great.

Answer 7

Masonry Bit

Answer 8

To drill in brick and concrete you should be using a hammer drill, if you already are a better quality bit might help. I installed 3/4" plywood over a concrete floor using the tapcon screws they work very well.

Answer 9

Are you using a hammer-drill. If so..slow down the RPM, and use less pressure. Just a little more than what is required to engage the hammer action. You may also hit brick ties. These are made of steel and will destroy a bit, so have extra bits on hand.

Answer 10

Go to your hardware and buy a good masonry drill. They shouldn't melt.

Brick is relatively soft as masonry goes. You shouldn't have to worry about cooling the drill.