Drill bits for stone walls?

[PaulStat]

The external walls in our house are solid pennant stone, I tried a standard masonry drill bit but it didn't touch it, in fact the tip of the bit melted!

What do I need to show this stone who's boss?

 

[cjgardens]

Diamond tip?

 

[PhillyDee]

Buy a proper bit. Cheap bits are just that - cheap.

Find someone with an SDS Plus drill and the SDS bits. They are far more efficient and will eat brickwork and concrete like I eat cheese.

 

[Maccapacca]

It's sandstone so a decent SDS bit and SDS drill as above will be fine.

 

[#Chri5#]

HSS will hire you a SDS drill if you don't need it for long, though Screwfix have SDS drills starting at £50 for a generic brand

 

[mattyg]

Dewalt extreme sds bits have served me well for ages.

That and my 36v bosch sds and I can drill practically anything. Have to be careful on normal bricks as they can just split

 

[mattyg]

The external walls in our house are solid pennant stone, I tried a standard masonry drill bit but it didn't touch it, in fact the tip of the bit melted!

What do I need to show this stone who's boss?

I've done that once.. had it on reverse...oops

 

[Nightglow]

PaulStat: What size hole are you looking to put through the wall, & what's it's thickness.

I have a big Bosch sds drill, & am pretty close to you.

 

[WillyNelson]

I know this sounds like a stupid question, but are you using a drill with a hammer action?

Some of the old bricks in our house are like granite so I tend to start with a 3mm pilot hole and then enlarge it. It also helps prevent the bit from wandering.

 

[PhillyDee]

I know this sounds like a stupid question, but are you using a drill with a hammer action?

Some of the old bricks in our house are like granite so I tend to start with a 3mm pilot hole and then enlarge it. It also helps prevent the bit from wandering.

I use multipurpose drill bits from Bosch now (except for the toughest jobs), tungsten carbide tipped and sharpened as standard. I have (in the same day) used it to drill through stainless plate on my pillar drill, and also through tile and brick to put up a bathroom mirror. Still sharp and Ive had them for 3-4 years. Pricey, but **** hot.

Those ones you do not use hammer action on.

 

[Nightglow]

I use multipurpose drill bits from Bosch now (except for the toughest jobs), tungsten carbide tipped and sharpened as standard. I have (in the same day) used it to drill through stainless plate on my pillar drill, and also through tile and brick to put up a bathroom mirror. Still sharp and Ive had them for 3-4 years. Pricey, but **** hot.

Use those Bosch bits in my cordless drill, they go through most materials.
Last ones I got from Screwfix were £9:59p for a set of 4, & you apparently use them on impact mode, & I didn't know that.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-multipurpose-drill-bit-set-4pcs/95958

 

[Dave L]

SDS Plus all the way.

 

[Nightglow]

SDS Plus all the way.

Agreed, I have a big Bosch sds drill, brilliant drill,must be 20 years old, also a smaller Bosch 24 volt sds drill, but they are far too cumbersome for drilling the odd small hole.

Tend to use my Bosch 18v cordless & multipurpose bits for a lot of jobs now, they will easily drill a 10mm diameter hole in most materials.

 

[gillywibble]

SDS all the way, you can get one pretty cheap with multiple drill sizes.

 

[Nightglow]

The best thing I bought for my 24v Bosch was a set of sds wood chisels, brilliant for garden carpentry.