ᐅ Which drill bit should I use for drilling into the ceiling to hang a light fixture?
Created on: 9 Sep 2024 14:01
H
Hafenguy
Hello forum community,
I hope this is the right place; if not, please feel free to move it.
Today, we tried drilling holes on the ground floor to hang some lamps, but we got stuck.
After drilling a short distance, we couldn’t go any further.
We tried several spots in the hallway, and only at one point were we able to drill through.
We suspect there is a steel beam, and the spot where we succeeded was where we didn’t hit the beam.
Attached is a photo of our drill bits. Our assumptions:
- The silver bit is for masonry and concrete
- The bits below are for wood
- Are the top bits suitable for metal, or do we need different ones for that?
Unfortunately, the instructions we found online aren’t very clear.
As a result, we already used the wood drill bit on the ceiling, which wasn’t good for it.
Is it even possible or recommended to drill through a steel beam, or should we try to find a spot where the masonry bit works well?
I hope this is the right place; if not, please feel free to move it.
Today, we tried drilling holes on the ground floor to hang some lamps, but we got stuck.
After drilling a short distance, we couldn’t go any further.
We tried several spots in the hallway, and only at one point were we able to drill through.
We suspect there is a steel beam, and the spot where we succeeded was where we didn’t hit the beam.
Attached is a photo of our drill bits. Our assumptions:
- The silver bit is for masonry and concrete
- The bits below are for wood
- Are the top bits suitable for metal, or do we need different ones for that?
Unfortunately, the instructions we found online aren’t very clear.
As a result, we already used the wood drill bit on the ceiling, which wasn’t good for it.
Is it even possible or recommended to drill through a steel beam, or should we try to find a spot where the masonry bit works well?
B
Buchsbaum0669 Sep 2024 16:10First, get yourself a decent drill bit. The drill bit set you used was probably cheap, but it’s trash.
Ideally, use a four-flute concrete drill bit from Hilti or another high-quality manufacturer. It might cost around 10-12 euros (about 11-13 USD), but it will last three times as long. Anything else is simply frustrating and won’t get you anywhere.
They all have SDS shanks, but if necessary, you can also fit them into a regular chuck of a hammer drill. Without a proper drill bit, even the best drill won’t help you.
You only need a 6mm (1/4 inch) bit, maybe 8mm (5/16 inch), for fixing a lamp.
Ideally, use a four-flute concrete drill bit from Hilti or another high-quality manufacturer. It might cost around 10-12 euros (about 11-13 USD), but it will last three times as long. Anything else is simply frustrating and won’t get you anywhere.
They all have SDS shanks, but if necessary, you can also fit them into a regular chuck of a hammer drill. Without a proper drill bit, even the best drill won’t help you.
You only need a 6mm (1/4 inch) bit, maybe 8mm (5/16 inch), for fixing a lamp.
B
Buchsbaum0669 Sep 2024 20:32When drilling, please use a reduced rotational speed. If you drill too fast, the drill bit will overheat and become damaged beyond use. So always drill slowly and carefully.
R
RotorMotor9 Sep 2024 20:48The drill bits are perfectly fine.
As several people have already mentioned, when drilling into concrete, the impact function is what matters.
A cordless screwdriver or something similar that only vibrates slightly is not sufficient.
What kind of machine did you use for drilling?
Oh, and of course, when drilling into reinforced concrete, you might encounter steel.
In that case, you need to carefully consider whether you really want to drill through it.
As several people have already mentioned, when drilling into concrete, the impact function is what matters.
A cordless screwdriver or something similar that only vibrates slightly is not sufficient.
What kind of machine did you use for drilling?
Oh, and of course, when drilling into reinforced concrete, you might encounter steel.
In that case, you need to carefully consider whether you really want to drill through it.