The good news is that there is probably a simple remedy if your corded or cordless drill is refusing to drive into the wall. So why is it that a drill can’t bore a hole in a wall?
Numerous factors prevent your drill from penetrating the wall. Drilling in the wrong direction, using a dull bit, running out of power, drilling into steel studs or metal plates, or drilling into masonry could all be to blame. Soundproofing and concrete barriers are used less frequently but can still be an annoyance.
Here, I’ll walk you through the aforementioned problems one at a time so you can figure out why you can’t get a drill through your wall.
1. Faulty rotational axis
When in the forward position, drills rotate clockwise, and when in the reverse position, they rotate counterclockwise.
If you’re trying to drill into drywall, you should always make sure that the drill is rotating in the forward direction, as the bit won’t bite if the drill is rotating in the opposite direction.
2. A Drill Bit That Is Too Blunt
Drill bits quickly lose their sharpness when working in plaster. rapidly, and after only a few holes they often become dull. Drywall is a rather soft substance, so even if your drill bit is dull, it will likely still go through it very easily, but it will not go through the stud that is behind it. A drill bit that hasn’t been sharpened in a while can also have trouble penetrating wood.
Changing to a newer drill bit should solve the problem if you’ve been drilling into wood, brick, or metal and suddenly find that it won’t go through the wall. Plaster can be drilled with a dull bit, and the lath (wood) behind it can be drilled with a sharper one.
3. Idle batteries that are about to die
Cheap drills typically use inferior batteries that don’t last nearly as long as those sold separately. The drill’s battery may be dying if you’ve had it for a time (opens in a new tab). If you’re having trouble drilling, especially through solid stuff, it could be the battery.
The best course of action is to try drilling a small pilot hole after charging the battery. Try making a pilot hole with a corded drill if you have access to one if the drill still won’t work.
A pilot hole is a good test of a drill’s power, and if you can make one with that tool, you may assume that your cordless drill won’t be up to the task. If this is the case, it might be wise to replace the current drill. Keep the old one around as a backup though; you never know when you might need it!
However, there are a few more possibilities to consider if even a corded drill is unable to bore through the material.
4. Plates of metal
You don’t need me to tell you that drilling into a wall is a bad idea because pipes and electrical wires are often concealed behind the wall so they don’t detract from the aesthetics of the room.
Metal plates are commonly used to conceal pipes and wires from potential vandals. When drilling into a wall, if you strike what seems to be an impediment, it’s likely a metal plate covering a vital component, therefore you should stop immediately.
Once you’ve drilled through the drywall and discovered a metal plate, you can try drilling again around five inches (13cm) above or below the first hole. Most likely, you’ll locate a stud that can be drilled. But there are other possibilities if you continue to run into obstacles.
5. Stonemasonry Buildings
It’s possible, depending on the environment, to strike masonry materials like brick or cement. This typically occurs when attempting to drill into a chimney or exterior wall.
It is common to drill through drywall that is about 5/8′′ (16mm) thick when using horizontal furring strips to adhere drywall to masonry. When you finally do reach the brick or cement, you’ll find a space of around 3/4″ (19mm).
For this reason, if you are able to drill around 1.5 inches (38mm) through the wall before hitting a barrier, you have most certainly uncovered a masonry structure. Magnetized stud locator If this is the case, you may simply detect the furring strips and the nails holding them in place with the aid of Opens in a new tab.
After you locate a nail, continue drilling to its left and right to check for wood. You must be referring to the furring strip if this is the case. Depending on your motivations for drilling, you may need to alter your strategy if you discover a furring strip, which indicates masonry construction.
6. Hardened steel prongs
If you’ve eliminated every other possible explanation for why you’re encountering an obstruction and your house is relatively recent, then the studs are likely made of steel. You can tell if you’re striking steel studs by one of several methods.
You may ask the builder if the house was constructed with steel studs, or you could look at the construction paperwork if you still have it.
Making a hole in the drywall to examine what’s behind it is another option for verification. It’s not a good plan, though, because mending the hole is a tricky and time-consuming task.
Another option is to remove the outlet’s cover plate and peer through the space created by the box and the wall. If you look closely enough, you might not even notice the space between the walls, since builders strive to make it imperceptible.
Since none of these options are optimal, you should probably phone a professional and inquire as to whether or not steel studs are present in your home.
It’s far preferable to avoid drilling into pipes or wires that run electricity to the area, as doing so could result in costly repairs and even death from electrocution.
However, if your home’s construction is steel studs as opposed to wood studs, you’ll need metal drill bitsOpens in a new tab to complete your endeavour. tools that can be used to drill into metal and toggle bolts for hanging.
7. Impediments that are less common
The most common causes of problems when drilling into a wall have been discussed, but there are a few others.
Soundproofing occurs when materials are installed in walls to reduce ambient noise levels. It’s common for this to be seen in the wall between units in the same building.
If you were to crash your vehicle into a concrete firewall, the impact would be similar to that of crashing into a brick building. Typically, they are stationed in an area to prevent a fire from spreading unchecked.
Sometimes, nails are used to attach the lath to the stud in a wall that is made of plaster.
Do I think I made every point?
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