Drill Advice

Emma2019 · 16-10-2022 9:56am #1

Hi all,

I've owned my house for a year and I think I should finally get around to hanging curtain rails etc.

I'm looking for a drill that I will be able to drill into my concrete downstairs walls and hang some things on my garden walls which are also concrete.

I think this means I need a hammer drill? I'm vaguely aware that Bosch is a good brand. Is this what I'm looking for? It seems a bit cheaper than I was expecting but I'm a total novice.

Could I also use this drill to drill into MDF furniture (I want to add legs to an IKEA Kallax)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-EasyImpact-550-Hammer-Drill/dp/B071L9QVSR/ref=asc_df_B071L9QVSR/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=226152056294&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11443886460371374035&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007850&hvtargid=pla-578915428712&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

The Continental Op · 16-10-2022 10:07am

Thats an impact drill which may if you are lucky drill into concrete wall. It will probably do concrete blocks, just about, but will probably make a hole bigger than needed because of how long it takes and all the jumping around. I won't do much on poured concrete. However as a single choice its probably OK.

Ideally you need a second SDS drill for concrete, sticking with Bosh they do this DIY one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-2100-Rotary-Hammer-Drill/dp/B006P06Z9Y/ which would do the job. Lidl do what might be the same drill for around €50 every so often - the lidl one is good. The problem is the SDS drill is no good for drill wood, metal etc so you need two drill plus you need SDS drills as well.

tbh just for DIY work its hard not to recommend what you find in the middle at Lidl for the price. Their battery tools seem to be excellent.

RainInSummer · 16-10-2022 10:15am

SDS rather than hammer drill. Although the one you linked seems like it'll do concrete too.

Personally I'd go for something from Aldi or Lidl if an SDS drill pops up there. They can be on the heavy side though depending on the model.

Emma2019 · 16-10-2022 10:33am

Ok cool, so I go with an SDS drill, probably from Lidl.

And then any recommendations on what drill to get for stuff like wood and MDF?

The Continental Op · 16-10-2022 10:44am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119751010#Comment_119751010

Just keep an eye out in Lidl. They have had some recently. Worth going for a battery drill as its more convenient to use.

Eoinbmw · 16-10-2022 10:46am

This will do the job at home!

https://www.lidl.ie/p/parkside-d-i-y/20v-cordless-hammer-drill/p29013

Batteries and charger sold seperate!

Emma2019 · 16-10-2022 3:32pm

Thanks everyone! Much appreciated!

Bluefoam · 17-10-2022 9:26pm

*deleted

NewClareman · 17-10-2022 9:41pm

I think LIDL battery tools are perfect for what you want. I would start out with a general purpose hammer drill and a set of mask art and general purpose bits, also from LIDL. They have a sale next Saturday and Jve found that 12v drill perfect for light use.

https://www.lidl.ie/c/weekend-sale/c778/w2

If it turns out after that you also need an SDS drill LIDL had these a few weeks ago and you might still be able to find one in some stores. I'd go for a 20v version of those with the largest battery they have. I'm on my second one, but the first one got very heavy use, including drilling large diameter holes through cavity walls.

blade1 · 31-10-2022 3:05pm

This will probably be scoffed at here but I bought one of these in Argos about 6 years ago for €70.

Stinks of cheap Chinese plastic but goes through walls in seconds.

Comes with 3 drill bits and 2 chisels which can be used as a mini kango.

I knocked an old wall in the front garden with it.

Screenshot_2022-10-31-14-59-12-43_40deb401b9ffe8e1df2f1cc5ba480b12.jpg

The Continental Op · 31-10-2022 3:23pm

No scoffing by me. Perfectly sensible drill to get and quite powerful. I wore out a very similar chinese one (the chuck eventually got really loose and very sloppy) but it did a huge amount of work and including a lot of demolition where I used it to drill at least 500 10mm holes through 150mm solid blocks.

01-11-2022 11:11am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119815818#Comment_119815818

I bought the same drill 3 and a half years ago. I bought it because an SDS was recommended for the job I had to do, but I was skeptical and didn't want to spend too much money— and I honestly thought SDS drills were probably a waste of time. Cheapest SDS drill in Argos and came with a 2 year guarantee.

I've used it extensively including several times with 110mm core-drills for which it is absolutely not supposed to be used. I've basically abused the crap out of it for years, and it's still going strong. The only thing it wasn't able to do for me so far was penetrate 30 year old foot thick concrete which was under where my patio used to be (I left the concrete there, it wasn't doing any harm.).

If this drill breaks in the morning, I'll go out and buy exactly the same one in Argos before lunchtime. I've also got a good few other Guild tools (including a lighter hammer drill) which are equally as effective & reliable.