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How to use a small hammer drill on masonry / concrete walls

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  • OVERALL DIFFICULTY INDEX: 3/10
  • IF YOU HAVE NO TOOLS YOU PAY $ 65 TO GET THEM FOR THIS JOB
  • IF YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE YOU SPEND 30 MINUTES TO COMPLETE THE HANGING OF A PAINTING, A LITTLE MORE FOR A SHELF.
  • YOU SHOULD OBSERVE SAFETY RULES FOR DRILLING INTO WALLS
BEFORE YOU START
  • Most works at home require a basic 500 Watts drill found anywhere for $45 to 60.
  • Remember to hold well the drill when starting to avoid it slips and leaves a mark. 
  • The below applies to rough surfaces like stone or plastered masonry walls. 
DISCLAIMER:
Our pictorials are of informative nature and do illustrate works carried out by ourselves at our own premises for our own use and satisfaction.
Readers who envisage to carry out similar works inspired by the below method shall do this at their own risks and liability.
 

Preparing the power drill:

A 6 mm drill bit for concrete will be required most of the time.
You may keep a 5 mm bit for hanging small pictures or toilet accessories and an 8 mm bit for some lighting fixtures or heavier loads.

Open the drill head by rotating it and insert the bit. Use the specific key to tighten the head and do so in two of the three key holes at least.

Marking the location of the holes:

Take your measurements and mark the hole with a pencil. Always mark a cross instead of a point or a circle.
A shelf can be used for marking its own fixing holes; use it vertically on its side as shown.

Drilling the holes:

Make sure to push or turn the knob (depends on the drill) to the hammer position as this will increase the drill's capacity and penetration speed in walls. 
Adjust the drilling depth by moving in and out the drill head's rod in a manner to keep just enough bit length equal to the length of the plug plus 5 to 10 mm.
Hold the drill steadily and keep it perpendicular to the wall both vertically and horizontally.
Push it inwards. Increase the rotation speed of your drill if it doesn't penetrate fast enough or if you feel like applying excessive force.
As a general rule, the speed setting increases when the bit diameter is smaller and vice-versa.
Note that when working indoors, better to ask for help and have someone holding a vacuum cleaner below the hole you are drilling by a matter of 5 cm. This will avoid spreading dust in your house.
 

Fitting the wall anchors (plugs, rawlplugs):

Push a plug of the same diameter than the bit into the wall and complete your action with a hammer. 
Make sure not to use a smaller or wider plug as this won't work.
Also take care not to damage the wall with the hammer, and hit the plug with the lightest possible force.
You are now ready to fix in your screws or hooks.
Buy your hammer drill here: