Not sure if this is the right section to post this Q. Anyway...

I'm trying to drill some holes in a door to fit a new doorknob.
However, my drill does not seem to be able to drill the wood at all ? Why is this ? :confused: I've managed to drill holes in my walls before, and another drill bit seems to be a more heavy duty one which got through some masonry. So how come these same drill bits can't get through wood ?

Please enlighten me. I'm can't get my head round this.
Do I have diamond-toughened wood or something ? :hihi:

You're not using masonry bits are you?

Wood bits generally have a pointier end, & are sharper. Masonry bits look slightly sort of hammer-headed.

maybe you're trying to use a masonry bit instead of a wood bitl? AFAIK, to drill into wood, you need a bit with a sharp point on the end, as it needs to make itself a pilot hole first.


edit: look at that two minds with but a single thought :D

Make sure the drills plugged in. If not, get someone to hold the drill while you rotate the door.

Not sure if this is the right section to post this Q. Anyway...

I'm trying to drill some holes in a door to fit a new doorknob.
However, my drill does not seem to be able to drill the wood at all ? Why is this ? :confused: I've managed to drill holes in my walls before, and another drill bit seems to be a more heavy duty one which got through some masonry. So how come these same drill bits can't get through wood ?

Please enlighten me. I'm can't get my head round this.
Do I have diamond-toughened wood or something ? :hihi:

Oh Bago, you are quite sweet. :)

Drill "Bits" are made for different applications. The type designed to work on drilling a wall, masonry etc will not tackle wood. It's horses for courses. Decide which hole size you need in the door, go to B&Q or somewhere like that and buy some ordinary wood drill bits. Bless you. :thumbsup:

Make sure the drills plugged in. If not, get someone to hold the drill while you rotate the door.


hahaha, classic :hihi:

hahaha, classic :hihi:

I thought I just made that up....dont tell me you have heard it before. I hate it when that happens :(

You are using the wrong drill bits. The ones you have are for drilling masonry. You need ordinary twist drills which you can get from wilkos.
For bigger diameter holes you need flat bits which need a bit more skill to use, if you want to avoid ragging everything to pieces.
I wish I was based in Sheffield my turnover would treble overnight. :hihi: :hihi:

I thought I just made that up....dont tell me you have heard it before. I hate it when that happens :(


no, i just say that when i hear a good joke, i've never heard it before

I thought I came across somewhere that there are woods drill bits, but I don't know what bits I've got. LOL. Bro just gave them to me, so I just tried both. I only have two bits. (Ahem).

I kept thinking, how come this bit which can go through something as tough as the walls don't work on a door. :confused: It's only wood. I got so fed up, I gave up. I tried hammering a hole in it first too to make it work. It didn't work. :hihi:

Daft Q, but I had to ask. Cos it's been bugging me for ages.

Click on the photo to enlarge:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drill_bit

You want the second or, more commonly, the fourth down.

Thanks for that link.
Thanks for all the advice. I had a good look at the drill bits. I don't have the right one. :)

Thanks for that link.
Thanks for all the advice. I had a good look at the drill bits. I don't have the right one. :)
BTW Bago, when you get the right drill bits, (they are only a few coppers to buy, make sure you do not have your drill set to hammer when drilling the wood. Again it will not work correctly.
Only use the hammer setting when drilling stone or brick.
It will have a switch or twist grip with a hammer sign or a drill sign on it.
Make sure you have it set right and it will be plain sailing. :thumbsup:

Eeh ? I thought it's only a case of putting the bit into the electric drill, and it works. I'm definitely gonna check this out now. Cos I didn't know there's different settings as well.

Thanks for the tip. :)
*thumbs up*

Eeh ? I thought it's only a case of putting the bit into the electric drill, and it works. I'm definitely gonna check this out now. Cos I didn't know there's different settings as well.

Thanks for the tip. :)
*thumbs up*
http://www.bbc.co.uk/homes/diy/diy_guide/factsheets/54.shtml
Have alook on this site mate, you cannot go wrong. :thumbsup:

Don't buy individual bits from BnQ, get one of the cheap packs that contains about 25 - 50 tools (half of them will be various screw heads, and half drill bits, that way you'll have a range of sizes in wood, masonry and hss types). Cost should be no more than £20.

Thanks. Thanks. :)
Tried turning it to the hammer setting, but it doesn't let me. So it's just as well. Gonna get myself a set of these drill bits now. Didn't want to spend too much on it, but I guess it's time I build up a set of tools.

Got myself some great allen keys from the pound shop in the summer, and they're great handy things around the house. So I might as well get some drill bits too.

And make sure the drills not in reverse either.

If it has a hammer setting then you probably just needed to ease the head a bit left or right to make it release so that you could turn the twist switch.
Don't try to use hammer on the wood though, it'll just make a lot of noise and maybe a mess.

Ok.
So the hammer setting is more for drilling bricks. The other drill settings for various drilling. And I got to get myself a wood drill bit.

Ok, so it's shopping again ! :D

Ok.
So the hammer setting is more for drilling bricks. The other drill settings for various drilling. And I got to get myself a wood drill bit.

Ok, so it's shopping again ! :D

nah just get a good man :)

A good man with a drill set.
It's hard in this metrosexual generation that I'm living in now, you know. :hihi:

Make sure you don't buy SDS bits though if your drill is not SDS. Or SDS Plus.

Not sure if this is the right section to post this Q. Anyway...

I'm trying to drill some holes in a door to fit a new doorknob.
However, my drill does not seem to be able to drill the wood at all ? Why is this ? :confused: I've managed to drill holes in my walls before, and another drill bit seems to be a more heavy duty one which got through some masonry. So how come these same drill bits can't get through wood ?

Please enlighten me. I'm can't get my head round this.
Do I have diamond-toughened wood or something ? :hihi:

this about as daft as how do you cook cabbage der:loopy:

LOL. Well....I'm a woman, what do you expect ? :P
It's one of those daft questions that you gotta ask, cos it doesn't make sense. DIY is not my forte. Whereas cooking... now there's something. *raspberry* Alright, it's one of my blonde moment.
Oooh, don't get me started on gardening. I cringe at what I've done.

LOL. Well....I'm a woman, what do you expect ? :P

Tut tut. Be a bit more respectful of your gender! Just because you don't know one drill bit from another... :P

Yes. you ladies should know better than to attempt things that your brains are not equipped for. Dont bother your pretty little heads about mens work.
Stick with your knitting and cooking and let us men worry about the serious things in the world. :cool:

(I think i had better add that the above is meant as a joke if you do not follow my usual ideas ;) )

Miaow ! Well..... I never ! :P
Ack... Just sometimes we have to throw in the towel.

At least I know how to cook cabbage, or fish, or meat, or chicken...
Yay me ! :D

It is on full battery isn't it? (If it's battery powered drill that is)

Ok.
So the hammer setting is more for drilling bricks.

It's pretty much essential for drilling into brick/concrete, without the hammer action on it will take for ever.

stick to the day job

stick to the day job
Hey, at least I gave it a go. It just got a bit dangerous when the drill starts to 'dance' on the door. Hence, wasn't sure what to try next especially after making a sharp hole with a nail to start drilling on.

Ok, ok, the battery comment is taking the P a bit. :rolleye:

Yes, I shall admit it all now. I even did it whilst standing on one leg trying to face the window thinking it was because of bad Feng Shui.
-_-'

[QUOTE=Bago]Hey, at least I gave it a go. It just got a bit dangerous when the drill starts to 'dance' on the door. Hence, wasn't sure what to try next especially after making a sharp hole with a nail to start drilling on.
-_-'[/QUOTE

When drilling any material the drill will 'wander'. It is best to start with a small 'pilot drill' that is short in lenght. Once you have started the hole you should have no bother.
Anyway, what is that you are doing to this door?
If you just want pilot holes for screws, use a bradawl or a gimlet.
For short screw holes they are far easier than a drill.
I would only use a drill for screws longer than about 40mm

Let me check something... get back to you.

I think they are small screws only. I tried it with just a screw driver as well, and it doesn't work. My hands were red raw from trying. >.< ! Hence I gave up in the end. I'm trying to fit some metal doorknobs on some doors cos it looks er....more decorative. :D

If you just want pilot holes for screws, use a bradawl or a gimlet.
For short screw holes they are far easier than a drill.
I would only use a drill for screws longer than about 40mm
What's a bradawl or gimlet ? Not heard of those.
I've found that the screws are only 20mm long. Uses a flat screw driver than a star one. It's 3 on each side of the door. So maybe I can drill through it ? I just find it hard to make the holes using the screw driver alone cos the wood is pretty hard.

I think I will still buy a set of drill bits too either way.

Let me check something... get back to you.

I think they are small screws only. I tried it with just a screw driver as well, and it doesn't work. My hands were red raw from trying. >.< ! Hence I gave up in the end. I'm trying to fit some metal doorknobs on some doors cos it looks er....more decorative. :D
Get yourself a bradawl. All it is a pointed piece of steel with a handle on it, like a small screwdriver with a point instead of a blade.
Hold the thing you want to fasten against the door, and mark the holes through the holes in the item.
When you have done this, broddle the holes deeper.
Screw the screws in and remove them.
You now have you pre screwed holes.
Put the item back in position and screw the screws through and it is fitted.:thumbsup:

Are you having me on or what? :huh: :suspect:

Just to start a screw off the hole you made with the small nail should be sufficient to let it tap.
I'd recommend using your drill as a screw driver though, much frendlier on the hands.

Get yourself a bradawl. All it is a pointed piece of steel with a handle on it, like a small screwdriver with a point instead of a blade.
Hold the thing you want to fasten against the door, and mark the holes through the holes in the item.
When you have done this, broddle the holes deeper.
Screw the screws in and remove them.
You now have you pre screwed holes.
Put the item back in position and screw the screws through and it is fitted.:thumbsup:

Are you having me on or what? :huh: :suspect:
I only have limited tools. It's my excuse.

You don't wanna know how big a hole I manage to drill on my walls to get the light fitting on... :rolleyes:

Ok, I will use these advice cos it's more hand-friendly ! lol.
I've never had to do these things before, but effort points for trying, right ? :) :rolleyes:

Eeh ? I thought it's only a case of putting the bit into the electric drill, and it works. I'm definitely gonna check this out now. Cos I didn't know there's different settings as well.

Thanks for the tip. :)
*thumbs up*
I think you need to get a man in :heyhey: ;) :P

You only learn by trying (and asking).

You only learn by trying (and asking).

I completely agree, it is better to ask regarding something. than to make a complete disaster.

I believe that the railway engine works at Doncaster used to have that as their slogan 'If In Doubt Ask', they even made a song about it.

Yeh but stop buying tools from poundland there chocolate, spend a bit of cash and they will last you longer.