Why drill the mortar joint? For many light-duty masonry jobs, a mortar joint is a better target than the brick itself. Mortar is usually easier to drill, and a small hole is less likely to…
Tamper-resistant Torx screws look like ordinary six-point Torx screws, but they have a small pin in the center of the recess. A standard Torx bit cannot seat fully, so it either will not turn the…
A small electrical enclosure may weigh only a few pounds, but its cables, cover, and any force applied while servicing it can pull on the fasteners. The right anchor depends less on the enclosure’s size…
Polycarbonate is tough, but it is not forgiving of a hot, aggressive drill bit. A standard twist bit can grab as it breaks through, leaving a chipped edge or a crack that grows later. For…
Start with the mirror, not the anchor A small bathroom mirror is often light enough for drywall anchors, but its weight is only part of the calculation. Check the mirror’s weight, the number and spacing…
Natural stone is harder to drill than brick or many concrete blocks, and it varies from one piece to the next. A bit that works in soft limestone may stall or overheat in dense granite.…
Choosing the right anchor For a typical wood bottom plate fastened to a sound concrete slab, a concrete screw anchor is usually the simplest choice. It needs a correctly sized pilot hole, installs with a…
A mixed repair kit may need to drill pilot holes in pine, bore through a steel bracket, make a clearance hole in drywall, and drive screws with an impact driver. One set rarely handles all…
Why control matters with long timber screws Long structural screws can pull framing together quickly, but an impact driver can also bury a screw head, strip its recess or snap the fastener before you react.…
Removing tile adhesive is harder on a drill than drilling a few holes in brick. The work produces constant impact, sideways loading, and heat, especially when you use a scraper or chisel bit. The best…