Choosing the Right Anchor for Brick Mounting a small bracket to a brick fireplace is usually a straightforward job, but the anchor choice matters more than the bracket size suggests. Brick can be strong, brittle,…
Thin carbon steel tubing is easy to drill through, but it is also easy to snag, deform or leave a rough, oversized hole. For most jobs, a sharp cobalt or high-speed-steel twist bit, used at…
Why stair landings are difficult A concrete stair landing is a cramped place to drill. You may be working above or beside a stairwell, with limited room to brace yourself and little space for the…
Cabinet carcasses are usually assembled with screws driven into plywood, particleboard, or MDF. An impact driver can speed up that work, especially when there are many fasteners, but its extra torque also makes it easier…
Plastic and PVC do not need a high-speed, high-pressure drilling approach. They need a sharp bit, a steady workpiece and a hole that is not overheated or forced. For most household jobs, a standard twist-bit…
A toggle bolt is a good choice when a wall-mounted bracket has to hold a meaningful load and you can reach the hollow space behind the drywall. The right fastener depends on the bracket’s hole…
Driving long structural screws into hardwood floor joists is a demanding job for a drill. Dense oak or maple, large screw diameters and repeated fastening can stall a compact tool, overheat a bit or twist…
Mounting a light-duty bracket to plasterboard is easy to get wrong. A screw can feel tight while the paper face tears, the gypsum core crushes, or the anchor pulls out under a small sideways load.…
For clean holes in plywood, the hole saw does most of the cutting, but the pilot bit and the way you support the panel decide whether the edges splinter. A sharp hole saw with the…
The best anchor for most conduit clamps For attaching a conduit clamp to a sound concrete slab, a 1/4-inch hex-head concrete screw is usually the best choice. Use a screw long enough to provide about…