Drilling Holes and Using Wallplugs
DIY help from Fred-in-the-Shed
How to Choose a Power Drill
Also the latest and best cordless drills
Updated 3rd March 2025
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Powered Screwdrivers & Impact Drivers
Corded Drills For a Cheaper Alternative
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Choosing the best Cordless Drill At some time or other most people need to drill a hole in something to perhaps fit a shelf or bracket to a wall. Whilst this might sound simple, there are now so many options for tools and confusing specifications to make it difficult. For more than 20 years I have been researching drills, powered screwdrivers, drill bits and wall plugs. Here is my simple guide to buying a power drill and other tools for the job, then further down the page tips for drilling holes and using wall plugs. I took advice abou the drills from the technical trainers at Makita Power Tools and Bosch UK. For wall plugs training I went to the research laboratory of Fischer fixing systems. If you find my page helpful you can support it by using the links for any purchases or making a small donation with the paypal donate button at the bottom of the page. Thanks, and I hope you enjoy reading my page, Fred
THESE ARE THE LATEST TOOLS FOR DRILLING HOLES
A 12v Makita Lithium ion cordless combi drill - with hammer action for drilling masonry Also shown - 12v Makita impact driver Bosch Multi-Purpose Drill Bits Bosch Multi-purpose drill bits and accessories
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DIY Drills Choosing an 18v drill for DIY work Reasonable corded electric drills like the
Bosch EasyImpact 550 Hammer Drill The chances are that if you buy a drill you will at some stage want to drill into concrete or brick. For this you will need a hammer action or even better, a percussion drill. Hammer drills cost more and need much more power than a standard electric drill/driver.
A cordless hammer drill will cost more than a mains powered one because it requires large batteries and a charger. Cordless "hammer drills" start at 10.8v volts but if you want to drill anything other than small holes then 18 volts is required. Remember - a cordless tool is only as good as its battery (and the bits you use) , that's why many adverts don't like to tell you the amp hour of the battery and instead concentrate on the voltage! Another important metric for drills it the torque they produce, measured in Newton metres. Nm. This is the twisting force and the best measure for a tool that drill holes. 18v hammer or "combi" drills typically produce between 35 and 150 Newton metres of torque and will be priced accordingly.
Best Value Cordless Drills Budget model - now with 2 batteries
This budget price Ryobi is made by Chinese giant TTI who also make the top end Milawauki range of tools. The battery has a 2 speed gearbox , 50NM of torque and 13mm ratcheting chuck. The drill comes with 2 18v 1.5 amp hour batteries and a charger. It performs well and is robust enough for many builders to use for occasional use. I like the LED worklight and the latest model has a built in clip to hold a screwdriver bit. This powerful but cheap drill is available on the link below. Ryobi Combi Drill with 2 batteries
Lowest Price 18v Cordless Comb Drill (38 Newton/metre of torque)
The drill shown above is the Black & Decker 18v Combi drill which is a basic drill aimed at the DIY market for occasional home use.
At around £60 with battery and charger it has most features you require and is
light and easy to use. The 10mm chuck and mere 38Nm
of torque means it is won't drill big holes or concrete lintels. The 18v 1.5 amp hour Li-ion battery fits in the whole range of Black & Decker powertools. I have used one of these a lot and use the battery in my Strimmer as well.
BLACK+DECKER 18V Lithium Ion 2 Gear Hammer Drill
Higher Spec Combi Drills with Motor Upgrades
I have used an 18v Makita Combi drill for the last 10 years and it is still working using the original 3 amp hour Li-on battery. The entry level Makita 18v Combi is now available from around £65 without batteries and charger Makita DHP482Z 18V Li-Ion LXT Combi Drill - Batteries and Charger Not Included Makita 5 Amp Hour 18V Li-Ion Battery and Charger
Latest Powertool Advance - Brushless Motors. The latest development with powertools is to use brushless motors to give more power and longer battery duration. These higher cost motors were first seen in premium brands like Makita and Dewalt and now in cheaper brands. Upgraded versions with brushless motors start at £90 and are the choice of most builders and tradesmen. The great thing about the Makita 18v drill is that the batteries can be used in 270 other power tools that are also available naked. Not having to buy batteries and charger with every tool saves money and you don't end up with a collection of chargers. Recently I even found an adapter so that I can use my Makita 18v battery in my Dyson cordless vacuum!
Makita DHP484Z 18V Li-Ion LXT Brushless Combi Drill - Batteries and Charger Not Included Makita BL1850
18v 5 AH Lithium-Ion Battery The best cordless drills are made by Makita, Dewalt, Milwauki, Bosch and Metabo and are the choice of serious professionals, and thieves! Latest Dewalt 18v Brushless Combi Drill
SMALLER SIZE 12v SUB-COMPACT OR MICRO TOOLS
Bosch green is marketed at DIY users
Bosch blue is aimed at professional users
Bosch GSB 120 - LI Professional 12V with 2 x 1.5 Ah Batteries with Charger and Carry Case Bosch, Makita and DeWalt and a range of Chinese manufacturers offer similar tools that are ideal for drilling into softer materials and driving in screws. 12v impact drivers are available but not as popular as before due to the new breed of snub nose 18v impact driers being available at moderate prices. Bosch were the pioneers of these small drills with their 12v blue range and these still represent good value and the batteries can be used in a range of other tools. Makita and Dewalt use flat bottom batteries so the tools can stand up. The Dewalt set below is very popular and both tools have brushless motors. Dewalt 12v sub compact twin pack
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Drill Drivers and Impact Drivers - what is the difference?
You can use your drill as a powered screwdriver but it is handy to have a separate tool for this especially if you are drilling multiple holes or using multiple fixings. The cheapest option is a small cordless driver like the Bosch IXO Cordless Screwdriver which is fine for small screws but for serious work an impact driver like the Makita one shown above is better as it has the power to drive large screws in and remove them in a second. Best Small Cordless Screwdriver Golden Shed winner improved further!
Bosch IXO Cordless Lithium-Ion Screwdriver The truly excellent Bosch IXO cordless screwdriver has been improved further with the addition of an LED work light, better battery and improved switches and accessories. I gave the original IXO a coveted Golden Shed Award as it was the first domestic power tool to use a Lithium Ion battery. The IXO was one of my favourite tools and the IXO 2 was even better. The came the IXO 3 with angled head. The IXO 4 added attachments for screwing at strange angles, and gadgets for opening wine bottles and fanning your BBQ! The IXO 5 lost its charging base in favour of a USB cable charger but has better battery capacity! Use the IXO and you will never want to be without it! This is the smallest cordless screwdriver available and has been copied by many manufacturers. The IXO 4 came with a charging station and optional right angled or offset head attachment. These accessories also fit the newer models. In 2021 the IXO 6 was introduced in a range of colours but more importantly variable speed. The IXO 6 charges by USB cable but a charging base is available as an extra. A similar tool is the Works 4v slider cordless screwdriver that uses a round cassette of bits much like a revolver to give you easy access to the correct bit. I also love the screw holder attachment so that you can put screws in with one hand.
WORX WX255.1 SD Slide Driver 4V with Screw Holder Attachment Bosch IXO Cordless Lithium-Ion Screwdriver with 3.6 V Battery, 1.5 Ah Bosch PushDrive Cordless Screwdriver
Impact Drivers -This is the latest and best Dewalt brushless model
DEWALT DCF887M1-GB XR Brushless Lithium-Ion Impact Driver, 18 V An impact driver looks similar to a drill but has a shorter snub nose body. It also has more low level torque so it can drive in long screws right through wood without a pilot hole and even into masonry. It is also able to remove screws and fixtures that would otherwise be stuck. Impact drivers usually have a quick release chuck for bits with a hex shaped shank. The 18v impact driver is an essential tool for most builders and my guys use the new Dewalt brushless XR model shown above. It has a huge amount of torque, (205nm) 3 LED lights with 3 settings and a superb magnetic bit holder so you can easily access the bits you need. This tool is essential for construction workers but if you do a lighter trade like kitchen fitting, cheaper 10.8v models with high capacity Li-ion batteries are gaining popularity. See more on my Builders Tools Page
More Powerful and Professional Quality Cordless Drills
Makita and Dewalt are engaged in a constant battle to produce the best tools (or more accurately to sell the most tools). The latest drills use brushless motors that run with less resistance and therefore allow your battery to last longer. Dewalt now offer an entry level brushless motor drill that has 60 Newton metres of torque which is 5 more than the equivalent Makita.
Use links below for Latest Dewalt & Makita drills with "brushless" motors
Dewalt DCD795M1 18 V XR Brushless Compact Li-Ion Combi Drill
MAKITA DHP485RMJ DHP485Z 18V LXT BRUSHLESS Combi Drill 2 x 4 Ah Batteries
Batteries and Other Tools In the Makita 18v range
The chainsaw and vacuum are my favourite Makita 18v power tools. Makita DUC254Z 18v LXT Cordless Brushless 25cm Chainsaw Top Handle - Bare Unit Breaking news - 5 amp hour battery now available from the link below
Makita BL1850 18v 5.0Ah Li-ion LXT Battery Pack Batteries and Other Tools In the DeWalt 18v range Dewalt is the professional arm of Black & Decker and is very popular with tradesmen. The downside with Dewalt is that they make a bewildering and incompatible range of 18v batteries and drills. Some batteries push in, others slide in. It is also hard to compare performance of each drills as companies use different performance yardsticks.
DEWALT DCM563PB-GB 18 V XR Cordless Hedge Trimmer - Bare Unit
Dewalt DCL050-XJ 18 V Li-Ion Cordless Handheld LED Light DeWalt 18V XR Lithium-Ion Body Only Grinder
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Best Value Corded Drills
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A bog standard 700 watt corded hammer drill is the most practical, cost effective powertool you can own. It has no fancy gimmicks, is good quality and will do most DIY jobs. Price around £55- you can't go wrong. I used the Bosch PSB 650RE drill for several years and unlike my cordless drills it was always ready to go. The latest version of this tool now has more power and an LED light incorporated into the side handle.
For general DIY this simple drill has all the features and Bosch reliability
at a great price.
If you do a lot of DIY or use your drill for work the powerful
2000w Bosch Rotary action drill for around £70 will make the job that
little bit easier and should last longer. Rotary action hammer drills are
the next level up from percussion action hammer drills and are usually mains
powered. However if you go up to this level you will also need new drill
bits as these heavy duty drills use SDS bits.
Green Bosch tools are designed for DIY use.
Blue Bosch tools are for professional use and have stronger parts and a longer
warranty. Whilst this the Bosch PSB 650 will easily handle brick and plaster it
may struggle if you try to drill into concrete lintels that are found above
some windows. For this type of work you would need a high powered rotary
hammer drill and the SDS bits that you see builders use.
Draper 20500 810W 230V Hammer Drill
Bosch Universal Impact 700 Hammer Drill
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Guide to Masonry Drill Bits
Masonry bits always have a flat tip. Drill bits for drilling masonry (brick and concrete) can be distinguished from other drill bits by the blunt wide blade on the tip. Concrete is harder than brick so only the best, or specialised bits will drill concrete effectivly. Unlike drill bits for metal, masonry bits cannot can be re sharpened. There are some variant designs of masonry drill bit and you usually get what you pay for. So always buy the best drill bits you can afford. They will make your drill, batteries and arms last longer. Don't ruin a good drill buy using rubbish drill bits! I have been extensively testing Bosch and DeWalt masonry bits
The DeWalt set is great value and best for general drilling into brick but
if you drill brick AND concrete the Bosch special concrete bits are better.
DeWalt Stone Drill Bit Set - 5 Pieces
New Product! - All Purpose Drill Bits for All Materials?
Bosch Multi-Construction Drill Bits, 7 Pieces This ingenious design enables you to drill masonry, wood, plastic and some metals using the same bit! I usually say that "multi-tools" are never as good as specialised tools but these work superbly and can even drill porcelain tiles if you spray water during drilling. In fact they drill porcelain BETTER than some of the diamond tip bits I have previously used. If you are short on space and drill multiple products then these drill bits are the answer. Larger sizes are available to purchase separately.
Best Drill Bit Sets with other tools included
Titanium Drill and Screwdriver Set I recommend a kit like this for DIY use. It contains the
common sizes of drill bit for wood, masonry and metal. It also contains a
host of other tools that are useful when drilling holes and fitting wall plugs.
Many sets use poor quality bits but this one is made by Bosch
and has top quality titanium coated drill bits. One thing that does annoy me
about some sets is how hard it is to get your bits out. Another annoying
feature can be poorly made clasps that cause the box to pop open and
everything fall out.
Dewalt make superb kits where each individual type of drill bit is contained
within its own yellow box that can be taken out of the larger box and taken
to the job alone. This feature is handy when you know exactly what tools you
need for the particular job and it saves you lugging too much kit from your
van for example. You can also swap the yellow boxes around to
customise the kit for a particular job.
Bosch X-Line Accessory Set, 50 Pieces
Bosch 103 Piece Titanium Drill and Screwdriver Set
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Choosing The Right Wallplug Fischer invented the wallplug and their wallplugs are still the best. Many people in the UK refer to wallplugs as Rawlplugs. Rawlplug is a trade name like Hoover is a vacuum cleaner. So a Rawlplug is a wallplug but a wallplug is not necessarily a Rawlplug. A wallplug holds the screw securely into the wall. The screw, and hole, should be longer than the plug! The screw should go all the way through the wallplug and split it open to force the tightest possible fit with the wall.
General Purpose Plastic Wallplug For most DIY jobs a bog standard plastic Wallplug will suffice. They are available everywhere and for the UK market are often colour coded by size. Yellow, Red and Brown. Yellow, 5mm hole 35mm deep, use screws no 4-8 Red, 6mm hole 45mm deep, use screws no 6-10 Brown, 8mm hole 55mm deep, use screws no 10-14 However you may come across different colours and even brown ones that are a different size. To be on the safe side drill a smaller hole first if the wall plug does not have the drill size marked on it. Then go up a drill size if your plug does not fit. If you do drill the hole too large or have crumbly masonry then all is not lost, you could use the wet-n-fix to save the job.
Assorted Wall Plugs 3 sizes (Pack of
288)
Top Quality Nylon Wallplugs Fischer SX Wallplug The Best Wallplug for Building and DIY Perfectionists For professionals and serious DIY people a Nylon wallplug is much stronger than a cheap plastic one. Fischer Fixing Systems invented the plastic wallplug in 1958 and still make the best and most innovative wallplugs. The plugs have a flange at the top to keep it flush with the surface of the wall. It also has 4 splits for better grip. Each plug has drill bit and screw size marked on the side and can be used in voided material such as aerated concrete. The latest innovation are the red and grey Duopower plugs that work in solid or hollow walls. Both components are Nylon so these plugs can take heavy weights and stresses.
If you are a true craftsman and proud of your work, this plug won't let you (or your shelves) down.
Fischer
Boxes of mixed size wallplugs Fischer 100-Piece 6 x 30 mm Expansion Plug
Best wall plug for plasterboard
As plasterboard is so thin and soft a different sort of wallplug is required that can spread the load more. The best wallplug for plasterboard is a self drilling metal or even a nylon "wall anchor". Wall anchors give the strongest fixing in plasterboard and are much better than the alternative plastic "scrunching" ones. FISCHER SELF DRILLING PLASTERBOARD WALL PLUGS X 10
Loose fitting Wall plugs? - save the day with Fischer Wet-n-fix
You know the story, you have drilled a hole, go to push in the wall plug and damm!, the hole is too big and the wall plug is wobbly. Then you have to drill another hole, move the shelves up an inch and get out the filler to repair the other hole. This problem usually occurs because you are either crap at DIY - or you have soft plaster that crumbles when drilled. Well curse no more, simply soak the Wet-n-Fix disc in water, wrap it around the wall plug and push it in . Three minutes later it is ready for screwing - magic! I have found this product to be extremely useful when repairing other peoples bodges, such as loose curtain rails and collapsing shelves.( Obviously I have never bodged a job myself but keep some available just in case)
WETNFIX
(20 Discs) - Fixing Wall Plugs Fast!
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More DIY Tips - How to remove a wallplug and how to fill in a wallplug hole If you try and fill a hole that contained a wallplug it is likely that the filler will shrink and you are left with a dink in the wall. As a perfectionist decorator this would annoy me . So I just grind the top 5mm of the plastic wallplug down with a cone shaped grinding stone on my cordless Dremel. Then I only need a small amount of filler that will not shrink back You can also "bodge" this technique by cutting the top edge of the wallplug away with a Stanley knife - be careful not to slip and cut your finger ! Removing a wallplug is easy if you insert a large headed screw and then pull out the screw and wallplug with a claw hammer Thanks to Fisher Fixing Systems for my day at their technical centre.
Important safety info for using wallplugs 1 The screw should be slightly longer than the wallplug. 2 Blow the dust out of the hole after drilling. 3 If in doubt use a longer plug and screw.
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Thanks - Fred
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Copyright Fredshed 2025
can be purchased for
around £50
but for ease of use you cant beat a battery powered cordless drill and
thanks to Lithium Ion batteries the cordless drill is now the no1 tool for
builders, tradesmen and DIY enthusiasts.
