help with putting up vertical blinds...

downs523

i have 7 sets of vertical blinds to put up and assemble, i started today and attempted to drill 2 holes to fix the brackets on. its plasterboard but then theres some sort of metal all accross the top of window ledge. i used my metal drill bit but nothin happening, was pushing so hard in the end the drill bit snapped!!

do i need a specialist drill bit for this metal?
also drill was electric wired one but is pretty old, maybe a new more powerful one is needed?

27col

What you have come across is the steel lintel over the window. It is not particularly difficult to drill, but you need a good quality metal drill. Ask for an HSS(High Speed Drill) drill of whatever diameter you need for the Rawlplugs. The metal is not very think, possibly 5mm. It might be as well to drill a smaller hole first.Using an HSS drill of a smaller diameter. Remove the drill at regular intervals and dip it into a container of cold water. The problem is not with the drilling machine but with the drill bit that you are using.

downs523

hi, tried with a smaller drill bit sometimes it works but sometimes it doesnt, drill bit snaps sometimes. been a real nightmare to get this done, only did 3 blinds today (6 holes). teh drill is just spinning but not goin in. checked the drill bit after seems ok, not worn or anything. starting to wish they came with side brackets instead of top!!

gmgmgm

Were they good quality drill bits? As 27col pointed out, there is a world of difference between the bits e.g. ones that come in a kit/with the drill and the decent ones you can buy separately.
It sounds like you need to buy some higher quality drill bits.

downs523

The Drill Bits Im Trying To Use Were From A Drill Set (jcb) Bought A Couple Of Yrs Ago. I Have 2 More Holes To Do And My Drill Bits Aint Doing The Job! They Have Either Snapped Or Just Wont Cut Through!
Can Anyone Recommend A Drill Bit For This Job, Or A Set I Can Buy? What Brands Are The Best? Thanks

downs523

ive seen these, which would u guys recommend?
http://nextday.diy.com/app/jsp/product/productPage.jsp?productId=94051

http://nextday.diy.com/app/jsp/product/productPage.jsp?productId=95497

http://nextday.diy.com/app/jsp/product/productPage.jsp?productId=66597

http://nextday.diy.com/app/jsp/product/productPage.jsp?productId=56241

are these the right choices to think about?

itsmeagain

I would use a smaller diameter bit and self tapper screws, not big holes and raw plugs

downs523

will these self tapper screws go through the concrete above the metal tho?

Mikeyorks

downs523 wrote: »

will these self tapper screws go through the concrete above the metal tho?

The DeWalt drills would be my choice. And self tappers are fine if you're going into UPVC ..... useless for the problem in your OP. You need a relatively slender plug and screw combination ........ but with a relatively deep and clean hole and a screw depth at least 45/50 mm.

I've got verticals at every window ..... you're reminding me why I got the local manufacturer to fit !!

downs523

yeah wishing i dot hillary to do this now, 3 sets dont work, they pull accross the window but they do not swivel!!! the beaded chain is jammed somehow??? any quickfix? or a return needed? thanks

itsmeagain

downs523 wrote: »

will these self tapper screws go through the concrete above the metal tho?

You dont need to drill the concrete.
You need small diameter self tapper screws that are just long enough to go into the steel.
Drill though the plaster using any old bit (to not blunt the good one).
Drill holes 0.5mm smaller than the screws with the 'good' bit. As you break through the steel you need to be carefull not to drill too far into brick above else you'll blunt the bit. You could swap to an old bit or masonary bit to enter the brick.
Try the screw in the hole before fixing the bracket. This will cut the thread.
If the end of the screw fouls the brick (too long) then you could snip the end off.
Ignore mikeyorks... you dont need a new dewalt drill, you just need a quality bit and screws that will cut threads in steel. My blinds are put up in the way i'm suggesting.
Drilling large diameter holes in steel can be hard work. Rawplugs are for use when the material is unsuitable to hold a screw and steel will hold your screw! Next mikey will be telling us to put rawplugs in wood!

If your plaster is sound, then you could always stick (using gripfill or similar) a wooden battern up 1st to put you brackets on and u'd not need to drill the steel.

It's a shame but anyone can post any old rubbish on here. Not sure who to believe?... http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/drillintolintels.htm
"Steel lintels are even more difficult to fix to as, once you have drilled through the plaster and reached the steel lintel, you must then swap drill bits for a high speed steel bit and then use self tapping screws to fix the item you wish to hang. This is a very difficult process not least because once you have drilled the hole for the self tapping screw, you then have to locate it again to put the screw into it. Considering there is always at least 20mm between the surface of the plaster or plasterboard to the lintel, this is no mean feat"