Putting up blinds - concrete lintel

greensalad

Have been having a real drama trying to get blinds put up in the recesses of our house.

First room we started on is an extension. Discovered it had steel lintels so went out and bought a HSS bit which went through OK, though it's very very tough to do so especially with upward force.

Came to put up a blind in the next room which is part of the original house, think it may have a concrete lintel? After getting past the plasterwork with the HSS and realising it wasn't going anywhere we swapped back to a masonry drillbit thinking that would go fine through concrete. Despite having hammer on with the masonry bit it's not budging. Grey dust on the bit. 

Any ideas? We've got two blinds to put up in the original part of the house so I suspect they will both be the same situation and must not have metal lintels. Can't see any evidence from outside. 

stuart45

Try an SDS drill

greensalad

stuart45 said:

Try an SDS drill

Unfortunately don't have one. Is it going to be the only way?

stuart45

The concrete used for making lintels is quite a strong mix, so with an ordinary hammer drill it is hard going. Even with a really good drill bit.
You can sometimes get a hole into them by going through a few new bits.
The problem is that if the bit isn't being hammered through quick enough the tip overheats and the bit gets wrecked.
You can try with a new bit just drilling for a short time, then let the bit cool, while using another one.
Before SDS drills came out we used to get through loads of bits going into hard stone and concrete.

FreeBear

stuart45 said: You can try with a new bit just drilling for a short time, then let the bit cool, while using another one.
Before SDS drills came out we used to get through loads of bits going into hard stone and concrete.

Use a small bit (~4mm) on high speed and loads of pressure. Then open the hole out to the size you need.

If you can borrow an SDS drill for an hour, it makes the job so much easier. Or if you need the excuse to buy new toys tools, now is your chance

greensalad

I've asked around the neighbourhood to see if anyone has one! Unfortunately have already had to unexpectedly buy a jigsaw this month so tool budget is out of the question! 

Will have a try with smaller bits for a while though and see if that gets me anywhere.

stuart45

Putting a pilot hole through should help. You have to be aware that lintels have rebar in as well.

TELLIT01

Ideal World used to advertise, and demonstrate, drill bits which would go through virtually any material.  I was extremely dubious, but they had them on offer so I got some.  Best purchase I've ever made, and probably the only one from them that was actually worthwhile.  I don't know if they still do them, but worth having a look.

ashe

It took me ages when putting our plantation shutters in using HSS bit. First one was easy but then rest it just span. I presumed high speed steel meant I used it at high speed. 

Few YouTube videos layer and found one that said to use slowly. Tried again, instant bite and was easy from there on. 

greensalad

ashe said:

It took me ages when putting our plantation shutters in using HSS bit. First one was easy but then rest it just span. I presumed high speed steel meant I used it at high speed. 

Few YouTube videos layer and found one that said to use slowly. Tried again, instant bite and was easy from there on. 

That was our experience with the HSS, using it slowly worked OK. Unfortunately these lintels are not steel.

Eldi_Dos

Sorry if it is a daft question but can blinds be attached to side rather than up into the lintel?