Drilled hole wrong into wall, need to drill new one right next to it...

Swasterix

andre_xs said:

Dear All,
probably a problem some of us have already encountered. I tried to search but haven't found useful information (maybe wrong search terms?)

I wanted to put up a shelf, drilling 8mm holes into a brick wall, using wall plugs and screws to hold the shelf. While drilling, the drill 'drifted' away (*) and now my hole is a couple of mm too low. Thus, I need to drill a new hole right next to the existing one, which doesn't work, because it's too close. It'd all crumble away and I'd get one big hole. It is so close that the holes may actually merge / overlap.

I'm afraid if I use standard filler to patch the whole, that this would not be strong enough and it would crumble away if I drill the new hole. Is there specific tougher/harder filler which, when properly dried / hardened, I could partly drill into? Let's say that the new hole is half in the old hole and half in the new hole. Or is standard filler / plaster fine?

The shelf is a bit heavy, so that it needs to properly hold.

Best wishes,

Andre

Edit: (*) If someone has tips how one can keep the drill exactly where I want it to be and not somewhat drifting/moving left/right/up/down while drilling would also be appreciated

Get a small/thin bit of scrap wood (old floorboard, bit of laminate, skirting board, etc.). Drill a hole in it. Hold the wood firmly over where you intend to drill your hole in your wall. Drill through the hole in your wood. Works when drilling through tiles too.