How to drill into plaster with metal mesh
#1
09-11-14, 07:51 PM
Join Date: Sep 2014
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How to drill into plaster with metal mesh
Hi everyone! I'm new here.
I try to do as much of the repairs around my house as possible on my own but I've run into a bit of a problem.
My tub had sliding glass doors when we bought the place but since they are so hard to keep clean we had them taken out. We have been using a tension shower curtain rod but it just falls down all the time, sometimes on me while I'm taking a shower! So I decided to install a permanent rod. I got through the ceramic tile no problem (no cracks or anything!) but have now hit a substance in the walls that I can't seem to drill through. After a little looking around it looks like the wall is made out of plaster with metal mesh, same as the rest of my house which was built in 1951. I've tried the diamond bit I used to drill into the tile, what I believe was a masonry bit (it was something that was left in the house by the previous owner), and a high speed steel bit. What am I doing wrong? Could it be my drill or do I need a different bit?
I try to do as much of the repairs around my house as possible on my own but I've run into a bit of a problem.
My tub had sliding glass doors when we bought the place but since they are so hard to keep clean we had them taken out. We have been using a tension shower curtain rod but it just falls down all the time, sometimes on me while I'm taking a shower! So I decided to install a permanent rod. I got through the ceramic tile no problem (no cracks or anything!) but have now hit a substance in the walls that I can't seem to drill through. After a little looking around it looks like the wall is made out of plaster with metal mesh, same as the rest of my house which was built in 1951. I've tried the diamond bit I used to drill into the tile, what I believe was a masonry bit (it was something that was left in the house by the previous owner), and a high speed steel bit. What am I doing wrong? Could it be my drill or do I need a different bit?
#3
09-12-14, 04:47 AM
Tile in that era was set into a Portland cement base. Even masonry bits wear out, get a new bit and as stated, a hammer drill, although for a few holes you should be able to get it with a regular drill and fresh bit.
#4
09-12-14, 06:05 AM
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Location: United States
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Ok thanks! :-) I'll see if I can borrow a hammer drill from someone and I'll buy a new bit. Although since the whole house has those kind of walls it might be worth it to invest in a hammer drill of my own.
#5
09-12-14, 08:16 AM
You will find that the walls in the rest of the house are gypsum mixed with a sand aggregate. That is not as hard as the Portland cement mix in the bathrooms but it will still wear out a regular steel bit pretty quickly.
