Drill into concrete wall full of rebar?

[handyhen]

I have previously tried to set up a hat rack in my hallway. The walls are hard concrete since it's a relatively newly built condo. I kept hitting something hard in the wall despite using a hammer drill and only managed to make a shallow hole on one side. The rack barely fits widthwise, so I can only move it up and down. So I settled for attaching it with shorter screws. Of course, it couldn't hold the weight and fell down after a few months.

I'm thinking of trying again now and rented a multi-detector at Classe to see if I could drill new holes in both the hat rack and the wall so it would sit properly. But there seems to be rebar throughout the wall! The detector indicates metal everywhere. Even though the wall is adjacent to the neighbor's apartment, not an outer wall. I have managed to mount shelves and anchor furniture in other walls, so it's not like this all over the apartment.

Is there a way to drill through rebar or some other smart solution on how to attach a hat rack to such a wall? I'd rather not buy any very expensive equipment just to drill two holes. Is there perhaps a detector with higher precision so that I might succeed in hitting exactly between the rebars? I don't want to drill randomly like I did the first time since it resulted in a bunch of holes that I've now filled and painted over.

 

[Alfredo]

Is there any way to drill through rebar

Absolutely. Gnawing at it for a while usually does the trick, although there is a risk that the concrete drill will be ruined. A neater method is to use a metal drill when you hit the iron.

Drilling through a lot of rebar might not be recommended, but I see no problem with drilling a few holes in a wall for a hat rack.

Welcome here!

 

[Isakare]

Hilti drill with 4 blades, it goes through rebar.
Just don't press too hard, it will get too hot, let the drill and rotary hammer do the work.
It takes longer, but hux flux you're through.

 

[Njingan]

Do you really have a hammer drill? You're not trying to drill with a similar product like this? https://www.clasohlson.com/se/Slagborrmaskin-Bosch-UniversalImpact-700/p/41-1514
If you have one of those, you'll never get through a concrete wall; they're best suited for a brick wall.

Otherwise, as Isakare wrote, a drill with four cutters works well.

You can also drill the hole at a slight angle. The rebar probably runs vertically, so if you drill at a slight angle, you can bypass the rebar and should be able to insert a plug and screw.

 

[Alfredo]

Do you really have a rotary drill?

I guess you mean "do you really have a hammer drill"?

 

[Njingan]

Assuming you mean "do you really have a hammer drill"?

Exactly!

 

[handyhen]

Thank you for such quick responses!

The machine I have is: https://www.bosch-diy.com/se/sv/p/pbh-2100-re-06033a9300-v28382
It's marketed as a rotary hammer, so I hope that's correct. I had a regular drill with hammer function before and it couldn't get anywhere in these walls, whereas this one has handled everything except the left side of the hallway wall where I hit rebar a few cm in.

I'll have to get some better drill bits and give it another try.

 

[Alfredo]

Had a regular drill with a hammer function before and it got nowhere in the walls here, while this one has managed everything except the left side of the hallway wall where I encountered rebar

Then the machine is probably good enough. With the right drill bit, "any" machine can handle rebar.

I'll have to get some better drill bits and make another attempt.

It'll probably work out. With a little patience, the rebar usually gives way.

 

[handyhen]

Then the machine will surely do. Most machines can handle rebar with the right drill bit.

It will probably work out. A little patience and the steel usually gives way.

It took me forever to get the drill bits since they were out of stock where I ordered them. I had to cancel and then bought these: https://www.amazon.se/-/en/dp/B07R8...pd_rd_i=B07R8VPX75&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_d_rp_5_t

I saw a commercial video where they seemed to go through rebar effortlessly. But unfortunately, I can't manage with these either. I find that the drill bit just bounces around the hole and makes it wider, but I can't get any deeper no matter how long I try. The neighbors will probably go crazy from my endless drilling soon.

I'm out of ideas. Do I have to give up and contact a handyman? Or are there any other tricks?

 

[Hallerudsbo]

Go and buy some quality drill bits instead of that crap.
Hilti te-cx are probably the best for reinforcement.

 

[Viktor.J]

Or rent a real machine with real drills. If that doesn't work, you can hire a craftsman

 

[Hallerudsbo]

You get what you pay for unfortunately.
7 drills for 390 kr.
A quality drill costs only 2-300 so that tells you a bit.

 

[handyhen]

Go and buy some drill with quality rather than such crap.
Hilti te-cx are probably the best for reinforcement

I can't find anywhere online that sells Hilti to private individuals, is it only for companies?

 

[cpalm]

I can't find anywhere online that sells Hilti to private individuals, is it only for businesses?

Yes, they sell directly (to businesses). Check used items on sites like Tradera and you'll have a lot to choose from.

P.s. no matter what people say, you still don't drill through a rebar "so easily."
It can be a hell of a challenge, so it's often better to move the hole a couple of centimeters if possible.
Also, watch out to make sure it's rebar you're drilling into and not, for example, a pipe.

 

[Hallerudsbo]

Buy Bosch or Dewalt with 4 blades otherwise.
But if you want to have Hilti, you can buy via Cramo Stavdal or similar as well.
They sell in their stores where I live.