How to drill brick with an SDS drill
Updated: 2026-10-23
You have a plug to put in a brick or block wall, and a combi drill's hammer setting has wandered or stalled. An SDS plus rotary hammer is the usual next tool, but the hole still fails if the bit is wrong, the dust stays packed, or you lean on the tool. This page is the method: mode, bit, depth, dust, and where you stop. It is not a ranking and not a lab test. Prices and which model to buy stay on the [Makita cordless SDS drill comparison](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/makita-cordless-sds-drill). A qualifying Amazon purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
You have a plug to put in a brick or block wall, and a combi drill's hammer setting has wandered or stalled.
You have a plug to put in a brick or block wall, and a combi drill's hammer setting has wandered or stalled. An SDS plus rotary hammer is the usual next tool, but the hole still fails if the bit is wrong, the dust stays packed, or you lean on the tool. This page is the method: mode, bit, depth, dust, and where you stop. It is not a ranking and not a lab test. Prices and which model to buy stay on the Makita cordless SDS drill comparison. A qualifying Amazon purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Modes | Dust hood in the box | Concrete diameter | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Makita Makita DHR182Z 18 V body | 3, including hammer only | No | 18 mm | 8.2 | about £159.90 | View offer |
| Alternative |  Makita Makita DHR242RTJW kit | 3, including chipping | DX06 | 24 mm | 6.3 | about £549.49 | View offer |
| Best value |  Makita Makita HR166DSMJ 12 V max kit | 2, no hammer only | No | 16 mm | 8.0 | about £204.95 | View offer |
On this page
Set the mode and the bit before the trigger
Brick and concrete want rotation with hammer, and an SDS plus bit. A round-shank masonry bit in a three-jaw chuck is a different setup. Hammering that shank is how bits spin in the jaws and how the hole walks. The HR166 manual puts rotation with hammering on masonry, and rotation only on wood, metal, ceramic and plastic. It also says not to hammer with a drill chuck fitted.
The HR166 UK page lists only those two modes, so do not set it for chiselling tiles. The DHR182 and the DHR242 are the three-mode models, including hammer only. Do not turn the mode knob while the motor is running. Fit the side handle when you have one. In this set it is itemised on the DHR242RTJW only. Which platform you own is the LXT or CXT choice, not a technique choice.
Depth, pressure and clearing the hole
Set the depth stop a few millimetres past the fixing, not level with the end of the plug. BuildWiz describes that as the ordinary method: the stop accounts for dust and for the plug sitting just below the surface. It is a method, not a test of these Makita models. A depth stop is in the HR166 and DHR242 cartons. The DHR182Z bullets do not list one, so use a stop or a tape mark you can see.
Use light pressure and let the hammer work. Makita UK lists 1.1 J, 1.7 J and 2.0 J for the HR166, DHR182 and DHR242. A 24 mm hole is the DHR242 sheet, not a reason to lean on the 1.1 J tool. If the bit walks, stop, dimple the spot and start again. Withdraw the bit about every 20–30 mm, the interval BuildWiz describes, and vacuum the hole before the plug goes in.
Dust, hearing and cables
Concrete and mortar dust can contain respirable crystalline silica. HSE's note CN3 treats that as a health risk. It points to capture at the bit, class M or H extraction, and respiratory protection of APF 20 when you have no extraction or when drilling is the main task. A householder does not hold the employer's legal duties. Keep the dust out of the air you breathe.
The DX06 is only in the DHR242RTJW carton. A hood is capture, not a silica test. If a detector is unclear beside a cable or a pipe, stop. Declared sound pressure is 91, 91 and 87 dB(A) for the DHR182, DHR242 and HR166. Wear hearing protection for the hole. Vibration, uncertainty K of 1.5, is 11.4, 15.0 and 9.3 m/s². HSE's rough line for tools around 15 m/s² is about 15 minutes to the action value for a worker, not a household timer.
When you stop
Stop when the job is no longer a plug hole. A core, a slab and a full chase sit outside these 1.1–2.0 J cordless hammers. So does suspected asbestos, work at height you are not set up for, and a day's concrete drilling without extraction and respiratory protection. One review of lintels on a ladder, or of a kitchen strip-out, is an anecdote, not a method.
Also stop if the bit is smoking, the flutes will not clear, or you are asking for a diameter the sheet does not list. A larger bit and more pressure do not add joules. If you still need to choose a carton, the buying guide is the check order.
Common questions
Which mode for brick, and which for wood?
Brick and concrete use rotation with hammer and an SDS plus bit. Wood, metal, ceramic and plastic use rotation only. Hammer-only is only on the DHR182 and the DHR242. Do not turn the selector while the tool is running.
How do you set the depth for a plug?
Set the stop a few millimetres deeper than the fixing. The HR166 and DHR242 boxes list a depth stop. The DHR182Z does not. Mark the bit with tape if you have no stop. A hole that is too deep drops the plug out of reach of the screw.
How often should you clear dust?
Withdraw the bit about every 20–30 mm, the interval BuildWiz describes, and empty the hole before the plug goes in. That is a method, not a measured result for these tools. Do not tamp a fixing into a hole that is still full of powder.
Do you need a mask for a few holes?
CN3 does not give a free pass for a short job. Concrete dust can contain respirable crystalline silica. The practical line is capture at the bit, or respiratory protection of APF 20 when you have no extraction. The DX06 is only the hood from the DHR242 carton.
Is the DX06 in every box here?
No. It is on the DHR242RTJW included line only, at £549.49 on 21 October 2026. The DHR182Z is a bare body. The HR166DSMJ has batteries, a charger, a case and a depth stop, and no dust hood.
What do the declared noise figures mean for a householder?
The UK sheets list 91, 91 and 87 dB(A) for the DHR182, DHR242 and HR166. The 80, 85 and 87 dB(A) values are employer duties. Wear hearing protection anyway. The numbers are declared figures, not a measurement of your wall.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources from the research digest, last checked on 21 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures in the display file.
- Makita UK, DHR182 (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- Makita UK, DHR242 (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- Makita UK, HR166D (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- HSE, hand-arm vibration regulations (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- HSE, construction dust sheet CN3 (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- GOV.UK, supply of machinery safety regulations 2008 (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- Screwfix, Makita BL1850B 18 V 5.0 Ah (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- SDS Drill UK, advice when buying an SDS drill (retrieved 21 October 2026)