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How to use an SDS plus drill bit

Updated: 2026-10-23

The bit is in your hand, the rotary hammer is on the floor, and the hole is for a plug in brick or block. How you use an SDS plus drill bit decides whether that plug grips: the shank has to lock, the selector has to be on hammer drilling before the motor starts, and the hole has to be deep enough and empty of dust. This is the sequence for that job. It does not rank sets. The ten listings with their GBP prices are on the [SDS plus drill bit comparison](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/sds-plus-drill-bit). A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The bit is in your hand, the rotary hammer is on the floor, and the hole is for a plug in brick or block.

Our top picks

Makita Makita E-15730, 6-piece

Best overall

Makita Makita E-15730, 6-piece
8.6/10about £9.59
View offer
Bosch Bosch PRO SDS plus-5X, 5-piece

Rank 2

Bosch Bosch PRO SDS plus-5X, 5-piece
9.4/10about £10.92
View offer
Bosch Bosch 11-piece bit and chisel set

Alternative

Bosch Bosch 11-piece bit and chisel set
8.4/10about £24.95
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Seat the bit before you drill
  2. 2.Hammer drilling, not chisel mode
  3. 3.Depth and clearing the hole
  4. 4.Dust, services, and a stuck bit

Seat the bit before you drill

Wipe the shank. Put grease on the SDS plus shank only, not on the carbide. Push the bit in and turn it until it locks, then tug. Hilti's TE 6-22 instructions and Bosch's GBH 220 manual both want the tool fully home before a depth stop. Fit the side handle. An SDS max bit will not click into an SDS plus chuck. If you are still choosing 6 mm against 7 mm, stop before you mark the wall.

Hammer drilling, not chisel mode

Brick and block want hammer drilling: rotation and percussion together. Drill-only mode glazes the tip. Chisel mode stops the rotation. Hilti's TE 6-22 manual keeps the three positions separate and says not to move the selector while the motor is running. A chisel in the Bosch 11-piece or WORKPRO 17-piece set needs chisel mode, with the motor stopped first. If the hammer has no chisel position, leave the chisels in the box.
Makita Makita E-15730, 6-piece

Testsieger

Makita Makita E-15730, 6-piece
8.6/10about £9.59
View offer

Depth and clearing the hole

Mark depth from the fixing sheet. The large number is total length, so a 210 mm bit is not a 210 mm hole. fischer's DuoPower 6 × 30 asks for 6 mm and at least 40 mm of hole. Rawlplug's UNO depths run from 34 mm to 46 mm by plug size. BuildWiz's note is about 10 mm deeper than the plug when the sheet is silent. Start slowly until the carbide has a dimple, as HSE CN3 asks. Withdraw while the bit is still spinning when the flutes pack, then brush the hole. If the bit snatches, read the SDS plus drill bit for concrete page before you lean on it.

Dust, services, and a stuck bit

Masonry dust can contain respirable crystalline silica. HSE CN3 says capture it, or wear protection at APF 20 if you are not extracting, with a face fit when the mask seals. CIS36 separates a few plug holes from drilling as the day's main work. HSENI covers the same risk in Northern Ireland. A P2 line in an older manual is weaker than CN3. A cable, a pipe or anything that might be asbestos ends the DIY job. If the bit sticks, withdraw it in line. Levering a 6 mm bit sideways is how small diameters snap.

Common questions

Do I use hammer mode or drill mode in brick?
Use hammer drilling for brick and block: the bit rotates and the hammer strikes. Drill-only mode leaves the carbide rubbing and glazes the tip. Chisel mode stops the rotation and will not cut a round plug hole. Hilti's TE 6-22 manual keeps those three positions separate. Stop the motor before you move the selector.
How far should the bit click into the chuck?
Push it fully home until it locks. A tug should leave it there. Grease belongs on the shank, not the carbide. If it slides straight back out, it has not locked, or it is not an SDS plus shank.
How deep is the hole for a 6 mm plug?
fischer's DuoPower 6 × 30 asks for a 6 mm drill and at least 40 mm of hole. Rawlplug UNO depths run from 34 mm to 46 mm by size. The 160 mm or 210 mm printed on the bit is not that depth.
How do I stop the dust?
Capture it at the hole, or wear protection at APF 20 if you are not extracting. Brush the hole before the plug goes in. A P2 mask in some manuals is not the CN3 figure.
What do I do if the bit sticks?
Stop forcing it sideways. Keep the hammer in line with the hole and withdraw the bit so the flutes can clear. A 5 mm or 6 mm bit snaps when it is used as a lever. If the hammer note changes and the bit snatches, you may have hit steel. Do not bend the bit to free it.
Can I use the chisel in the same set without changing mode?
No. A pointed or flat chisel in the Bosch 11-piece or WORKPRO 17-piece set needs chisel mode, with the motor stopped before you move the selector. Hammer-drill mode is for the drill bits. If the hammer has no chisel position, the chisels are not usable on that machine.
When should I stop and call someone?
Stop for asbestos, a cable or pipe you cannot trace, or a structural anchor. Stop if drilling is employees' main task, including under HSENI in Northern Ireland. A resin anchor that demands a certified bit is a different job.

Related pages

SDS plus drill bit buying guide

SDS plus vs SDS max

SDS plus drill bit

Best SDS plus drill bits: who each listing is meant for

SDS plus drill bit for concrete with possible rebar

Sources

Public UK sources from the research digest, retrieved for the page dated 22 October 2026. Shelf prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures in the display file.

  1. HSE CN3, drilling with hand-held rotary tools (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  2. HSE CIS36, construction dust (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  3. Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005, regulation 4 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  4. Bosch Professional GB, PRO SDS plus-5X (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  5. PGM on ISO 5468 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  6. Rawlplug UNO universal plug (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  7. fischer DuoPower 6 × 30 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  8. Hilti GB TE-Y adapter (retrieved 22 October 2026)