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having big problems trying to drill through a reinforced lintel to hang some brackets, i presume the concrete lintel has steel in but using a hss drill bit fails - which are the best type of drill bits to use, technique and which ones are the best.

thanks

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    Before drilling into a critical load-bearing part of your house, perhaps you could look for some other method to attach the brackets.
    – Andrew Morton
    Commented Sep 6, 2016 at 20:20

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I had similar problem when putting up curtain brackets and hit a steel lintel. I was recommended 135deg split point cobalt and a good metal cutting paste. I must say I am well impressed with results.

I was also advised :

  1. Drill slow
  2. Use light pressure
  3. Use cutting paste
  4. Stop every 10 seconds to give the bit a chance to cool down
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You need a carbide drill bit like this. High speed steel will dull quickly. A hammer drill would also help but I have cut small holes with a regular drill motor in the past really hard on the drill bumping it constantly to simulate the hammer action.

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  • That is perfect to get through the concrete, but if he's really hitting steel then HSS will be better at that point.
    – Mark
    Commented Feb 13, 2017 at 23:50
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    I wouldn't use a "hammer anything" on a reinforced concrete lintel. That lintel is designed with a certain amount of bonding around that reinforcing and the hammer action could crack/loosen the concrete from the rebar. I'm sure it's over designed, but why push it.
    – Lee Sam
    Commented Mar 20, 2017 at 4:31

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