I simply do not understand the science of drilling holes in walls and
then getting the right-sized plug to fit. This morning I drilled the
first hole for a towel rail, and fitted the plug - no problem. Then I
drilled the second hole - same drill bit for the same sized plug.
However, when I came to insert the plug, would it go in? No it would
not. Why does this happen? How do you match the drill bit, plug and
screw? The usual answer is that you look for the numbers given on the
plugs/screws/bits. But what if these numbers are not present? How do
you do it by eye, which would be more convenient anyway.

Any answers appreciated.
In limine sapientiae

"John Edgar" wrote in message
...
I simply do not understand the science of drilling holes in walls and
then getting the right-sized plug to fit. This morning I drilled the
first hole for a towel rail, and fitted the plug - no problem. Then I
drilled the second hole - same drill bit for the same sized plug.
However, when I came to insert the plug, would it go in? No it would
not. Why does this happen? How do you match the drill bit, plug and
screw? The usual answer is that you look for the numbers given on the
plugs/screws/bits. But what if these numbers are not present? How do
you do it by eye, which would be more convenient anyway.

Any answers appreciated.
In limine sapientiae


There at at least two different ways of specifying masonry drill sizes. In
the old days, you would buy a No. 8 or No. 10 bit (say). This would drill
the right sized hole for a fibre rawlplug for the same number of screw size.
Inn those days, you needed exactly the right rawlplug for each size of
screw.

But that has all changed withe plastic plugs - which are usually designed to
take a range of screw sizes. The plugs usually come on a plastic strip - and
you tear off each one as you use it. On the back of the strip, it usually
specifies the screw sizes for which the plugs are suitable *and* the drill
size to use. This may be a No. X drill, but is more likely nowadays to be
specified in mm - e.g. 6mm.

To come to your first question, it depends to some extent on the material
which you are drilling. In soft breeze block - or if you hit a mortar
joint - a plastic plug will usually go into a slightly smaller hole, because
it will enlarge the hole slightly as you tap it in. In brick - particularly
very hard brick - there is no give, and the plug will buckle if you try to
hammer it into too small a hole.

In hard materials, I drill the hole size specified on the plug strip. In
soft materials, I tend to use one size smaller in order to get a firm fix.
Try to use the smallest hole you can get away with. [As a rough guide, if no
drill size is specified, measure the diameter of the plug (just below the
flange) with a vernier caliper and use a drill size 1mm smaller.
Alternatively, hold the plug against the working end of a few masonry bits,
and select a bit which is just slightly smaller than the plug.]

HTH,
Roger

John Edgar wrote in message ...
I simply do not understand the science of drilling holes in walls and
then getting the right-sized plug to fit.
Assuming you're using size 8 screws, you really need masonry bits on hand of
5mm/5.5mm/6mm and 3 sizes of plug. In soft stuff the 5mm bit may bash a 6mm
hole and the red plastic plug will fit perfectly. In hard stuff the 6mm
drill hole will be precisely 6mm and the red plug will also fit perfectly.
Usually it's somewhere between the 2, which is where the 5.5mm comes in.
If the red plug is a sloppy fit, tap the small (usually yellow) plug inside
the red. If that's too tight, yellow in brown is worth a try. Personally, I
miss those cut to length plastic plugs that you could hammer into tight
holes. Ideal for twinthread screws but not sighted in the sheds for many a
long year. Anyone?

On Sun, 7 Sep 2003 13:54:13 +0100, "stuart noble"
wrote:


John Edgar wrote in message ...
I simply do not understand the science of drilling holes in walls and
then getting the right-sized plug to fit.
Assuming you're using size 8 screws, you really need masonry bits on hand of
5mm/5.5mm/6mm and 3 sizes of plug. In soft stuff the 5mm bit may bash a 6mm
hole and the red plastic plug will fit perfectly. In hard stuff the 6mm
drill hole will be precisely 6mm and the red plug will also fit perfectly.
Usually it's somewhere between the 2, which is where the 5.5mm comes in.
If the red plug is a sloppy fit, tap the small (usually yellow) plug inside
the red. If that's too tight, yellow in brown is worth a try. Personally, I
miss those cut to length plastic plugs that you could hammer into tight
holes. Ideal for twinthread screws but not sighted in the sheds for many a
long year. Anyone?


Actually I had no idea that the different colours of the plugs was a
standardised affair. I though they were just meant to look pretty!

Anyway thanks for the advise. One day I will get it right . . . .

In limine sapientiae

John Edgar wrote in message ...
Actually I had no idea that the different colours of the plugs was a
standardised affair. I though they were just meant to look pretty!
I don't think it's actually standardised. Plasplugs are all brown IIRC.

"stuart noble" wrote in message
...

John Edgar wrote in message ...
Actually I had no idea that the different colours of the plugs was a
standardised affair. I though they were just meant to look pretty!
I don't think it's actually standardised. Plasplugs are all brown IIRC.

-------------
It seems there is some logic to the colour coding (unless they're grey)

Screw Gauge Drill Size Colour
6 - 8 5 Yellow
8 - 10 6 Red
10 - 14 7 Brown
14 - 18 10 Blue

(as the above table is likely to end up scrambled you can find it on page 26 of
the Screwfix cat or here

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...00063&ts=35730

(which will also end up mangled I bet, so just search for wall plugs on the
screwfix site)