Recent project to hang some adjustable shelf units in the bedroom
closet by screwing them into the old chimney bricks (the chimney comes
up the middle of the closet).

So I was trying to drill holes about 2 inches deep for plastic plugs.
I managed to get a few in before the drill bit hit SOMETHING which it
could not penetrate - at all - in many places along the chimney (many
feet apart but no clear pattern). The something was within 1 inch of
the surface.

I was using a masonry bit which worked fine in other places/brick
walls/etc.

I stopped drilling after hitting this in a few places, not wanting to
make more of a mess if no good would come of it.

Any ideas what could be in there that is so hard? Some sort of stone
or metal perhaps? I thought chimneys were just brick (1930's terraced
house) but apparently not.

Thanks
Dave

On 1 Feb 2007 12:04:34 -0800, wrote:

Recent project to hang some adjustable shelf units in the bedroom
closet by screwing them into the old chimney bricks (the chimney comes
up the middle of the closet).

So I was trying to drill holes about 2 inches deep for plastic plugs.
I managed to get a few in before the drill bit hit SOMETHING which it
could not penetrate - at all - in many places along the chimney (many
feet apart but no clear pattern). The something was within 1 inch of
the surface.

I was using a masonry bit which worked fine in other places/brick
walls/etc.

I stopped drilling after hitting this in a few places, not wanting to
make more of a mess if no good would come of it.

Any ideas what could be in there that is so hard? Some sort of stone
or metal perhaps? I thought chimneys were just brick (1930's terraced
house) but apparently not.

Thanks
Dave

Could well ne a steel support across the top of the chimney opening
.....like a lintel

Stuart B formulated on Thursday :
On 1 Feb 2007 12:04:34 -0800, wrote:

Recent project to hang some adjustable shelf units in the bedroom
closet by screwing them into the old chimney bricks (the chimney comes
up the middle of the closet).

So I was trying to drill holes about 2 inches deep for plastic plugs.
I managed to get a few in before the drill bit hit SOMETHING which it
could not penetrate - at all - in many places along the chimney (many
feet apart but no clear pattern). The something was within 1 inch of
the surface.

I was using a masonry bit which worked fine in other places/brick
walls/etc.

I stopped drilling after hitting this in a few places, not wanting to
make more of a mess if no good would come of it.

Any ideas what could be in there that is so hard? Some sort of stone
or metal perhaps? I thought chimneys were just brick (1930's terraced
house) but apparently not.

Thanks
Dave

Could well ne a steel support across the top of the chimney opening
....like a lintel

Check the tip of the bit with a lens, usually they will collect some
tiny metal particles if you have hit steel.

--

Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk