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I used to hate running wire in old brick houses, but a simple trick changed that
For years, I'd spend ages trying to drill through the brick and mortar in these old Chicago homes, often breaking bits. About six months ago, a retired installer told me to use a small diamond-tipped core bit with a steady water drip from a sponge. It goes through like butter and doesn't crack the brick. I've saved at least an hour per job since I started. Has anyone else found a better method for masonry work?
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markl754mo ago
Spilled a bucket of water on myself doing this last week.
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dakotaknight5mo ago
Tried the diamond core bit trick last month on a pre-war brownstone and it was a total game changer. I mean, I was always scared of blowing out the whole brick face with a hammer drill. The water drip from a sponge is the key part, keeps the dust down and the bit cool. Still takes some patience but it's way cleaner and faster than anything else I've used.
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nathanl365mo ago
My buddy Mike in Philly had a real bad time trying to run a line through a solid brick fireplace last year. He was using a regular masonry bit and ended up with a huge crack and a very angry homeowner. I just sent him @dakotaknight's post about the diamond core bit and water trick, he said it would have saved him a ton of headache and money. That method seems like the only smart way to do it now.
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